Skip to main content
Microsoft
Xbox
Xbox
  • Home
    • Xbox One consoles
    • Xbox One X
    • Xbox One S
    • Xbox for families
    • Shop consoles
    • Games home
    • Xbox One games
    • Xbox One X Enhanced games
    • Xbox Game Pass
    • Backward Compatible games
    • Xbox Play Anywhere games
    • Games with Gold
    • Deals with Gold
    • Sales & Specials
    • Xbox 360 games
    • Windows 10 games
    • EA Access
    • Redeem Code
    • Meet Xbox Live
    • Xbox Live Gold
    • Mixer
    • Xbox App
    • Shop accessories
    • Design your controller
    • Shop Xbox Official Gear
    • Xbox
    • Gears of War
    • Minecraft
    • Halo
    • Forza
    • More Gear
    • Windows 10 Gaming
    • Xbox App on Windows 10
    • All support
    • Xbox One
    • Xbox 360
    • Xbox on Windows 10
    • Games
    • Billing
    • My Account
    • Mixer
    • Xbox on other devices
    • Xbox Forums
    • Error & Status Code Search
    • Xbox Live Status
    • Home
    • Profile
    • Achievements
    • Friends
    • Messages
    • My games
    • Clubs
      • Office
      • Windows
      • Surface
      • Xbox
      • Deals
      • Support
      • Windows apps
      • OneDrive
      • Outlook
      • Skype
      • OneNote
      • PCs & tablets
      • Accessories
      • Xbox games
      • PC games
      • Windows digital games
      • Movies & TV
      • Microsoft Azure
      • Microsoft Dynamics 365
      • Microsoft 365
      • Enterprise solutions
      • Data platform
      • Microsoft Advertising
      • .NET
      • Visual Studio
      • Windows Server
      • Windows Dev Center
      • Docs
      • Microsoft Store
      • Microsoft Rewards
      • Free downloads & security
      • Education
      • Store locations
      • Gift cards
    • View Sitemap
    Sign in
    Share this page

    Xbox Support

    Xbox One
    Xbox & accessories Password & security Getting started 4k and HDR Apps Console Controllers Ease of Access Family Networking OneGuide and Live TV Social and Broadcast Microsoft Store Voice and digital assistants Warranty and service Xbox Insider
    Xbox 360
    Xbox on Windows 10
    Games
    Mixer
    Billing
    My account

    Xbox One locales FAQ

    This page provides answers to frequently asked questions about Xbox One locales.

    Frequently asked questions

    Topics

    anchor
    Set language and location
    anchor
    Voice
    anchor
    Sign in
    anchor
    Xbox App
    anchor
    System update
    anchor
    Purchase and play
    anchor
    Cash stored value

    Set language and location

    How do I set the language and location on my Xbox One?

    During the initial setup of your new Xbox console, you select your language and location. With the August 2016 update, location is no longer dependent on the language you choose.

    After setup, can I change language and location later?

    After setup of your new Xbox One console, you can change your language and location through Settings. A system restart will be required. For more information, see Xbox One system settings.

    Is the Xbox One console location different than the Xbox Store location?

    No. Xbox One will always use your chosen console location. This information gets passed to the Xbox Live service to show the correct marketplace, offers, recommendations, and so on.

    For example, if you select France when you set up your console, this gets passed to Xbox Live, and you will see offers and information specific to France.

    Note Some content and apps may not be available or accessible in some locations. If your console is set to a different location than the one you live in, you may be able to download and install an app from a different market, but you may not be able to use it. That app may be geo-fenced (restricted by physical location, not the console setting) and may prevent you from playing content from another country or region.

    Will I see the Store in two languages?

    Possibly. With language and location being separated with the August 2016 update, it's possible to choose a language that is not available in your chosen location. The result will be a mix of languages: your chosen console language for things like headings and buttons, and a "fallback" store language for the names and descriptions of items in the Store.

    For example, if you choose a location of France and a language of French (France), you'll see everything in French. But, if you choose a location of France and a language of Japanese, you'll see most of the screens in Japanese, but some of the Store information in French.

    What happens if I set my Xbox One console location differently than my Xbox account?

    You will be shown information for the location and language set on your console. Your Xbox account locale is not used to show Store information.

    Do I need to migrate my account when moving to a different country or region?

    No. You can simply change your console language and location anytime you want. Account migration is not required with Xbox One.

    For example: You move from Germany to France. If you change your console location to France and your language to French (France), your entire experience will change from German to French, even though your Xbox account locale was originally Germany. As long as you have a French billing account and a valid payment option, you will be able to purchase content from the French Store.

    Note It is important to keep in mind that if you have local currency stored in your account when you switch console locales, you will lose access to that currency.

    Voice

    How is the voice model selected and enabled in Xbox One?

    When you select a supported language during setup of your new Xbox One console, an appropriate voice model will be enabled.

    For example, if you select French (France) during initial setup, a French (France) voice model will be enabled. For a list of voice-supported locales, see Xbox One Feature Availability.

    You can change your spoken language in Settings. For more information, see Xbox One system settings.

    What about Cortana?

    When Cortana is enabled, Kinect voice commands that start with "Xbox" become "Hey Cortana" instead. The Spoken language setting isn't available when Cortana is on—Cortana depends on language and location and doesn't use this setting.

    Sign in

    I can only sign in to my console if my Xbox account locale is for one of the officially supported countries or regions, correct?

    Not correct. You can sign in to your Xbox One console if you have an Xbox account from any country or region where Xbox account creation is supported.

    For example, customers in Egypt can sign in to their consoles using their Egypt Xbox accounts.

    Note It is important to keep in mind that Xbox Support and warranties are only available in Xbox One-supported countries and regions.

    Xbox App

    How is the locale set in the Xbox App for Xbox One?

    The Xbox App uses the locale (country/region and language) that you set on your device.

    For example, if you set the locale of your Windows Phone 10 and your iPad to the French language and the country of France, the Xbox App will be French. When connected to your console, the Xbox App switches to use whatever language your console is set to use.

    System update

    Does the Xbox One console have to physically be in an officially supported country or region to get system updates?

    No. Your Xbox One console can get system updates anywhere in the world, as long as it's connected to the Internet.

    Note It is important to keep in mind that Xbox Support and warranties are only available in Xbox One-supported countries and regions.

    Purchase and play

    What happens if my billing address doesn't match my console's locale?

    In that case, you will not be able to purchase content. You must have a valid billing address and payment option that matches your console locale.

    For example, if you are in France and set your console location to France, you will see French Store information. However, if your billing address is in Germany, you will not be able to purchase content because you must have a valid payment option connected to a French billing address.

    If I purchase a game in one country or region, can I play it in another country or region?

    Yes. There is no playback restriction on games purchased and downloaded.

    For example, if you purchase and download a game in one country and then move to another country where the game isn’t available, you can still play the game that you downloaded. However, you would not be able to redownload the game you purchased, as it would not be available for you to download in the Store.

    Cash stored value

    What happens if I buy a Microsoft gift card in Germany in euros and add it to my account, and then move to the United Kingdom? Does it convert from euros to British pounds?

    Balances are not converted from one currency to another. You must spend the value of the currency in which it was purchased. You will have to buy another Microsoft gift card when you move to another country or region, because the balance you have in one currency will not work in another marketplace.

    Related Issues

    How to set up your Xbox One console
    Back to top

    Was this article helpful?

    Yes
    No

    Thank you for your feedback

    Thanks for your feedback!

    We're sorry this article didn't solve your problem. We won't give up and neither should you. Try this community option, below.
    Get help from the community
    Ambassador chat image
    Ambassador chat
    Chat one on one with a fellow Xbox User who wants to help.
    Chat with an Ambassador

    Provide feedback for this topic

    255 characters remain.
    To protect your privacy, please do not include contact information in your feedback.
    Get help from the community
    Ambassador chat image
    Ambassador chat
    Chat one on one with a fellow Xbox User who wants to help.
    Chat with an Ambassador

    Support resources

    Error & Status Code Search
    Repair and service center
    Manuals and warranty info
    Post on the Community Support Forums
    Contact us

    Contact Us

    Would you like to contact Support regarding the "Xbox One locales FAQ" issue you were reading about or a different issue?

    Share this page

    Xbox

    • Feedback
    • Support
    • Photosensitive Seizure Warning
    • Code of Conduct

    Fans

    • Xbox Wire
    • Jobs

    For Developers

    • Games
    • ID@Xbox
    • Windows 10
    English (Canada)
    • Contact Microsoft
    • Privacy & cookies
    • Terms of use
    • Trademarks
    • About our ads
    • © Microsoft 2019