Managing the Configuration Manager console language

Let’s start this new year with a blog post about the Configuration Manager console language. I have to admit that it doesn’t really sound like an exiting subject, but it can be very useful with troubleshooting. Most issues can easily be found, on the Internet, when using the English language, while many other languages can be a lot more challenging. In this blog post I’ll go through an overview of the Configuration Manager console language behavior, the installation of the English-only Configuration Manager console and the possibility of disabling any additional Configuration Manager console languages.

Note: This activities and theories in this blog post are successfully tested on ConfigMgr 2012 and ConfigMgr 1511.

Configuration Manager console language behavior

Now let’s start with an overview of the behavior of the Configuration Manager console language. During the site server installation, the Configuration Manager console installation files, and configured language packs, are copied to the <ConfigMgrInstallationPath>\Tools\ConsoleSetup subfolder on the site server.

When the installation of the Configuration Manager console is started from that folder, on the site server, the Configuration Manager console, and configured language pack files, are copied to the device. That will make sure that when a language pack is available for the currently configured language on the device, the Configuration Manager console opens in that language. If the associated language pack is not available, the Configuration Manager console will open in English.

Each time the Configuration Manager console opens, it determines the currently configured language on the device, verifies whether an associated language pack is available for the Configuration Manager console, and then opens the console by using the appropriate language pack.

Install English-only Configuration Manager console

After going through the standard behavior of the Configuration Manager console language. it is time to look at some minor adjustments. In case multiple languages were configured during the site server installation, it might be useful to know that it’s still fairly easy to only install the Configuration Manager console with the English language, regardless of the configured language on the device. To do this, simply perform the following steps and install the Configuration Manager console, on any device, in English-only.

  • DisableLanguageCentralOn the site server, navigate to <ConfigMgrInstallationPath>\ Tools\ConsoleSetup\LanguagePack;
  • Rename the .msp and .mst files of the languages that should not be installed. In this example, I configured the Dutch language during the site server installation, which means that I should rename the following files.
    • ALP1043.msp to ALP1043.msp.disabled;
    • ALP1043.mst to ALP1043.mst.disabled.

Note: Keep in mind that when a new language is configured on the site server, the .msp and .mst files are recopied to the LanguagePack folder.

Disable Configuration Manager console language

After going through the installation of the Configuration Manager console in English-only, it might be good to know that it’s also possible to temporarily switch a Configuration Manager console to English. That can be very useful when the Configuration Manager console is installed with the currently configured language on the device and it must be opened in English for easier troubleshooting. To do this, simply perform the following steps and open the Configuration Manager console in English.

  • DisableLanguageLocalOn the device that is running the Configuration Manager console, navigate to <ConsoleInstallationPath>\Bin\;
  • Rename the language folder of the language that is currently configured on the device. In this example, I installed en configured the Dutch language on the device, which means that I should rename the nl folder to nl.disabled.

Note: Keep in mind that when a repair is performed of the Configuration Manager console, the language folder is recopied to the Bin folder.

More information

For more information about managing the Configuration Manager console language, please refer to the following article: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-US/library/mt605315.aspx#BKMK_ManageConsoleLanguages

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