---
title: "Server configuration: default language"
description: Find out about the default language option. See how to configure it to specify the default language that SQL Server uses for all newly created logins.
author: rwestMSFT
ms.author: randolphwest
ms.date: 10/18/2024
ms.service: sql
ms.subservice: configuration
ms.topic: conceptual
helpviewer_keywords:
  - "default language option"
---
# Server configuration: default language

[!INCLUDE [SQL Server](../../includes/applies-to-version/sqlserver.md)]

This article describes how to configure the `default language` server configuration option in [!INCLUDE [ssnoversion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] by using [!INCLUDE [ssManStudioFull](../../includes/ssmanstudiofull-md.md)] or [!INCLUDE [tsql](../../includes/tsql-md.md)]. The `default language` option specifies the default language for all newly created logins. To set default language, specify the `langid` value of the language you want. You can look up the `langid` value by querying the `sys.syslanguages` compatibility view.

## Recommendations

The default language for a login can be overridden by using `CREATE LOGIN` or `ALTER LOGIN`. The default language for a session is the language for that session's login, unless overridden on a per-session basis by using the Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) or OLE DB APIs. You can only set the `default language` option to a language ID defined in [sys.syslanguages](../../relational-databases/system-compatibility-views/sys-syslanguages-transact-sql.md) (0-32). When you're using contained databases, a default language can be set for a database by using `CREATE DATABASE` or `ALTER DATABASE`, and for contained database users by using `CREATE USER` or `ALTER USER`. Setting default languages in a contained database accepts `langid` value, the language name, or a language alias as listed in `sys.syslanguages`.

## Permissions

Execute permissions on `sp_configure` with no parameters or with only the first parameter are granted to all users by default. To execute `sp_configure` with both parameters to change a configuration option or to run the `RECONFIGURE` statement, a user must be granted the `ALTER SETTINGS` server-level permission. The `ALTER SETTINGS` permission is implicitly held by the **sysadmin** and **serveradmin** fixed server roles.

<a id="SSMSProcedure"></a>

## Use SQL Server Management Studio

1. In Object Explorer, right-click a server and select **Properties**.

1. Select the **Advanced** tab.

1. In the `default language` box, choose the language in which [!INCLUDE [msCoName](../../includes/msconame-md.md)] [!INCLUDE [ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] should display system messages.

   The default language is English.

<a id="TsqlProcedure"></a>

## Use Transact-SQL

1. Connect to the [!INCLUDE [ssDE](../../includes/ssde-md.md)].

1. From the Standard bar, select **New Query**.

1. Copy and paste the following example into the query window and select **Execute**. This example shows how to use [sp_configure](../../relational-databases/system-stored-procedures/sp-configure-transact-sql.md) to configure the `default language` option to French (`2`).

   ```sql
   USE master;
   GO

   EXECUTE sp_configure 'default language', 2;
   GO

   RECONFIGURE;
   GO
   ```

For more information, see [Server configuration options](server-configuration-options-sql-server.md).

<a id="FollowUp"></a>

## Follow up: After you configure the default language option

The setting takes effect immediately without restarting the server.

## Related content

- [CREATE LOGIN (Transact-SQL)](../../t-sql/statements/create-login-transact-sql.md)
- [ALTER LOGIN (Transact-SQL)](../../t-sql/statements/alter-login-transact-sql.md)
- [CREATE USER (Transact-SQL)](../../t-sql/statements/create-user-transact-sql.md)
- [ALTER USER (Transact-SQL)](../../t-sql/statements/alter-user-transact-sql.md)
- [CREATE DATABASE](../../t-sql/statements/create-database-transact-sql.md)
- [ALTER DATABASE (Transact-SQL)](../../t-sql/statements/alter-database-transact-sql.md)
- [RECONFIGURE (Transact-SQL)](../../t-sql/language-elements/reconfigure-transact-sql.md)
- [Server configuration options](server-configuration-options-sql-server.md)
- [sp_configure (Transact-SQL)](../../relational-databases/system-stored-procedures/sp-configure-transact-sql.md)