Your calendar shows Chinese because an alternate calendar or language setting is turned on; switch language or disable the extra calendar.
Seeing Chinese characters on the date widget or inside your calendar app usually comes down to one of two things: the system language/region changed, or an alternate calendar (like the Chinese lunar calendar) is enabled. The good news: both take a minute to fix. This guide walks you through quick checks on Windows, macOS, Outlook, and Google Calendar, plus a few browser and account tweaks that can flip things back.
Fast Checks Before Opening Settings
- Restart the calendar app or your browser. A cached language setting can linger.
- Sign out and back in if you’re using a web calendar. Account language overrides can stick until you refresh your session.
- Try another view (month, week, agenda). Some apps only show alternate calendars on the month grid.
- Look for “Lunar” labels next to dates on Windows. That’s a hint the extra calendar toggle is on.
Laptop Calendar Showing Chinese Characters — Quick Fixes
Windows 11/10: Turn Off The Extra Calendar On The Taskbar
When Windows shows Chinese characters on the taskbar calendar, the extra (alternate) calendar is often enabled. Here’s how to turn it off:
- Open Settings → Time & language → Date & time.
- Scroll to Show additional calendars in the taskbar.
- Choose Don’t show additional calendars, or switch from Simplified Chinese (Lunar)/Traditional Chinese (Lunar) back to none.
If month or weekday names still look off, check your region format next.
Windows: Check Region & Language Format
Your calendar borrows month/day names from the system’s region and language. If those point to a Chinese locale, you’ll see Chinese text. Fix it with these steps:
- In the Windows search bar, type Control Panel and open it.
- Go to Region (or Change date, time, or number formats).
- On the Formats tab, pick your preferred regional format (e.g., English (United States)).
- Apply and close. Switch back to the calendar to confirm the change.
Tip: If you recently installed a language pack, make sure your display language is the one you want under Settings → Time & language → Language & region.
New Outlook Or Outlook On The Web: Set Language For Dates
If calendar labels inside Outlook appear in Chinese, set the app’s own language and date format:
- Open Outlook.
- Select Settings (gear) → General → Language and time.
- Pick your language and save. Reopen the calendar view.
In classic desktop Outlook, you can also enable or disable an alternate calendar under File → Options → Calendar. Turn that off if it’s showing lunar dates alongside the Gregorian grid.
Google Calendar (Web): Change Language Inside Calendar
If only Google Calendar shows Chinese while the rest of your PC looks fine, the web app’s language is set differently from your system or account preference:
- Open Google Calendar in a browser.
- Go to Settings → Language.
- Choose your preferred language; the page updates instantly.
If it reverts later, set your Google Account’s web language too (see the “Account & Browser” section below).
macOS: Set Language & Region, Then Pick The Calendar
On a Mac, the calendar pulls its language from system settings. If the primary language or region is set to a Chinese locale, you’ll see Chinese labels in Calendar and in some widgets. Here’s the fix:
- Go to System Settings → General → Language & Region.
- Move your preferred language to the top. Set Region and Formats to match your location.
- In the same panel, choose the Calendar you want (e.g., Gregorian). If an alternate calendar is enabled, switch it off.
Close Settings and reopen the Calendar app to confirm the change. If an app still shows Chinese, you can set a per-app language under Language & Region → Applications.
Chrome Or Edge: Translation Prompt Misleading The View
Sometimes the calendar isn’t actually in Chinese—your browser is translating the page or overlaying translation UI. If the web calendar looks odd:
- Click the Translate icon in the address bar and choose Show original.
- Open browser Settings → Languages, and ensure your preferred language is at the top.
- Turn off auto-translate for Chinese if you don’t need it.
Why This Happens
A calendar can flip languages when:
- An alternate calendar is enabled (Chinese lunar dates layered onto the standard grid).
- Your region format changed, altering month/weekday names.
- An app (Outlook, Google Calendar) has its own language setting that overrides the system.
- A browser translation is rewriting labels on the fly.
- A work profile or managed policy forces language settings from your organization.
The quick fix is to switch off the alternate calendar and align language settings across the OS, the app, and the browser.
Account & Browser Language Tweaks
Google Account Language
If Google Calendar flips back to Chinese later, set your account’s web language so Google services keep the same preference:
- Visit your Google Account page.
- Open Personal info → General preferences for the web → Language.
- Pick your language, then reload Calendar.
Chrome: Manage Languages And Translation
To reduce surprise translations across sites:
- Open Settings → Languages.
- Move your preferred language to the top and remove languages you don’t use.
- Disable “Offer to translate pages” for languages you read natively.
Fixes For Specific Apps
Outlook Desktop: Alternate Calendar Toggle
In classic Outlook for Windows, the calendar can show lunar dates beside the standard ones. To turn that off:
- Go to File → Options → Calendar.
- Under Calendar options, clear Enable an alternate calendar.
- Click OK, then reopen the calendar view.
Google Calendar Web: Language And Region In One Place
Inside Calendar settings, pick your language and region to drive date and time formats. Adjusting both keeps month names, weekdays, and week start aligned with your preference.
macOS Calendar App: Per-App Language
If the system language looks right but the Calendar app still shows Chinese, set a per-app language:
- Open System Settings → General → Language & Region.
- Under Applications, add Calendar and choose your language.
- Quit and reopen the app.
Practical Examples You Can Try Now
Taskbar Calendar Shows Extra Characters Next To Dates (Windows)
That overlay is usually the lunar date. Turn off the extra calendar in Date & time settings. If you still see Chinese month names, change the region format in Control Panel’s Region.
Only Google Calendar Looks Off
Fix the web app’s language under Settings → Language. If it keeps returning, update the Google Account language and check your browser’s auto-translate prompt.
Mac Menu Bar Date Looks Different From App Labels
Align Language & Region and the selected Calendar (choose Gregorian). If any app holds onto Chinese, set its language individually under Applications.
Where To Change Calendar Language (At A Glance)
The paths below fix the most common switches. Use them when you need the quick route during a call or remote help session.
| Platform/App | Path | What To Change |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Taskbar | Settings → Time & language → Date & time | Set Show additional calendars to Don’t show |
| Windows Region | Control Panel → Region → Formats | Pick the correct regional format for month/weekday names |
| Outlook (Web/New) | Settings → General → Language and time | Select language and save; disable any alternate calendar |
| Outlook (Classic) | File → Options → Calendar | Clear Enable an alternate calendar |
| Google Calendar | Settings → Language | Choose your preferred language |
| Google Account | Account → Personal info → Language | Set web language to match Calendar preference |
| macOS System | System Settings → General → Language & Region | Move your language to the top; set Region; choose Gregorian |
| macOS App-Specific | Language & Region → Applications | Add Calendar; set preferred language |
| Chrome Browser | Settings → Languages | Order languages; adjust auto-translate |
Prevent The Switch From Returning
- Pin your language to the top of the list on Windows and macOS. Remove languages you don’t use.
- Turn off alternate calendars you don’t need. A single toggle can add lunar overlays again.
- Lock account preferences by setting your Google Account language so web apps follow your choice.
- Check work profiles or managed policies if you’re on a company laptop. Admin settings can override your picks.
- Update once you’ve fixed it. Calendar and system updates often respect the current setting on install.
When It’s Not A Setting
If the calendar keeps switching even after these steps, you may be dealing with a profile glitch or a synced app setting:
- Create a new Windows user profile to test whether the issue is profile-specific.
- Clear browser cache and cookies, then re-set the Calendar language.
- Repair or reset the calendar app on Windows under Settings → Apps → Installed apps, then open the app and re-apply language.
- Reinstall language packs if month names still look mismatched after switching formats.
Helpful Official References
To learn more about alternate calendars and language settings, see Microsoft’s guidance on displaying an alternate calendar and Apple’s guide to Language & Region. If you use Google’s web calendar, set the app language under Google Calendar language.
You’re Done
Once your system language, region, and app settings match, the calendar will show month and weekday names the way you expect. If you ever spot lunar characters again on Windows, check that extra calendar toggle first—it’s the switch that surprises most people.