Manjaro Settings Manager - Locale settings - Language

I am trying to set the system language to English and wondering why it’s not working.

Manjaro-Settings-manager-0

Manjaro-Settings-manager-1-language

Manjaro-Settings-2-terminal

Manjaro-Settings-3-terminal

I read the following articles, but still cannot figure out, what the reason is:

Since I’m new in Manjaro, I’m not feeling comfortable yet using Terminal.

I assume the setting “LANG = de_DE.utf8” might be the clue. I’m using a German keyboard and would still like to use it, just the system language shall be switched to English.

I am glad about every further hint :slight_smile:

Hi @Jucala,

This helped me set everything correctly:

So I’m guessing it will help you as well.

1 Like

You are correct - however - you need to enable it on your locale.gen file too. After you have enabled it you need to generate the messages.

The Manjaro Settings Manager has never failed in that regard.

System messages and keyboard layout is complete decoupled.

I use a Danish keyboard and English message system - no problemo.

I suspect there is another locale file in play here - using KDE Plasma? If so check the file ~/.config/plasma-localerc

Yes as this is a system file it is protected.

Use method 1 OR method 2 - not both

sudo nano /etc/locale.gen

First idenity which locales has been enabled in /etc/locale.gen - the last 10 lines will do

tail /etc/locale.gen

If the en_UK locale is not included then edit the locale.gen file and add it

sudo nano /etc/locale.gen

Scroll to the bottom of the file and append

en_UK.UTF-8 UTF-8

Save the file and run locale-gen script

Then edit your locale.conf file and replace

LANG=de_DE.utf-8

with

LANG=en_UK.utf-8

If it exist - remove the line reading

LC_MESSAGES=de_DE.utf-h

Save the file and reboot


https://man.archlinux.org/man/locale.conf.5

locale(7) — Arch manual pages
The individual compiled locale data files are searched for under subdirectories which depend on the currently used locale. For example, when en_GB.UTF-8 is used for a category, the following subdirectories are searched for, in this order: en_GB.UTF-8, en_GB.utf8, en_GB, en.UTF-8, en.utf8, and en.

Hi @Mirdarthos,

Thank you for your hints! I’ll give a detailed description of my procedure in case any Linux newbie is still reading this.

To edit:
$ sudo nano /etc/locale.gen

I leave as it is:

en_GB.UTF-8 UTF-8

I changed:

#en_US.UTF-8 UTF-8

to

en_US.UTF-8 UTF-8

at the end I changed:

# Locales enabled by Calamares
#de_DE.UTF-8 UTF-8
#en_US.UTF-8 UTF-8

to

# Locales enabled by Calamares
#de_DE.UTF-8 UTF-8
en_US.UTF-8 UTF-8

then I click Strg + O to save
„514 Lines written“


Rebuild locales
$ sudo locale-gen

output:

Generating locales...
  en_GB.UTF-8... done
  en_US.UTF-8... done
  en_US.UTF-8... done
Generation complete.

Recheck your locales
$ locale -a

Output: I get a long list, including en_GB.utf8 and en_US.utf8

Verify if it works

$ ~ rofi -r

(Shall I put this in Terminal?)

Output: bash: /home/user: Ist ein Verzeichnis

$ rofi -show

Output: bash: rofi: Command not found

$ ~ rofi -show

bash: /home/user: Ist ein Verzeichnis

I restart the computer, but still, everything’s in German. I check the system language and receive:

$ localectl

output:

System Locale: LANG=en_GB.UTF-8
    VC Keymap: de
   X11 Layout: de

This verifies that what you changed, works. It’s using the english language on display. At least it’s set as it. And the german keyboard layout. Chaning stuff in /etc/locale.gen does not change your keyboard layout.

Click on the English language section in your second screenshot. You can customize some options in there to match what you want. Then save it. And reboot.

For your locale specifics like date, phone etc to be displayed using de_DE - you must enable the same locale in locale.gen - rerun locale-gen script

Note that en_US is generated twice - this is caused by enabling it twice in locale.gen

As it is now - you disabled it - and therefore your date will be displayed in UK format - which I don’t think was your intention.

The locale is configured in different files - for changes to be picked up reboot or use localectl to set

Keymap in TTY

/etc/vconsole.conf

Available locale

This is defined by - always run locale-gen script after changes

/etc/locale.gen

Locale used is defined in

/etc/locale.conf

Keymap in Xorg

/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/00-keyboard.conf

Manjaro settings manager: I set all available options in the Manjaro settings manager: to en_GB.utf-8.

Regarding your last line:
When I type:

~/.config/plasma-localerc

I receive:
File or directory not found.

@ linux-aarhus
Thanks for your tips and advice!

Date settings:
First of all, I’m happy if I manage to set the system settings to English. If I don’t change too many other settings unintentionally in the process, that would be great, of course. The time format actually plays a minor role, but I like to adjust it.

Keymap in TTY
When I type

/etc/vconsole.conf

I have no authorisation.
I have tried on good luck:

sudo /etc/vconsole.conf

Output:
Command not found

Keymap in Xorg

/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/00-keyboard.conf

Output: INo authorisation.

sudo /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/00-keyboard.conf

Output: Command not found.

Those are files you have or may have to edit/adjust with your preferred text editor