Change the default country/region

Changing the default country/region changes the standard settings for numbers, currencies, time, and date to those most commonly used for that country/region. This setting affects various features in various Microsoft Office programs. Examples of features affected include:

• Calendar in Microsoft Office Outlook.
• Cells formatted with certain date, time, or currency options in Microsoft Office Excel.

Find links to more information on the Microsoft Office features affected by this setting in the See also section.

In Microsoft Windows Vista

1. Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel.
2. Click Clock, Language, and Region, and then click Change the date, time, or number format.

   Note In Classic view, double-click Regional and Language Options.

3. On the Formats tab, select the country/region that you want to use in the list under Current format.

In Microsoft Windows XP

1. Exit all Microsoft Office programs.
2. Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel.
3. Click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options, and then click Regional and Language Options.

   Note In Classic view, double-click Regional and Language Options.

4. On the Regional Options tab, select the country/region that you want to use in the list under Standards and formats.