Change Macbook boot language

Question

Ahmed-Fathi Author

Level 1

8 points

Change Macbook boot language

I just bought this macbook pro and I wanted to install macOS Mojave from a usb.

I download the macOS from the store and create my bootable usb.

The problem is when I restart my mac and press alt, everything is in Chinese and I cannot do anything.

Does anyone know how the change the the boot screen language?

I tried to guess the buttons and currently I'm on the attached photo. Not sure if it is installing or what.

I tried this solution below but it didn't work for me.

https://support.apple.com/en-eg/HT202036

MacBook Pro with Touch Bar

Posted on Mar 18, 2019 4:15 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Best reply

WordWeaver777

Level 4

1,152 points

Mar 18, 2019 7:57 PM in response to Ahmed-Fathi

Okay, what it sounds like to me is that the former owner/user of that machine is probably Chinese. Am I right? If so, then they had the system set to Chinese.

So how to get around this? I have an idea which might possibly work for you:

Boot into the machine in Recovery Mode (hold down the command and "R" keys while doing a cold start.)
Open the Terminal app from the "Utilities" menu.
Type "sudo languagesetup" without the quotes.
Hit your "return" key.
When prompted, type the number "1" -- without the quotes -- to set the language to English.
Hit your "return" key.
Quit the Terminal.
Quit macOS Utilities.
Shut down your Mac.
Start again with the Mojave installation process.

I hope that works for you. Please let me know. Thanks!

Reply

Answer 2

Mar 19, 2019 3:48 AM in response to Ahmed-Fathi

Well, assuming that menus and submenus are in the same order, whether in English or Chinese, hopefully, you will figure it out. If you have another Mac available, just boot it in Recovery Mode, and look at what the menus look like in English. :)

I hope that is the right screenshot. :)

Reply

Answer 3

Mar 18, 2019 4:39 PM in response to Ahmed-Fathi

Just curious . . . did you purchase this MacBook Pro directly from Apple, either online, or from one of their stores? If this is a brand new MacBook Pro purchased from Apple, I would think that Mojave would already be installed on it.

Reply