I cannot change Region under Language & Region in System Preferences

Question

I cannot change Region under Language & Region in System Preferences

MacBook (13-inch, Mid 2009)
El Capitan 10.11

When I go to system preferences, I can initally select the region that I want. However, date & time format do not change, nor does the language that the month and day of the week are written. Then, when I close and reopen System Preferences, the region has reverted back to what it was originall

Why can't I change the region? Why does it revert to the old setting? I've had this problem for a couple of years.

MacBook, OS X El Capitan (10.11), Mid 2009, white, 6GB RAM, 256GB SSD

Posted on Oct 20, 2015 10:47 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Paul_31

Level 6

14,172 points

Oct 21, 2015 12:30 AM in response to 9780452286757

Do you have the correct Date & Time and Time Zone set in System Preferences>Date & Time? Also make sure 'Set date and time automatically' is ticked and showing the correct Apple time zone is selected. If necessary, change those and then try Language and Region again.

Reply

Answer 2

Oct 21, 2015 12:54 AM in response to Paul_31

I've tried this and I've checked all other date and time settings. There is no reason for me to not be able to change the Region but it just reverts every time I go to change it.

Reply

Answer 3

Oct 21, 2015 12:58 AM in response to 9780452286757

Could this be a problem with one of the .plist files in Library > Preferences ?

Reply

Answer 4

Oct 21, 2015 1:58 AM in response to 9780452286757

I've found the solution.
1. Show hidden files with defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles YES
2. Go to Home > Library > Preferences > and delete the file .GlobalPreferences.plist and delete the folder ByHost.
3. Hide the hidden files again with defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles NO

4. Logout and login again. Go to preferences and the changes you make will stay.

By the way, some of your other preferences (like scroll direction) will have been changed, but changing them back only took me a couple of minutes.

Reply

Answer 5

Paul_31

Level 6

14,172 points

Oct 21, 2015 2:27 AM in response to 9780452286757

Great - glad you fixed it!

Reply

Answer 6

Oct 7, 2016 9:46 PM in response to 9780452286757

It took me a while to find this post but after ages including tech support from Apple you have provided the fix at last. Good job.

Reply