Globalization C:\Windows\Globalization

C:\Windows\Globalization: Windows language and region data (sorting, time zones, ICU, linguistic services). It does not hold language packs.

Updated on 12 November 2026 By AltF4 Formation

What it’s for

Globalization holds data that Windows consults to behave correctly for a given language and region: sorting rules, time zones and calendars, extended linguistic services. It belongs to the globalization infrastructure (NLS, ICU, Extended Linguistic Services, spell checking). Installed languages are not stored here: this is not the language pack folder.

What it contains

Data subfolders, for example Sorting (sort tables), ELS (Extended Linguistic Services), ICU (data for the International Components for Unicode library) and Time Zone, plus regional resources (MCT).
No language packs. Language resources (MUI files) sit in culture subfolders such as fr-FR under System32.
The content depends on the Windows version and the installed languages.

Risks and best practices

Sorting, date formats, time zone conversion and ICU components all read this data. Modifying or deleting part of it makes the applications that depend on it misbehave or fail.
TrustedInstaller owns the content. Updates and sfc /scannow restore it.
To add a language, use Settings > Time & language > Language & region, or Install-Language, not file copies.
To check a machine’s regional settings, query the culture cmdlets rather than this folder.

Useful commands

# Subfolders present
Get-ChildItem "$env:windir\Globalization" -Directory | Select-Object Name

# Regional and language settings
Get-Culture; Get-WinSystemLocale; Get-WinUserLanguageList

# As administrator: check system file integrity
sfc /verifyonly

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