I am testing app from the Windows 11 os, Pinta 2.1.1
and I notice that users were asking for this option since year 2013 somewhere...
bit odd.

I mean somehow it is added, Pinta will adapt itself to system os,
but it would be better to just place option to choose the language.

Edit: 20/05/2024
I had install Pinta 2.1.2, windows 11os,
sure the problem still is the same. Just to make sure.

I had the same issue and found your question while looking for an answer. I didn't find one, but I did find out that you can change the language quite simply, by going to ./Pinta/locale, removing/renaming the directory with your current language and copying the directory with your preferred language in its place. So in my case, I renamed the pl directory to pl-OLD and then copied en_GB to pl, and it works perfectly fine.

(I know I'm pretty late with this one, but perhaps somebody in the future will also look to do the same.)

Thanks for replay @M3n747
There is no real answer to this. I mean yes, as a normal user you might (if you need to), make some tricks, play with files, change it etc etc., yes it is a excellent tip!

But the thing is devs should think long time ago to implement this option, so the app would work normally as any other apps.
"Additional fighting" with files as a "normal user" it... a bit of a turn off what I mean.

Well, no argument there - the option to switch languages should be there from the start. But at the very least there is a way to do that, even if it's not the most intuitive one. Fingers crossed the devs implement this before the end of the decade. :P

@BlueHtml
Can not. There is absolutely no option, function for that. Like M3n747 from above mention you can open ./Pinta/locale find your language folder, copy it and paste it in the en_GB I guess?

Though, this also did not work for me.

as for today (29/04/2025), I had also install Pinta 3.0, but still there is no function to change language.
Have to wait or well try forcing it somehow like M3n747 said.

@ReptiIe Thank you for your reply. I also tried that and it indeed doesn't work.

I renamed the zh_CN folder under Pinta\share\locale to en, but it didn't work. The software still displays in English when opened.

It's too hard for me to use. I've decided to uninstall it.

yeah, well sadly all we can do is wait until a normal option for choosing language will be added.
There is nothing much we can do. I am already waiting like more than 3 years, and year ago I decided to drop this suggestion...

Please file a bug / feature request for this (https://github.com/PintaProject/Pinta/issues) - the discussions section is not a bug tracker

@cameronwhite ah yes, I had started this topic in a... hmmm... "IDEAS" sanction, so I believe this was good.
It seams I should mark it as a BUG. My bad.
Anyway I started a new topic if that helps.

No problem, this was the right place for discussing ideas around having more options for language selection, but later comments have veered more into issues where it sounds like an unexpected language is showing up by default

Yup. I mention this issue in 2024, right now it will be 2026,
this issue still remain.

And I am still waiting :-)

No option to choose language when you have multiple translations is an absurdity to me. Usually this cancer is only plaguing me on android apps.

Nope, you can not. I just tried with the newest version.

Still even IF it would work on your PC... how the F## , 99% of normal users would change a language in a app like that.
By deleting files...
This is crazy.

May 2026 - still waiting for a normal option or preferences menu that you will simply click in the app,
and change the language to what you need... That it will work like in 99% of every app out there.

There are better alternatives

For example?

Krita

Depends what you are looking for, but there are a lot of fish in the ocean as they say. Naming just few:
PixiEditor, Gimp, Krita, Pixelorama, Pixelitor, Aseprite, Libresprite, Lazpaint, Piskel

Every app has its own pros and cons, sure.
But example: if you are looking for an app that provides your language option (not to play with absurd methods like file swapping, editing, deleting as is mention here - but a normal language option to choose in the app itself) then there is not much of a brainer here.

Gimp or Krita is another level, sounds almost like Adobe Photoshop vs. Paint.NET.
LazPaint has good functionality, but also some kind of space interface.. but I am just a simple earthling :)
The other names sound familiar, but I can't remember, I'll have to look them up.

Yes you're right. I am still waiting for this option since 2024 😄