Paint - Tool Sai Change Language

🎨 Stuck in the Wrong Language on PaintTool SAI? Here is How to Fix It! 🖌️ Have you ever opened up PaintTool SAI

only to find the menus are in a language you can't read, or did you accidentally install a version with "enchanting table" gibberish text? Don't panic! You do not have to reinstall the whole program to fix this.

Here is the quick, step-by-step guide to manually changing your language settings. 👇 📍 For PaintTool SAI (Version 1)

If you are using the classic version 1, your language settings are controlled by a simple configuration file in your installation folder. completely.

Open your file explorer and go to the folder where PaintTool SAI is installed (usually C:\PaintToolSAI or wherever you extracted it). Look for a file named language.conf Right-click the file and open it with (or any text editor).

Look for the line that specifies the language (it usually says something like or has a specific language code).

Edit that line to your preferred language (e.g., change it to the file and relaunch SAI! 🎉 📍 For PaintTool SAI 2

SAI 2 handles things a bit differently and doesn't always use the same files as Version 1. The Quick Fix:

Most modern English distributions of SAI 2 come with language folders. Check your main Paint Tool SAI 2.0

folder. If you see an "English" folder or a specific English

file, copy those contents directly into the main root folder to overwrite the default language. The Custom Translation Route: paint tool sai change language

If you want to use community-made translations (like custom Russian or Spanish packs), you can easily find translation files on community forums. You just drop those translated files into your directory! 💡 Pro-Tip for Gibberish/Broken Text!

If your menus look like random symbols or question marks, it is usually a Windows Region/Locale issue rather than a SAI issue. Go to your Windows Time & Language

Make sure your system locale supports non-Unicode programs, or temporarily set your region to Japan/US to let the fonts load properly!

#DigitalArt #PaintToolSAI #ArtTutorial #DigitalPainting #SAI2 #ArtTips #DrawingSoftware Instagram captions with more emojis, or a shorter version optimized for Twitter (X) PAINT TOOL SAI HELP!!!! by Pein-Sempai on DeviantArt

Pretty late, I had the same problem, from what it looks like is that the language is called "Unicode" so just go to a file named " DeviantArt Pein-Sempai - Student, Digital Artist

A helpful feature for Paint Tool SAI regarding language changes would be a native "In-App Language Switcher" that eliminates the need for manual configuration file edits or external patches.

Currently, changing the language in the original SAI often requires editing language.conf files or dealing with "strange symbols" (Unicode errors) when the software doesn't match the system's locale. For SAI 2, which lacks these configuration files, users frequently have to modify the .exe itself to translate strings, which is complex and risky. Proposed Feature: Universal Language Hub

This feature would simplify localization for a global user base through:

Integrated Language Selector: A dropdown menu under Others > Settings or Help that allows users to switch between official languages (like Japanese and English) without restarting the software.

Community Translation Import: A built-in "Import Translation" tool. Instead of hacking the .exe, users could download a community-verified .lang or .json file and load it directly. This mirrors how users currently import custom brushes by placing folders into the application directory. 🎨 Stuck in the Wrong Language on PaintTool SAI

Unicode Auto-Repair: A toggle to automatically fix character encoding issues. This would prevent the common bug where letters are replaced by "strange symbols" due to language mismatches.

Contextual Hover-Translate: A feature where hovering over a tool or menu item displays its name and description in a second language. This is ideal for artists following tutorials in different languages, such as the many popular Japanese Pixiv tutorials. How users currently manage language:

SAI 1: Users must locate the language.conf file in the installation directory (typically C:\PaintToolSAI) and manually edit the text strings.

SAI 2: There is no official built-in way to translate the interface; users often rely on unofficial patched versions or manual recreations of settings. PAINT TOOL SAI HELP!!!! by Pein-Sempai on DeviantArt

How to Change the Language in Paint Tool SAI If you’ve opened Paint Tool SAI only to find it in a language you don’t recognize—or if you're trying to install a fan-made translation—getting the interface right is essential for your workflow. Because Paint Tool SAI (v1) and SAI 2 handle language files differently, the fix depends on which version you’re using. Paint Tool SAI (Version 1)

In the original version of SAI, the language settings are stored in a simple configuration file. Locate the installation folder: Typically found at C:\PaintToolSAI or wherever you originally extracted the program. Find "language.conf": Look for a file named language.conf in the root folder. Edit the file:

Open it with a text editor like Notepad. You can manually edit the strings here, or more commonly, replace this file with a pre-translated version. Replace with a translation: Many artists use community-made translations, such as the Alternate English UI found on DeviantArt, by simply dropping the new language.conf into the folder. Paint Tool SAI 2

Changing the language in SAI 2 is more restricted because the text is often hard-coded into the executable file ( ) rather than a separate config file. Official English Version:

The most reliable way to get SAI 2 in English is to download it directly from the official English Development Room Manual Translation: Unlike Version 1, there is no language.conf

for SAI 2. Translating it usually requires advanced modification of the program's strings, which is not recommended for most users. Troubleshooting: "Gibberish" Text Part 8: Important Notes

If your menus look like strange symbols or "gibberish," it usually means your computer is struggling to read Japanese characters without the proper system locale. PAINT TOOL SAI HELP!!!! by Pein-Sempai on DeviantArt

Pretty late, I had the same problem, from what it looks like is that the language is called "Unicode" so just go to a file named " DeviantArt Pein-Sempai - Student, Digital Artist

Important Note: Paint Tool SAI does not have a built-in language switcher in its menu. You cannot simply click "Settings" > "Language." The language is determined by external files. Therefore, changing the language requires replacing those files manually.

Part 8: Important Notes

Part 2: Method 1 – The Official Way (English Version)

If you purchased SAI directly from the official website (www.systemax.jp), you likely have the Japanese version by default. However, SYSTEMAX provides a separate English build for international customers.

Q: Will changing language delete my brushes?

A: No. Brushes are stored in Documents\SYSTEMAX Software Services\PaintToolSAI\settings. Language files only affect the UI text. Your brush settings, textures, and swatches remain untouched.

Part 6: Verifying Success

After restarting SAI, check these areas:

Step 3: Rename or swap the executables

If you see both sai.exe and sai_en.exe:

  1. Back up the original sai.exe (rename it to sai_jp.exe).
  2. Duplicate sai_en.exe.
  3. Rename the copy to sai.exe.
  4. Launch SAI using your normal shortcut. It should now be English.

Step 4: If you only have one .exe file

If there is no sai_en.exe, you likely have a single-language build. You will need to download a repack that includes the English DLL. (Note: We do not condone piracy; this advice is for users who legally own a license but lost their English installer).

Search for "SAI 1.2.5 English DLL pack" – replacing the sai.exe with a community-translated version is a common workaround.

Part 6: Troubleshooting – Why Is My SAI Still in Japanese/Chinese?

You followed the steps, but SAI still looks like a foreign alphabet soup. Here is the diagnosis: