---
name: "update-locale"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "locales"
version: "2.41-12+deb13u4"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/update-locale/8"
---

# update-locale(8)

Modify global locale settings

## NAME

update-locale - Modify global locale settings

## SYNTAX

update-locale \[*OPTIONS*\] \[*var*=*locale* \| *var*\] \[...\]

## DESCRIPTION

This program can be called by maintainer scripts when Debian packages are installed or removed, it updates the */etc/locale.conf* file to reflect changes in system configuration related to global locale settings. When variables have no value assigned, they are removed from the locale file. Some basic checks are performed to ensure that requested settings are valid.

## OPTIONS

- **--help**

  Display an help message and exit.

- **--reset**

  Variables which are not set on command-line are cleared out.

- **--locale-file** *FILE*

  Define file containing locale variables. (Default: */etc/locale.conf*)

- **--no-checks**

  Do not perform sanity checks on locale variables.

## EXAMPLE

```
The command
        update-locale LANG=en_CA.UTF-8 LANGUAGE
sets LANG to en_CA.UTF-8 and removes definitions for LANGUAGE.
```

## FILES

- */etc/locale.conf*

  File where global locale settings are stored.

## AUTHOR

Denis Barbier \<barbier@linuxfr.org\>

## SEE ALSO

[**locale-gen**(8)](/locale-gen/8.md), [**locale**(1)](/locale/1.md)