Cortana on your Windows Phone for Other Than US region

Get Cortana on your Windows Phone in India

Now that we have successfully migrated from WP 8 to WP 8.1 one will be looking for Cortana…Those already having WP 8.1 and residing other than in US are not able to experience Cortana as it is only available for US. Don’t be sad, we have a work around for you. Few step and you will be spending time with your best companion Cortana.

Before we get Cortana for your phone lets understand what Cortana could do or help you to do with your WP 8.1 device.

Cortana can help you do all sort of things on your Windows Phone, from making calls to checking your calendar, reminding you to pick up your dry cleaning, Birthday, Meeting or getting answers about sport results, stock prices, random trivia – you name it. She'll even chat with you.

You can start by talking naturally to Cortana about what you have in mind. She'll often understand you if you ask for things in the same way you'd say them to any person. If Cortana isn't sure what you mean, she can usually help you to work out how to say things in a way she'll understand.

She will even know who your relations are, Mom, Wife or your Office Boss.

Steps to enable Cortana

Step 1 - Change language setting to English US.

If you are residing in Non-US region and had selected language as English UK or India you have to change it to US. If you don’t find US English then you have to add the same.

Go to Settings > Language and add the language as a new entry on the list by hitting the add button. The phone may require a reboot.

Many will be stuck after installing English – United States. One need to make it as priority one. Just press and Hold the language bar… will get the above option of Move up. Select that and you will find that English United States had moved up and is your main Language. It will ask for Reboot.

Step 2 - Change Country Region and Regional Format

Now you have to change the Regional setting as Cortana is only available for US region we have to change it matching to that region. Go to Settings > Region and change "country/region" to the United States and "regional format" match phone language so that it is easier when switching back to your preferred region. The phone may require a reboot.

Step 3 – Change the Speech to US

Most of us forget to change the Speech to US English, one may have to install the language if already not installed. Go to Settings > Speech and change the Speech language from current to US English. You may be prompted to install the language if you had not done it before.

If you had done exactly that I have explained then you have successfully enabled Cortana. If you cannot see Cortana listed as an app on the app list, give the phone a final reboot. You should then be able to load up the Cortana app, which will run you through the initial setup wizard. However, if you alter the region and/or language settings from here on out, you will remove Cortana but don’t worry if you revert to the setup you had set it will again be back in your handset.

Note: Few of the users had found that after updating and changing language and region it disable the Store from loading on some devices. So consider this a preview of Cortana, or just be aware there could be some negative consequences!

There you have it, folks. Don't attempt the above steps if you don't wish to have your region and language settings altered.