After the system language is switched to English, many items in the right-click menu still show Chinese? An in-depth dig process on the LaunchServices localization registration mechanism

# [macOS] After the system language is changed to English, many items in the right-click menu are still in Chinese-record an in-depth dig into the LaunchServices localization mechanism (unsolved) The reason is very simple, that is, I switched the system language of macOS from Chinese to English, and then when I right-clicked to select text in the Finder, I found that there is another Chinese service in the menu: Convert text to audio To tell the truth, this thing is particularly conspicuous in a bunch of English menus. I originally thought it was because the cache was not refreshed, but the more I checked it, the more outrageous it became... In the end, it didn't be solved, but I stepped on this pit deep enough, so I sorted it out and sent it out for reference by friends with similar obsessive-compulsive disorder. --- # # <s> <en> Causes & Performance The system interface is all in English, but there is still a Chinese service in the service menu of Finder to convert text to audio. This is not an Automator built by myself, nor is it a third-party plug-in. It seems that it comes with the system. --- # # 🔍 investigation process ### 1. ~ /Library/Services Nothing First, the possibility of user-level Quick Action is ruled out. ### 2. Found the key files under/System/Library/Services/: Chinese TextConverterService.app The directory structure is normal, and it contains multilingual localization resources: Contents/Resources/zh.lproj/ServicesMenu.strings Contents/Resources/en.lproj/ServicesMenu.strings In other words, this thing does support English display, but my system language is cut into English, but it still displays Chinese service names? It's fascinated. --- # # <s> <en> Gemini recommended I executed a command: ` ` ` bash /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Support/lsregister-kill-r-domain local-domain System-domain user The function of this command is to force the reconstruction of the system's LaunchServices database, which can theoretically refresh all registration information such as "open mode" and service items. At that time, I implemented it with the attitude of giving it a try. No error was reported, and it didn't take effect immediately. The problem remained the same. However, the pit was buried here. ⸻ Follow-up discovery: it actually registered for this service (and locked in Chinese) I checked the syslog: LogShow--predicate'eventMessage contains' ChineseTextConverterService ''--last 30d The results show that: 2025-06-08 02:02:41 com.apple.ChineseTextConverterService is officially registered in the system In other words, this command actually "activates" this originally unregistered system service item for the first time. The Chinese resource (zh.lproj) was used when registering, so it now firmly appears in the menu to convert text to audio, whether your system language is English or not. ⸻ ❓ So when was this service written into the system? The creation time of the. app file was 2025-05-04. Combined with the fact that I am now on macOS Sequoia 15.5, it can be reasonably speculated that it was automatically deployed in the system update. At that time, it just existed quietly, not registered as a Finder service, until I executed that command and "woke" it up... ⸻ Crash moment: I completely gave up after opening System Settings > Keyboard > Services You think there is only one Chinese service name? No, there are these: ! [hahah] (https://imgur.com/a/F4rjUMJ) All these are still in Chinese, the system language is English, the Finder language is English, but the services are all in Chinese. ⸻ What 🚫 tried but didn't work • Delete ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist • Delete ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systempreferences.plist • Manual editing of. strings file (blocked by SIP) • New user (invalid, LaunchServices is system level) • Execute lsregister multiple times (will only "wake up" more services) • Doubting life (effective, but short) ⸻ The cold knowledge ✅ learned • LaunchServices service name registration for macOS is one-time • Once registered, the language is fixed, and subsequent language switching will not affect the registered name • Many. apps under/System/Library/Services are "pre-deployed and not activated" and are not registered until certain actions (or your cheap hands) trigger • The lsregister-r command is actually the "full system service activation switch", use it with caution • The system will not roll back the registered name, and SIP will not allow you to change or clear your name ⸻ 💡 's Viable Workaround (FYI) • In System Settings → Keyboard → Services, uncheck "Convert Text to Audio" • Use Automator to build a service with an English name (such as Convert Text to Audio) I also made a. workflow template by the way. If you want to download it, you can leave a message and I will send it to you. ⸻ ❌ Final Conclusion There is no solution to this problem. Unless you erase the disk and reinstall a macOS system whose original language is English, you can avoid registering as a Chinese service item. Otherwise, these things that seem to be "just language display" are actually written to death at the system registration level.