Spell Check Not Working in Word? All Version Fixes

Users experience problematic situations where the spell-check feature in Microsoft Word is not functioning. Many users have reported scenarios of spell check not working in Word, leading to overlooked errors and diminished document quality. You may be drafting a professional report or a personal letter, but discover that the program is not working as expected. This can disturb the work as well as the mood of the users.

Anyhow, there is a solution for every problem and for this problem, you will find several solutions. This guide delves into the common reasons behind such issues and offers practical solutions to restore the spell-checking functionality in Word. Whether you’re facing problems like the Microsoft Word spell check not working or the Word spelling correction not working, we’ve got you covered.

Part 1. Common Symptoms of the Spell check does not work in Word Issue

When the spell check is not working on Word, users might experience several telltale signs:

• Red Underlines: Users have noticed that misspelled words do not get the red squiggly lines. This implies that the automatic spell-check feature of the program is not working correctly. As a result, it will potentially cause users to miss spelling errors while typing.
• Manual Checks Yield No Results: Running a manual spell check from the Review tab might not highlight any errors, even if the document contains obvious spelling mistakes. This means the program is skipping over the text due to incorrect settings.
• Disabled Options: Other times, the “Check spelling as you type” option is accidentally turned off or appears grayed out in the settings. When this happens, the software will not flag any spelling errors automatically.
• Language Issues: When your document is set to a different language than the one you are typing in. If the proofing tools for that language aren’t installed, Word may not check your spelling at all.
• Add-ins Interference: Some third-party add-ins can interfere with Word’s built-in spelling and grammar features. If spell check stops working after you’ve installed a new plugin or extension, the add-in might be the cause.

Part 2. Possible Reasons Why Microsoft Word Spell Check Not Working

It can be difficult to experience issues where the spelling check does not work in Word. Several factors might cause this problem and understanding these reasons can help you restore the functionality effectively.

1. Feature Disabled

One of the reasons spell check is not working is that the feature has been disabled in the settings. When the feature is turned off, the program refrains from automatically checking spelling.

2. Language Settings

These options are integral to the program’s proper functioning. Should your document be set to a language different from the one you’re typing in, and if spell check is disabled for that language, Word might not perform any spell checking.

3. Proofing Tools Not Installed

For some scenarios, the proofing tools necessary for your language may not be installed. Without these tools, Microsoft Word spell check not working becomes a common issue, especially when using regional settings.

4. Corrupted Document or Template

Quite often, the trouble is not with the software itself but with the specific template serving as its foundation. A damaged file can cause features such as spell check to stop working altogether, resulting in situations where Word does not spell check correctly.

5. Word Add-ins Interfering

This feature does not work properly in some cases due to interference from third-party add-ins or extensions. These add-ins can conflict with the native proofing tools of the program. It may result in Word spelling correction not working as expected.

Part 3. How to Fix Spell Check Not Working In Word (Step-by-Step Guide)

Now that you know the possible reasons why the spell check is not working on Word, let’s walk through how to fix each one. Follow these steps carefully to restore proper spelling correction in Microsoft Word.

1. Check Proofing Settings

The first step is to verify that spell check is enabled in Word’s settings.

1. Start by opening the Word program and reaching to “Options” feature from the “File” tab.

• Select the “Proofing” tab from the left menu. Here, you need to make sure “Check spelling as you type” and “Mark grammar errors as you type” are checked. Then, scroll down and ensure that “Hide spelling errors in this document only” is not selected. To conclude the action, click the “OK” button to save your changes.

This step resolves many cases where the Word spelling check does not work simply because the feature is turned off.

2. Ensure Language Is Set Correctly

Incorrect language settings can lead to situations where Word does not spell-check your document.

1. Users need to initiate the process by highlighting all text in your document (Ctrl + A).
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3. After this, they should go to the Review tab and choose the “Language” option from the menu.  Then, they need to select the “Set Proofing Language” option from the drop-down list.

• Here, select the correct language you are writing in and uncheck “Do not check spelling or grammar” if it’s selected. Click the OK button to conclude the function.

This step is especially helpful if you’re working in a multi-language environment and discover that spell check does not work in Word for specific paragraphs.

3. Repair Office Installation

If none of the settings seem to fix the issue, your Office installation might be corrupted.

1. Start by closing all Office applications and going to the Control Panel. Now, you need to choose the Programs option and then Programs and Features from the next screen.

• From the list of programs, locate your Microsoft Office installation in the list and choose the Change option after right-clicking on it.

•  Then, select Quick Repair or Online Repair and follow the on-screen instructions.

In some cases, MS Word spell check not working is resolved completely just by repairing Office.

4. Use a New Normal.dotm Template

Word’s global settings and default behaviors are stored in the Normal.dotm file. If this becomes corrupted, you might experience issues like Word is not spell-checking even with correct settings.

To replace it:

1. Close Word.
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3. Navigate to:
4. 1. C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates
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5. Rename Normal.dotm to Normal.old.
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7. Restart Word. A fresh template will be created automatically.
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This method often resolves hidden or template-specific errors affecting features like spell check.

5. Re-enable Add-ins Selectively

Sometimes, third-party add-ins conflict with Word’s built-in features. Word spelling correction not working could be the result of such interference.

1. Initiate the process by opening the Word and going to File > Options. 

• In the add-ins tab, look at the bottom of the window for “Manage: COM Add-ins” and click Go.

• Uncheck all add-ins, then restart Word.
• If the issue is resolved, re-enable add-ins one by one to find the culprit.

This is a reliable method if you notice that spell check does not work in Word after installing a plugin or external software.

6. Check Spelling Manually

If automatic checking is still disabled, you can run a manual spell check.

1. Go to the Review tab.
2. Click Spelling & Grammar.
3. Word will begin checking the entire document.

If your Word spelling correction is not working, this manual check can help you spot mistakes while you troubleshoot the larger issue.

Part 4. Version-Specific Tips

Different versions of Microsoft Word may have slightly different causes or solutions when spell check is not working in Word.

Word for Windows (Office 365, 2019, 2016)

• Ensure your Office version is up to date.
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• Use the “Quick Repair” option via the Control Panel.
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• In some Office 365 installations, the issue arises due to delayed syncing of settings.
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For Mac

• Go to Word > Preferences > Spelling and Grammar.
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• Confirm that “Check spelling as you type” is enabled.
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• Also, verify that the correct dictionary language is selected.
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Word Online

• Spell check depends on your browser settings.
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• If red underlines aren’t appearing, make sure your browser’s spell check is enabled.
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• For those using Microsoft 365, a common issue is that Microsoft Word spelling check not working is due to cloud sync delays or offline modes.
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Part 5. When to Contact Support or Use Alternatives

If none of the above methods work, it may be time to contact Microsoft Support for deeper troubleshooting. Issues like Word not checking spelling might be caused by system-level problems that need a professional fix.

In the meantime, consider using temporary tools like Grammarly or Google Docs. Both offer reliable spelling and grammar checks and can serve as backups while Word is being repaired.

Conclusion + Summary Checklist

The issue of spell check not working in Word is more common than you might think—but it’s almost always fixable. Whether it’s a disabled setting, corrupted template, or misconfigured language option, the solutions above should help you get back on track.

Quick Fix Checklist:

• ✅ Check proofing settings in Word
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• ✅ Verify language settings
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• ✅ Ensure proofing tools are installed
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• ✅ Reset the Normal.dotm template
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• ✅ Disable interfering add-ins
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• ✅ Run manual spell check if needed
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• ✅ Apply fixes specific to your version of Word
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Stay productive—and typo-free!