Fix: Spell Check Not Working in Word

Why Spell Check Stops Working

Spell check failures are usually caused by incorrect language settings, disabled proofing, or corrupted proofing tools.

Step-by-Step Fix

Step 1: Enable Spell Check

1. Go to File > Options > Proofing
2. Check Check spelling as you type
3. Check Mark grammar errors as you type
4. Uncheck Hide spelling errors in this document only
5. Uncheck Hide grammar errors in this document only

Step 2: Set the Correct Language

1. Press Ctrl+A to select all text
2. Go to Review > Language > Set Proofing Language
3. Select your language (e.g., English (United States))
4. Uncheck Do not check spelling or grammar
5. Click OK

Step 3: Install Proofing Tools

If your language isn’t available:

1. Go to File > Options > Language
2. Under Office authoring languages and proofing, add your language
3. If it shows “Proofing available” — click the link to install proofing tools
4. Restart Word after installation

Step 4: Reset the Custom Dictionary

A corrupted custom dictionary can cause issues:

1. Go to File > Options > Proofing > Custom Dictionaries
2. Select the default dictionary
3. Click Edit Word List
4. Click Delete all to reset
5. Click OK

Step 5: Repair Office

If nothing else works:

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Microsoft Office > Modify
2. Run Online Repair
3. This reinstalls the proofing tools

Prevention

• Don’t accidentally set text to “Do not check spelling or grammar”
• When pasting foreign-language text, set it to the correct proofing language
• Avoid adding frequently misspelled words to the custom dictionary