How To Fix It When Outlook Spell Check Is Not Working

Enable Automatic Spell Checking

One of the common reasons why spell check may not be working in Outlook is because the automatic spell checking feature is disabled. Enabling this feature can help resolve the issue and ensure that all your emails are checked for spelling errors. Here”s how you can do it:

1. Open Microsoft Outlook on your computer.
2. Click on the “File” tab in the top-left corner of the Outlook window.
3. Select “Options” from the dropdown menu.
4. In the Outlook Options window, click on “Mail” in the left sidebar.
5. Scroll down to the “Compose messages” section and find the “Spelling and Autocorrect” option.
6. Click on the “Spelling and Autocorrect” button.
7. In the Editor Options dialog box, ensure that the “Check spelling as you type” option is checked.
8. Also, make sure the “Mark grammar errors as you type” option is checked if you want Outlook to check for grammar mistakes as well.
9. Click “OK” to save the changes and close the dialog box.

After enabling the automatic spell checking feature, Outlook will now check your emails for spelling and grammar errors as you type. Any misspelled words will be underlined with red squiggly lines, and grammar errors will be underlined with blue squiggly lines. This gives you a chance to correct the mistakes before sending out your emails, ensuring that your communications are professional and error-free.

Check Language Settings

Another reason why Outlook spell check might not be working is because the language settings are not configured correctly. It is important to ensure that the correct language is selected for your email messages to be properly checked for spelling errors. Here are the steps to check your language settings in Outlook:

1. Open Microsoft Outlook on your computer.
2. Create a new email by clicking on the “New Email” button.
3. With the new email window open, click on the “Review” tab at the top of the Outlook window.
4. In the “Proofing” section of the ribbon, click on the “Language” button.
5. A dialog box will appear displaying the current language settings for your email.
6. Ensure that the correct language is selected from the list. You can also click on the “Set as Default” button to apply these language settings to all future emails.
7. If the correct language is not listed, click on the “Add additional editing languages” link to install additional language dictionaries. Select the desired language from the list and click on “Add”.
8. Once you have selected the correct language, click on the “OK” button to save the changes.

By checking and setting the appropriate language settings in Outlook, you ensure that the spell checker is using the correct dictionary to check your emails for spelling errors. This will greatly improve the accuracy of the spell check feature and help you catch any mistakes before sending out your messages.

Add Words to Custom Dictionary

If specific words or terms are consistently marked as misspelled in Outlook, even though they are spelled correctly, you may need to add them to your custom dictionary. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to add words to the custom dictionary in Outlook:

1. Open Microsoft Outlook on your computer.
2. Click on the “File” tab in the top-left corner of the Outlook window.
3. Select “Options” from the dropdown menu.
4. In the Outlook Options window, click on “Mail” in the left sidebar.
5. Scroll down to the “Compose messages” section and find the “Spelling and Autocorrect” option.
6. Click on the “Spelling and Autocorrect” button.
7. In the Editor Options dialog box, click on the “Custom Dictionaries” button.
8. In the Custom Dictionaries dialog box, select the dictionary you want to edit (usually the default dictionary is selected).
9. Click on the “Edit Word List” button.
10. In the Custom Dictionary dialog box, type the word or term you want to add in the “Word” field.
11. Click on the “Add” button to add the word to the dictionary.
12. Repeat steps 10 and 11 for any other words you want to add.
13. Once you have added all the desired words, click “OK” to save the changes and close the dialog boxes.

By adding words to your custom dictionary, you instruct the Outlook spell checker to recognize them as correctly spelled words, even if they may be flagged as errors by default. This is particularly useful for industry-specific terms, proper names, or technical vocabulary that may not be recognized by the standard dictionary. Taking the time to customize your dictionary will significantly improve the accuracy of the spell check feature and ensure that your messages are error-free.

Reset the Spelling Checker

If Outlook spell check is still not functioning correctly despite checking the language settings and adding words to the custom dictionary, you may need to reset the spelling checker. This action can help resolve any underlying issues that are preventing the spell check feature from working properly. Here’s how you can reset the spelling checker in Outlook:

1. Open Microsoft Outlook on your computer.
2. Click on the “File” tab in the top-left corner of the Outlook window.
3. Select “Options” from the dropdown menu.
4. In the Outlook Options window, click on “Mail” in the left sidebar.
5. Scroll down to the “Compose messages” section and find the “Spelling and Autocorrect” option.
6. Click on the “Spelling and Autocorrect” button.
7. In the Editor Options dialog box, click on the “Proofing” tab.
8. Under the “When correcting spelling and grammar in Outlook” section, click on the “Recheck Document” button.
9. Outlook will recheck the entire document and reset the spelling checker.
10. Click “OK” to save the changes and close the dialog box.

By resetting the spelling checker, you allow Outlook to recalibrate and reevaluate the spell check feature. This can help resolve any inconsistencies or glitches that may have been affecting the functionality. Once the spelling checker is reset, try composing a new email and see if the spell check feature is now working as expected. If the issue persists, you can proceed to explore other troubleshooting steps or seek further assistance from Microsoft support.

Disable Add-Ins

Sometimes, conflicting add-ins can interfere with the spell check functionality in Outlook. Disabling these add-ins can help troubleshoot and resolve the issue. Here’s how you can disable add-ins in Outlook:

1. Open Microsoft Outlook on your computer.
2. Click on the “File” tab in the top-left corner of the Outlook window.
3. Select “Options” from the dropdown menu.
4. In the Outlook Options window, click on “Add-Ins” in the left sidebar.
5. At the bottom of the Add-Ins window, locate the “Manage” dropdown menu and select “COM Add-Ins”.
6. Click on the “Go” button.
7. A dialog box will open displaying a list of all the add-ins installed in Outlook.
8. Disable the add-ins by unchecking the corresponding checkboxes.
9. Click “OK” to save the changes and close the dialog boxes.

By disabling add-ins, you eliminate any potential conflicts that may be impacting the spell check feature in Outlook. Some add-ins may have their own spell check functionality, causing conflicts with the built-in spell checker. After disabling the add-ins, restart Outlook and check if the spell check feature is now working correctly. If the issue is resolved, you can gradually re-enable the add-ins one by one to identify the specific add-in causing the problem.

If disabling add-ins does not solve the spell check issue, you can proceed to the next troubleshooting step or seek further assistance from Microsoft support.

Repair Microsoft Office

If the spell check problem persists, you may need to repair your Microsoft Office installation as a potential solution. Here’s how you can repair Microsoft Office in order to troubleshoot the issue with the spell check feature in Outlook:

1. Close all Microsoft Office applications that are currently running, including Outlook.
2. Open the Control Panel on your computer.
3. Click on “Programs” or “Programs and Features” depending on your version of Windows.
4. In the list of installed programs, locate and select Microsoft Office.
5. Click on the “Change” or “Repair” button (the option name may vary depending on your version of Office).
6. Follow the on-screen prompts to initiate the repair process.
7. Wait for the repair process to complete. This may take some time.
8. Once the repair process is finished, restart your computer.
9. Open Microsoft Outlook and check if the spell check feature is now functioning correctly.

Repairing Microsoft Office can help fix any corrupted or missing files that might be causing the spell check issue in Outlook. It restores Office to its default settings, resolving any underlying software glitches. After completing the repair process and restarting your computer, launch Outlook and test the spell check functionality. If the problem still persists, you can explore additional troubleshooting steps or reach out to Microsoft support for further assistance.

Disable Third-Party Spell Checkers

If you have installed any third-party spell checkers or proofing tools that are conflicting with the built-in spell check feature in Outlook, disabling them can help resolve the issue. Here’s how you can disable third-party spell checkers in Outlook:

1. Open Microsoft Outlook on your computer.
2. Click on the “File” tab in the top-left corner of the Outlook window.
3. Select “Options” from the dropdown menu.
4. In the Outlook Options window, click on “Mail” in the left sidebar.
5. Scroll down to the “Compose messages” section and find the “Spelling and Autocorrect” option.
6. Click on the “Spelling and Autocorrect” button.
7. In the Editor Options dialog box, click on the “Proofing” tab.
8. Under the “Exceptions for” section, click on the “Custom Dictionaries” button.
9. In the Custom Dictionaries dialog box, uncheck any third-party spell checkers or proofing tools that are listed.
10. Click “OK” to save the changes and close the dialog boxes.

Disabling third-party spell checkers ensures that Outlook only uses its built-in spell check feature, eliminating any conflicts that may arise from multiple spell checkers running simultaneously. After disabling the third-party spell checkers, restart Outlook and check if the spell check feature is now functioning correctly. If the issue persists, you can proceed to explore other troubleshooting steps or seek further assistance from Microsoft support.

Upgrade or Reinstall Microsoft Office

If none of the previous troubleshooting steps have resolved the spell check issue in Outlook, it may be necessary to consider upgrading or reinstalling Microsoft Office. This can help resolve any underlying software problems that are affecting the spell check functionality. Here are the steps to upgrade or reinstall Microsoft Office:

Upgrade:

1. Ensure you have a valid license or subscription for Microsoft Office.
2. Visit the official Microsoft Office website and check for any available updates or newer versions of Office.
3. Follow the instructions provided by Microsoft to upgrade your Office installation to the latest version.
4. Restart your computer after the upgrade is completed.
5. Open Microsoft Outlook and check if the spell check feature is now working correctly.

Reinstall:

1. Uninstall Microsoft Office from your computer through the Control Panel.
2. Visit the official Microsoft Office website and download the latest version of Office.
3. Run the downloaded installer and follow the instructions to reinstall Microsoft Office.
4. Activate your Office installation using your valid license or subscription.
5. Restart your computer after the reinstallation is completed.
6. Open Microsoft Outlook and check if the spell check feature is now functioning correctly.

Upgrading or reinstalling Microsoft Office can help fix any underlying software issues that may be preventing the spell check feature from working properly. By ensuring you have the latest version of Office and a clean installation, you increase the chances of resolving the problem. If the spell check issue persists even after upgrading or reinstalling Microsoft Office, it is advisable to seek further assistance from Microsoft support to diagnose and resolve the specific problem.

Contact Microsoft Support

If you have tried all the previous troubleshooting steps and the spell check feature in Outlook is still not working, it is recommended to contact Microsoft support for further assistance. The Microsoft support team is equipped with the knowledge and resources to help diagnose and resolve complex issues. Here’s how you can reach out to Microsoft support:

1. Visit the Microsoft Support website (support.microsoft.com).
2. Search for “Outlook spell check not working” or a similar relevant keyword in the search bar.
3. Review the articles and solutions provided in the search results to see if any of them address your specific issue.
4. If you are unable to find a suitable solution, navigate to the “Contact Microsoft Support” section of the website.
5. Choose the appropriate contact option, such as live chat, phone support, or community forums.
6. Follow the instructions provided for the chosen contact option to get in touch with a Microsoft support representative.
7. Explain the problem you are facing with the spell check feature in Outlook and provide any relevant details or error messages you may have encountered.
8. Work with the support representative to troubleshoot and resolve the issue.

Microsoft support is there to assist users with technical difficulties, including problems related to Outlook and its features. They can provide personalized guidance and solutions based on your specific situation. It is advisable to be patient and cooperative during the support process, and to provide as much information as possible to help them understand and resolve the spell check issue in Outlook.