Why Is Google Docs Not Spell Checking

To err is human – is a phrase a wise man once said in the 16th century. But Google Docs reminds us every day by ruthlessly underlining incorrect spellings in red – which almost makes documents look like a battlefield. What’s worse is if the spell check is not working on Google Docs, you’ll be running the risk of submitting or presenting a document full of errors.

spell check not working on Google Docs

Sounds like a nightmarish situation, doesn’t it? Therefore, save yourself from it, and ensure Google Docs is checking for spelling mistakes. Type an incorrect word and check if Google Docs corrects or underlines the same. If not, follow the methods below to get back the spell checker on Google Docs.

Also Read: How to Find and Replace in Google Docs

1. Enable Spelling Check on Google Docs

Make sure autocorrect/spell checker is enabled on Google Docs. If you’ve accidentally disabled it, errors in your document will not be highlighted or corrected.

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Go to Tools -> ‘Spelling and grammar’.

  • To view existing errors on your document – select the first option ‘Spelling and Grammar check’.
  • To enable spelling and grammar suggestions, check the second and the third options respectively.
Enable Spell Check on Google Docs

Additionally, if you want to enable autocorrect on Google Docs, tap on Tools in the toolbar and go to preferences. In the general tab, check the box for ‘Automatically correct spelling’.

Automatically Correct Spelling

2. Check Network Connectivity

Unfortunately, Google Docs does not check for spelling in the offline mode. Make sure you go online, to enable the same. Further, ensure your internet connection is stable, and you’re able to load Google Docs online. Only then will you receive spelling and grammar suggestions on your documents.

3. Disable Spell Check on the Web Browser

Your web browser may have a built-in spell checker, that checks for errors in anything you’re typing. However, if this comes into conflict with the spell checker on Google Docs, the latter may not work as expected. Hence, try disabling the spell check on your browser, and check if Google Docs can correct grammar and spelling.

Go to the settings menu on your web browser. On the search bar, type ‘spell-check’ to find and disable the feature.

If you’re using Chrome, you can go to Settings and Languages in the sidebar menu. Then, disable the toggle for ‘Check for spelling errors…’.

Disable Spell Check on Chrome

4. Clear Formatting on Google Docs

If Google Docs is not highlighting spelling errors, there might be an issue with the text formatting in the document. Therefore, try clearing the formatting on Google Docs, and see if the spell checker works fine.

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Go to the Format tab, and click on the ‘Clear Formatting’ option.

Clear Formatting Google Docs

To avoid any conflicts with formatting on a text you are pasting, right-click before you paste the content and select ‘Paste without formatting’.

Paste Without Formatting

5. Clear Web Browser Cache

If Google Docs is not underlining misspelled words or not correcting grammar – it is possible that it’s affected by a bug. Therefore, try clearing the cache and cookies on your web browser. This erases all the unwanted junk files that may be responsible for executing bugs.

Clear Data on Chrome

Step 1: Open Chrome and click on the three dots icon in the toolbar.

Step 2: Click on Settings.

How to Fix Spell Check Not Working in Google Docs

Step 3: Click on ‘Privacy and Security’.

Step 4: Now, select ‘Clear browsing data’.

How to Fix Spell Check Not Working in Google Docs

Step 5: Click on the Time Range drop-down menu and select the time range as All Time.

This will help you clear stored data and cache of Chrome since the time you started using it.

How to Fix Spell Check Not Working in Google Docs

Step 6: You will now see a list of what is being cleared. Select what you want to delete and click on Clear data.

How to Fix Spell Check Not Working in Google Docs

Clear Data on Firefox

Step 1: Open Firefox, click the hamburger menu, and select Settings.

How to Fix Spell Check Not Working in Google Docs

Step 2: Click on ‘Privacy & Security’ in the sidebar and click on Clear Data.

How to Fix Spell Check Not Working in Google Docs

Step 3: Lastly, click on Clear.

How to Fix Spell Check Not Working in Google Docs

6. Use Grammarly

If spelling and grammar check is not working on Google Docs, you can use a third-party extension. Grammarly is your best choice for a tool that corrects spelling errors, along with issues with grammar on your document.

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You can download and install the extension for free on a browser of your choice.

Download Grammarly on Chrome and Edge

Download Grammarly on Firefox

If you have any further questions, you can take a look at the FAQ section below.

FAQs: Autocorrect Not Working on Google Docs

Also Read: How to Use AI Writing Tool in Gmail and Google Docs

Ensure Correct Spellings on Your Google Docs Document

We hope this article helps you fix spell check when it is not working on your Google Docs document. As a word of advice, do not completely rely on the spell checker on your document. It may not understand the context of the sentence and can suggest an irrelevant word. Therefore, make sure you always manually proofread the document and check for any errors.

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