Microsoft Word's spell check is an essential tool for catching typos and grammatical errors, but when it stops working, it can disrupt your workflow. Whether you're using Word in Office 365 or a standalone version, several factors can cause spell check to fail, from incorrect language settings to corrupted add-ins.

Why Is Spell Check Not Working in Word?

Before diving into fixes, it's important to understand why spell check might stop functioning:

  • Language settings mismatch: Word may be set to a language that doesn't match your document's content
  • Proofing exceptions enabled: The document might have "Do not check spelling or grammar" turned on
  • Corrupted templates or add-ins: Damaged Normal.dotm template or conflicting add-ins can disable proofing tools
  • Outdated Office installation: Bugs in older versions may affect spell check functionality
  • System permissions issues: Limited user permissions can prevent Word from accessing proofing tools

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Solutions

1. Verify Language Settings

  1. Open your Word document
  2. Press Ctrl+A to select all text
  3. Go to Review > Language > Set Proofing Language
  4. Ensure the correct language is selected and that "Do not check spelling or grammar" is unchecked
  5. Click OK to apply changes

2. Check Document-Specific Proofing Exceptions

Some documents contain hidden formatting that disables spell check:

  • Go to File > Options > Proofing
  • Under "Exceptions for," ensure all boxes are unchecked
  • Click "Recheck Document" to reset proofing for the current file

3. Repair Office Installation

For persistent issues, repairing Office often resolves underlying problems:

  1. Open Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features
  2. Select Microsoft Office and click "Change"
  3. Choose "Quick Repair" and follow prompts
  4. If issues persist, try "Online Repair" for a more thorough fix

4. Reset Word Settings to Default

Corrupted user settings can be reset by:

  1. Closing all Office applications
  2. Pressing Win+R and typing %appdata%\Microsoft\Word
  3. Renaming the Word folder to "Word_old"
  4. Restarting Word to generate fresh settings

5. Check for Conflicting Add-ins

Problematic add-ins can interfere with proofing tools:

  1. Go to File > Options > Add-ins
  2. At the bottom, select "COM Add-ins" and click Go
  3. Uncheck all add-ins and restart Word
  4. Re-enable add-ins one by one to identify the culprit

Advanced Solutions for Persistent Issues

Repair Normal.dotm Template

The Normal template stores default Word settings:

  1. Close all Word documents
  2. Search for "Normal.dotm" in File Explorer
  3. Rename the file to "Normal_old.dotm"
  4. Restart Word to create a new template

Modify Registry Settings (Advanced Users)

For system-wide spell check failures:

  1. Press Win+R and type regedit
  2. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Shared Tools\Proofing Tools
  3. Right-click and export the key as backup
  4. Delete the Proofing Tools key and restart Word

Preventing Future Spell Check Issues

To maintain reliable spell check functionality:

  • Keep Office updated: Enable automatic updates in File > Account
  • Use consistent language settings: Set your preferred language as default
  • Avoid excessive formatting: Complex documents are more prone to proofing issues
  • Regularly repair Office: Use the built-in repair tool every few months

When to Contact Microsoft Support

If none of these solutions work, you may need to:

  • Contact Microsoft Support for advanced troubleshooting
  • Consider reinstalling Office completely
  • Check for known issues with your specific Word version

Remember that spell check issues can often be resolved through methodical troubleshooting. By following these steps in order, most users can restore full proofing functionality in Microsoft Word.