Fix Spell Check Not Working in Outlook

If Outlook’s spell checker has stopped underlining misspelled words or refuses to run, the fix is usually a setting toggle, a language mismatch, or a corrupted Office proofing installation. Start by checking Outlook’s own proofing options, then verify the document language, and if that fails, repair Office from the Control Panel.

Why Outlook Spell Check Stops Working

Outlook uses the same proofing tools as the rest of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). When spell check fails, it is rarely an Outlook-only problem. Common causes include:

• “Check spelling as you type” is turned off – the red squiggly underline is disabled, so misspellings are silently ignored.
• Wrong proofing language – the message text is marked as a language that has no dictionary installed (e.g., “French (France)” when only English is installed).
• “Do not check spelling or grammar” is enabled – a per-document or per-style setting that suppresses all proofing.
• Corrupted proofing tools – the Office installation’s language packs or spell-check dictionaries are damaged.
• Add-ins interfering – third-party Outlook add-ins (e.g., CRM tools, email trackers) can sometimes disable the built-in proofing.

Quick Fix: Turn On “Check Spelling as You Type”

The most common reason spell check stops working is that the live underline was accidentally disabled. To re-enable it:

1. In Outlook, go to File → Options → Mail.
2. Scroll to the Spelling and Autocorrect section and click Spelling and Autocorrect (this opens the same dialog as Word’s proofing options).
3. Under When correcting spelling in Outlook, make sure Check spelling as you type is checked.
4. Also check Mark grammar errors as you type if you want grammar squiggles.
5. Click OK twice to save.

If the checkboxes were already on, move to the next step.

Set the Correct Proofing Language

Outlook checks spelling against the language marked on the text. If you type in English but the paragraph is marked as another language (or “No Proofing”), the spell checker will skip it. To fix:

1. In the message window, select all text (Ctrl+A).
2. Go to Review → Language → Set Proofing Language (in the ribbon).
3. Choose the language you want (e.g., English (United States)) and click OK.
4. If you see Do not check spelling or grammar checked, uncheck it.

If the language you need is not in the list, you may need to install the language pack from Microsoft’s website.

Repair Office Proofing Tools

If settings are correct but spell check still fails, the proofing files may be corrupted. Repairing Office will reinstall them without touching your data.

1. Close Outlook.
2. Open Control Panel → Programs and Features (or Settings → Apps → Installed apps in Windows 10/11).
3. Find Microsoft Office or Microsoft 365 in the list, select it, and click Change.
4. Choose Quick Repair first (takes a few minutes). If that doesn’t work, try Online Repair (requires internet, takes longer).
5. Restart Outlook after the repair finishes.

Check for Add-in Conflicts

Add-ins can interfere with Outlook’s proofing. To test, disable all add-ins and see if spell check returns:

1. In Outlook, go to File → Options → Add-ins.
2. At the bottom, next to Manage, select COM Add-ins and click Go….
3. Uncheck all add-ins and click OK.
4. Restart Outlook and test spell check.

If it works, re-enable add-ins one by one to find the culprit.

Why “Spell Check” Button Does Nothing

If you click Review → Spelling & Grammar and nothing happens, it usually means the proofing language is set to a language without a dictionary, or the text is marked “No Proofing”. Select all text, set the language as described above, and try again. Another possibility: the message is in plain text format. Outlook only checks spelling in HTML and Rich Text formats. Switch to HTML via Format Text → HTML in the message window.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is spell check not working in Outlook but works in Word?

Outlook shares the same proofing engine as Word, but it has its own “Check spelling as you type” toggle. If Word works, the Office installation is fine; the issue is likely Outlook’s Mail options or the language of the message. Check the spelling as-you-type box and the proofing language.

How do I turn on spell check in Outlook for specific emails?

Spell check is global, not per-email. If you want to run it manually on a single email, press F7 while the message window is open, or go to Review → Spelling & Grammar. To always underline, ensure “Check spelling as you type” is on.

Why is spell check ignoring words that are misspelled?

Likely the text is marked as “Do not check spelling or grammar” or the proofing language is set to a language without a dictionary. Select all text, go to Review → Language → Set Proofing Language, uncheck “Do not check spelling or grammar”, and choose the correct language.

Does Outlook have autocorrect like Word?

Yes. Outlook uses the same AutoCorrect feature. You can manage it via File → Options → Mail → Spelling and Autocorrect → AutoCorrect Options. If autocorrect is not working, ensure it is enabled there.

Will repairing Office delete my emails?

No. Repairing Office only reinstalls application files and proofing tools. Your emails, contacts, and settings are stored separately and are not touched. It is still a good idea to back up your PST/OST file before major repairs, but Quick Repair is safe.

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