How to Enable Enhanced Spell Check in Chrome

Enhanced spell check in Chrome checks text you type in websites and can suggest corrections for spelling and grammar. It sends the text you enter to Google for processing, so use it only if you are comfortable with that privacy trade-off; you can switch back to Basic spell check at any time.

What You’ll Need

Chrome installed on a computer. Menu labels and availability can differ on mobile, where spell-check settings are often controlled by the operating system.
An internet connection for Enhanced spell check to send text for processing.
Access to Chrome settings. If this is a work or school device, an administrator may manage the setting.

Step-by-Step

Open Chrome settings. Start Chrome, select the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner, and choose Settings. You can also type chrome://settings in the address bar and press Enter.
Find the spell-check controls. In Settings, select Languages in the sidebar. If you do not see it, open the settings search box and search for spell check. Depending on your Chrome layout, the controls may appear under a language-related section.
Turn on spell check. Locate the Spell check section and switch on spell checking if it is off. Chrome may show separate controls for individual languages; enable the language you use when typing.
Select Enhanced spell check. Choose Enhanced spell check rather than Basic spell check. In some versions, these choices are radio buttons; in others, Enhanced may be a toggle or an option beneath the spell-check heading. Read any notice shown before confirming.
Check the privacy notice. Enhanced spell check sends the text you type to Google to provide spelling and grammar suggestions. If a confirmation appears, review it and accept only if you want to use the feature. Do not use Enhanced for sensitive text if you are not comfortable with that processing.
Set the languages you need. Look for the language list in the same area. Turn spell checking on for the relevant language, and add a language if Chrome offers an Add languages option. The list of spell-check languages can vary by platform and Chrome version.
Test it on a non-sensitive page. Open a simple text field, such as a draft note or search box, and type an intentionally misspelled word. Chrome commonly marks spelling suggestions with an underline. Right-click (or use the appropriate context-menu action) on the marked word to see suggested corrections. Suggestions can depend on the site and text field.

Common Mistakes

Assuming Enhanced is the same as Basic. Basic spell check typically uses a dictionary on your device. Enhanced sends typed text to Google for processing, so the privacy implications differ.
Changing the wrong language. Enabling spell check for one language does not necessarily enable it for all languages. Make sure the language used in the field is enabled.
Expecting every field to behave identically. Some websites use custom editors, and some fields may disable or alter browser spell-check behavior. A missing underline does not always mean the Chrome setting failed.
Looking for a control that moved. Chrome can reorganize Settings. Search within Settings for “spell check” instead of relying on an old screenshot or a specific menu position.
Forgetting that managed devices can restrict changes. If a setting is greyed out or says it is managed, repeated attempts to change it will not override an administrator policy.

Tips

Use Enhanced only when its broader suggestions are useful and you accept that text you type is sent for processing. For sensitive messages, consider Basic or turn spell check off while writing them.
Keep the spell-check language aligned with the language you are writing in. For multilingual writing, enable the languages you actually use and test each one.
Chrome’s suggestions are aids, not a guarantee. Review corrections, especially for names, technical terms, and words whose meaning changes with context.
If you use a separate writing or grammar tool, check whether it also processes text remotely. Chrome’s setting does not control other extensions or website features.

Troubleshooting

Enhanced spell check is missing: Search Settings for “spell check” and inspect the language section. The feature or its label may not be available in the same form on every platform. Update Chrome through its normal update controls, then reopen Settings. On mobile, check the device’s keyboard or system language settings instead; desktop instructions may not apply.

The setting is unavailable or locked: On a managed work or school device, an administrator may control spell check or data-processing options. Contact the organization’s support team if you need the setting changed. Avoid trying to bypass device management.

There are no underlines or suggestions: Confirm that spell check is on and that the correct language is enabled. Test in another ordinary text field, then reload the page. A website’s editor may suppress browser spell checking; if so, try a different field or use the site’s own proofing tools.

Suggestions are in the wrong language: Return to the language list and enable the language you are typing. Check whether another enabled language is being used for that text field. Some editors also set their own language independently of Chrome.

You want to stop sending text for Enhanced spell check: Go back to Settings > Languages > Spell check and select Basic spell check or switch Enhanced off, depending on the controls shown. You can also turn spell check off. This setting affects Chrome’s feature, not other extensions or services.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Enhanced spell check do in Chrome?
It checks text entered in supported website fields and can provide spelling and grammar suggestions. It sends the text to Google for processing.

Is Enhanced spell check on by default?
That can vary by Chrome version, platform, and settings. Open the Spell check section to see which option is currently selected.

What is the difference between Basic and Enhanced spell check?
Basic generally checks against a dictionary on your device. Enhanced can provide broader suggestions by sending typed text to Google.

Does Enhanced spell check work on every website?
No. Websites and custom text editors can handle spell checking differently, and some may prevent Chrome’s underlines or suggestions from appearing.

Can I enable Enhanced spell check for just one language?
Chrome provides language-specific spell-check controls in many desktop versions. Enable the language you need in Settings; available options can differ by platform.

How do I turn Enhanced spell check off?
Open Chrome Settings, find Spell check under Languages, and choose Basic or turn spell check off. If the option is managed, only the administrator may be able to change it.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

More in this bed

The whole Tech How-To bed →