Spell and grammar check error not working

Question

Why isn't spell check or grammar error/corrections working automatically when I am composing an email?

Answer 1

The issue with spell check or grammar corrections not working automatically in Outlook can be due to several reasons. Here are some common causes and solutions:

1. Proofing Tools Not Installed: Ensure that the necessary proofing tools are installed for your version of Outlook. You may need to modify your Office installation to add these features.
2. Settings Configuration: Check your Outlook settings to ensure that spell check is enabled. Go to Preferences > Spelling and Grammar and make sure the options for checking spelling and grammar are selected.
3. Language Settings: Ensure that the correct language is set for your emails. If the language is set incorrectly, spell check may not function as expected. You can change this in the Language settings.
4. Do Not Check Spelling: Make sure that the "Do not check spelling or grammar" option is not selected for the text you are composing. This can be found in the Language settings as well.
5. Updates: Ensure that your Outlook application is up to date, as updates can fix bugs related to spell check functionality.

If you have checked these settings and the issue persists, you may want to restart Outlook or your computer to see if that resolves the problem.

Answer 2

Hi @Aydelotte A. Deshields, 

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum.  

According to your spell-check problem, many users have reported that the AutoCorrect has been removed since the June 2025 of New Outlook for Mac. However, there is no official documents or articles from Microsoft that clearly confirm the removal of this functionality.  

You can try enable AutoCorrect feature by going to Outlook menu > Preferences > Auto Correct and also check the Replace text as you type.  

If the option is not available, you can try using Microsoft Editor for spellcheck: 

• Open a new draft email > click the (…) menu > select Editor 
• In Editor Settings, check the options Check spelling as I type and Show grammatical suggestions. 

For more detailed explanation, you can refer to 

• Turn AutoCorrect on or off in Outlook for Mac - Microsoft Support 
• Check spelling before sending a message - Microsoft Support 

There are also other successful workarounds from users having the same behaviors and they have shared in the Q&A forum. You can try their suggestions and find more information in this thread Autocorrect removed from New Outlook on MacOS - Microsoft Q&A

Please understand that our initial response does not always resolve the issue immediately. However, you can try workaround and share us more detailed information, we can work together to find a solution.    

Thank you for your patience and your understanding. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to share them in the comments so I can continue to support you. 

I look forward to hearing from you.

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