The issue arises when the user tries to use Google Docs spell but (some or all) the misspelled words are not marked as incorrect; even the correct words were marked as wrong in some cases. For some users, there was no spell-checking option in the Tools menu. The issue is reported on nearly all major browsers and operating systems. Before moving on with the solutions to fix the spell check of Google Docs, restart your system/device and networking equipment to clear out any temporary glitch. If you are using a corporate/school managed system or device, contact the IT administrator of your organization to sort out the issue. Moreover, make sure no accessibility features of Google Docs are enabled. Additionally, check if the keyboard shortcut of spell check, i.e., Ctrl + Alt + X or F7, is working. Furthermore, right-click on the misspelled word, and then in the options shown, try to enable the spell-check. If you are using the mobile version of Google Docs, make sure it is updated to the latest build. Keep in mind that Google Docs only recognizes entries that are close to actual words but are misspelled, and the spell check will not work on a document that is filled with gobbledygook (a serious design flaw), and thus would not flag the entries as wrong or give an alternative suggestion.
Solution 1: Set the Language of the Document
The spell check feature of Google Docs will not work if you have not set the document’s language manually. In this case, settings the document language may solve the problem.
Solution 2: Enable the Spell and Grammar Check for the Document
The spell checker of Google Docs will not work if the said option is disabled for the document. In this scenario, enabling the spell check for the document may solve the problem.
Solution 3: Disable Enhanced Spell Check of Your Browser
Many advanced browsers have built-in functionality to check spells (basic and enhanced). Google Docs works fine with the basic spell check, but if the option of Enhanced Spell Check of the browser is enabled, then Google Docs may encounter the issue under discussion as enhanced spell check interferes in the normal operation of Google Docs. For elucidation, we will discuss how to disable the enhanced spell-check of Chrome.
Solution 4: Create a Copy of the Problematic Document
The Google Docs spell check may also not work if the problematic document is too large. In this context, creating a copy of the problematic document (the history and comments will be removed from the copy) and the spell check may work fine in it.
Solution 5: Copy/Paste the Contents of the Problematic Document Without Formatting
The Google Docs spell check might not work if the problematic documents’ contents are copied from a web source or other program. The copied contents consist of text plus code (of the source) that can cause different types of issues/glitches, including the current one. In this case, copying and pasting the contents without formatting may solve the problem.
Solution 6: Remove Extra Languages from Your Browser
If you have enabled more than one language in the browser settings, then Google Docs may fail to perform the spell check as it can get “confused” about the language it has to check. In this case, removing the extra languages from your browser may solve the problem. For illustration, we will discuss how to remove/disable extra languages from Chrome.
Solution 7: Update Your Browser to the Latest Build
Your browser is regularly updated to pace with the latest technological advancements and patch the known bugs. The Google Docs spell check may not work if your browser is not updated to the latest build, leading to compatibility issues between Google Docs and the browser. In this context, updating your browser to the latest build may solve the problem. For illustration, we will discuss how to update the Chrome browser.
Solution 8: Disable/Remove the Browser’s Extension
Browser extensions greatly enhance a browser functionality but may cause the error at hand if any of the extensions interfere in the operation of the Google Docs (especially, grammar and spelling check extensions like Grammarly). In this case, disabling or removing the problematic extensions may solve the problem. For illustration, we will discuss how to remove an extension from a Chrome browser (do not forget to keep the backup of essential extensions’ data).
Solution 9: Clear the Cache and Cookies of Your Browser
Nearly all the major browsers use a cache and cookies to make the user experience better and boost up performance. But Google Docs spell check may not work if the cache or cookies of your browser are corrupt. In this scenario, clearing the cache and cookies of your browser may solve the problem. For elucidation, we will discuss how to clear the cache and cookies of a Chrome browser (do not forget to backup essential data/information).
Solution 10: Reset Your Browser Settings to the Defaults
If none of the solutions above has helped you, then the issue could result from a misconfiguration of your browser’s settings. In this case, resetting your browser’s settings to the defaults may solve the problem. For illustration, we will guide you on how to reset Chrome’s settings to their defaults.
Solution 11: Update the OS of Your System to the Latest Build
You may encounter the error under discussion if your system’s OS is outdated, leading to compatibility issues between Google Docs and your system. In this context, updating the OS of your system to the latest build may solve the problem. We will discuss how to update the OS of a Chromebook (make sure you are connected to a Wi-Fi network). If the issue is still there, try Google Docs in another browser (e.g., the issue is with Chrome, then try to use Firefox or Edge). Moreover, try to use another extension like Grammarly, Read & Write, etc. to manage the spell check till the issue is sorted. You can also use MS Word (copy the text to word and check all the spellings there, copy back the corrected text to Google Docs) to check for the spellings until the problem is solved. It will be a good idea to report the issue to developers using Help > Report an Issue.
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