How to Fix Google Docs Spell Check Not Working in 2024

“When people mention ‘Google Docs spell check not working’, they are referring to the tool within Google Docs that assists with identifying spelling mistakes, not functioning correctly. Normally, whenever you make a spelling mistake, Google Docs highlights the error with a red underline to bring it to your attention.

However, if this highlighting is not occurring or if you are not receiving suggestions to correct your mistakes, then it is safe to say that the spellcheck feature is not working as expected. It is worth noting that Google Docs requires an internet connection to perform spell checks. Therefore, if your internet connectivity is unstable, the spellcheck feature may not work correctly.

Additionally, if your document’s language setting is incorrect, the spell-check feature can become confusing. To improve website loading times, your browser caches data. However, this cached data may interfere with the spellcheck feature. Clearing your browser’s cache may help resolve the issue. Finally, if you have any additional tools or extensions installed on your web browser, they might cause problems with Google Docs.”

How to Turn On Google Docs Spell Checking

In cases when using Google Docs, the spellcheck feature is typically enabled by default. It automatically highlights any spelling mistakes. However, if you find that spell checking is not working or if you accidentally turned it off, you can follow these steps to enable it:

1. Open your Google Docs document.
2. Look for words that are underlined in red. If you see these red underlines, spellchecking is already active. ​
3. To access the menu options you can click on the “Tools” tab located at the part of your screen.
4. From the dropdown menu, select “Spelling and grammar.”
5. Ensure that the “Show spelling suggestions” option is checked in the submenu. This will enable spell-checking.
6. In Google Docs your document will be scanned automatically to identify any words which will be highlighted with an underline.
7. To view suggestions for a highlighted word, right-click on it. 

How to Set The Document Language in Google Docs

Specifying the language in Google Docs is crucial to ensure spell-checking and access to language features. Here’s how you can set the document language:

1. Click on the File tab in the top menu bar.
2. Select Language from the dropdown menu.
3. A list of available languages will appear.
4. Select the language you want to set for the document.
5. The chosen language will now be set for your document.
6. Spell check and grammar suggestions function accurately for your chosen language.
7. Screen readers can correctly identify the language enhancing accessibility for visually impaired users. 

How to Turn Off Enhanced Spell Checking in Chrome

1. Google Chrome’s spell-checking features can be managed through Chrome’s settings. 
2. Click on the three dots in the upper-right corner of the browser window to open the menu.
3. Select “Settings.”
4. Please navigate to the bottom of the page. Locate the “section. Click on it. You will find the option for “Languages.”
5. Under “Spell check,” uncheck the box for “Enhanced spell check.”

How to Update Chrome

Keeping Google Chrome up to date is crucial for maintaining the level of security, resolving any bugs, and benefiting from the enhancements. Here’s a simple guide on how you can update your Chrome browser

1. To begin, launch the Google Chrome application on your computer.
2. To access the menu you can click on the three dots located at the corner of your browser window.
3. Hover over “Help” to open a submenu and then click on “About Google Chrome.”
4. If available, Chrome will automatically check for updates and start downloading them. You will see the update progress.
5. Once the update has been downloaded, you will notice a button labeled “Relaunch.” Simply click on it to restart Chrome with the up-to-date version.

How to Disable Browser Extensions in Chrome

To disable browser extensions in Google Chrome, you can easily follow these steps. You can re-enable them if needed by toggling the switch back to the on position on the Extensions page.

1. To access the menu you can click on the three dots located at the corner of your browser window.
2. To access options, click on the menu and choose ” tools,” then select “Extensions.”
3. In the Extensions menu, you will discover a compilation of all the currently installed extensions.
4. To disable a specific extension, click on the gray toggle switch to the right of its name. This will effectively deactivate the extension’s functionality.

How to Clear Browser Cache and Cookies in Chrome

Clearing your browser cache and cookies in Google Chrome is a straightforward process. Follow these steps:

1. Click on the three vertical dots in the top-right corner of Chrome.
2. Select “More tools” and then “Clear browsing data.” 
3. Select the time range (e.g., “Last hour” or “All time”).
4. Check the boxes for “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files.”
5. Click on the ” data” option in Chrome to delete the chosen data.
6. Click on “Cookies and other site data” or “Cached images and files” to see a breakdown before clearing.

How to Reset Your Browser Settings in Chrome.

1. To access the settings, you can click on the three dots located at the corner of your screen and then choose “Settings”.
2. Click “Reset and clean up” on the left.
3. To reset the settings, click on the “option located at the bottom. Then select “Reset settings” on the left side.
4. Click “Restore settings to their original defaults” and confirm.
5. Your browser will restart with its original settings.

How to Copy Your Document Without Formatting in Google Docs

Copying a document without formatting in Google Docs can be done using the “Paste without formatting” option. Here is a step-by-step guide:

1. Open your Google Docs document.
2. To highlight text for copying, click and drag the cursor over it.
3. Next, either click on the text or make use of the following keyboard shortcut:
   • For Windows/Linux users: Press Ctrl + C
   • Mac: Command + C 
4. Go to the spot where you wish to place the text.
5. Right-click at the insertion point or use the keyboard shortcut:
   • Windows/Linux: Ctrl + Shift + V
   • Mac: Command + Shift + V
6. This action will paste the text without carrying over the formatting from the source. It will adopt the formatting of the destination document.

Why is Google Docs not highlighting my spelling mistakes?

If Google Docs are not underlining misspelled words in red color, it could be due to issues with your internet connection language settings or browser-related problems.

How can I verify if the language setting of my document is accurate?

Go to the “File” menu, select “Language,” and ensure that the correct language is chosen. Incorrect language settings can affect spell check.

​Why is internet connectivity crucial for Google Docs spell check?

Google Docs relies on online resources for spell-checking. Unstable internet connections may lead to spell check not functioning correctly.

Are there any resources for assistance? 

You can check out the Google Docs Help Center at this link: https://support.google.com/docs/?hl=en