Is Word no longer showing red spelling underlines, or does F7 say everything is correct when you know the document contains mistakes? Usually the cause is a proofing setting, incorrect text language, or a document-specific exception—not a broken keyboard. Use these fixes in order, beginning with the least disruptive checks.
First: determine what is actually failing
- Open a new blank Word document and type an obvious misspelling, such as spelingg.
- Check whether it gets a red underline. Then press F7 to run Editor or Spelling & Grammar.
- If the mistake is detected in the new file but not in the original, focus on the original document’s language, exceptions, and text formatting. If neither file detects it, check Word-wide proofing settings and installed language tools.
Fix 1. Turn on automatic spelling checks
Word for Windows: open File > Options > Proofing and enable Check spelling as you type. Also review the grammar checking options available in your edition.
Word for Mac: open Word > Preferences > Spelling & Grammar and turn on Check spelling as you type. Some versions label or organize these settings differently.
Even if automatic underlines are disabled, you can often run a manual review with F7. If F7 itself does not open the panel, try Review > Editor or Spelling & Grammar; on some keyboards, press Fn + F7.
Fix 2. Check the proofing language and “Do not check”
- Press Ctrl + A on Windows (or Command + A on Mac) to select the body text you want to check. If the document contains separate text boxes or other parts, you may need to check them separately.
- Open Review > Language > Set Proofing Language.
- Choose the correct language, such as English (United States) or English (United Kingdom).
- Clear the checkbox labeled Do not check spelling or grammar, then click OK. Re-run the test.
For a multilingual document, assign the intended language to each passage instead of forcing one language across the whole document. Microsoft has guidance on proofing multiple languages.
Fix 3. Check document-only exceptions
In Word for Windows, choose File > Options > Proofing. Under Exceptions for, select the affected document and ensure Hide spelling errors in this document only and Hide grammar errors in this document only are not enabled. These exceptions can make errors disappear in one file even while spell check works elsewhere.
Fix 4. Recheck previously ignored errors
If you previously chose Ignore All, Word may not flag those words again during the current check. In Word for Windows, open File > Options > Proofing and select Recheck Document, if available. Confirm the reset, then press F7 to review again.
Fix 5. Verify proofing tools for the selected language
Not every language is installed or supported for every proofing feature. In Word for Windows, open File > Options > Language and look under Office authoring languages and proofing. If the needed language says Proofing available rather than Proofing installed, follow the provided installation link or your organization’s software policy.
See Microsoft’s instructions for adding authoring and proofing languages. Do not look for an “Add or Remove Features” button inside the grammar settings—those controls are not the current installation route in many Word editions.
Fix 6. Check your custom dictionary
If only certain misspellings are overlooked, someone may have added them to a custom dictionary. Review File > Options > Proofing > Custom Dictionaries on Windows. Remove just the incorrect entries, not the entire dictionary. Read our custom dictionary cleanup steps.
Fix 7. Test whether the issue is limited to one document
- Save a backup of the affected file.
- Make a new blank document and type the same misspelling. If it is detected there, the app-wide checker is likely functioning.
- In the original file, inspect the text language, ignored words, and document-only exceptions again. If necessary, copy a small passage into a clean file to compare behavior.
- If the problem affects only a single document, avoid changing or reinstalling your entire Office installation until you have ruled out document-specific settings.
Fix 8. Restart or repair Word only if earlier fixes fail
If spell check fails in every file and your proofing language is installed, restart Word and check for Office updates. On a managed work or school device, contact IT about proofing services, add-ins, and installation repairs. Windows users may have a built-in Microsoft 365/Office repair option under installed apps, but repairing software is a later step—not the first response to a missing underline.
Quick symptom-to-solution guide
- Only one file has no red underlines: check its proofing language and the document-only exceptions.
- Only one word is never flagged: inspect Ignore All and your custom dictionary.
- Another language is not checked: set that passage’s language and verify the proofing tools are installed.
- F7 does nothing: try Fn + F7 or the Review menu; this can be a keyboard shortcut issue rather than a spell-check failure.
- Spelling works but grammar suggestions do not: check grammar options and remember that Editor refinements vary by version, language, and availability.
If you are looking for the normal spelling-check workflow rather than troubleshooting, see our companion guide: How to check spelling and grammar in Word with Editor and F7. For the underlying setting controls, read Microsoft’s spelling and grammar documentation.
Two-minute diagnostic: distinguish document settings from Word settings
Use the same deliberately misspelled word, spelingg, in three places: a new blank document, the affected document’s main body, and (if relevant) a text box in that document. Check both the red underline and Review > Editor. Record what happens before changing any options.
- Detected in the new file only: focus on the affected file’s proofing language, exceptions, and ignored words. Check text boxes separately.
- Detected by Editor but not underlined: check automatic spelling-as-you-type and document-only “Hide spelling errors” settings.
- Not detected in either file: verify the language and proofing installation before attempting an Office repair.
When spelling is intentionally disabled
Code snippets, product names, formulas, and quotations may be intentionally marked Do not check spelling or grammar. Do not remove that setting from an entire technical document without reviewing the effect on those passages. In a multilingual report, select each passage and set its correct proofing language instead of forcing all text into English. If you work on a confidential or managed document, follow your organization’s policies before sending content to online proofing services.
Frequently asked questions
Why does spell check work in one document but not another?
Proofing language, the Do not check spelling or grammar setting, and document-only exceptions can differ between files. Compare a known misspelling in a new document before changing global Word settings.
Why does F7 work but red spelling underlines are missing?
Manual review and automatic background checking are separate. Enable Check spelling as you type and confirm that the document does not hide spelling errors.
Does Word check spelling inside text boxes and headers?
These parts of a document may require separate selection or review. If the main body checks correctly but another area does not, click into that area and confirm its proofing language and settings.
C P Gupta is a YouTuber and Blogger. He is expert in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. His YouTube channel @pickupbrain is very popular and has crossed 9.9 Million Views.