Google Docs Not Underlining Misspelled Words (2024)

In this article, we will show you why Google Docs is not underlining misspelled words and how you can fix it. Simply follow the steps below.

Why Is Google Docs Not Underlining Misspelled Words

Here’s why Google Docs isn’t underlining misspelled words and how to fix it:

1. Spell Check Feature Is Turned Off

Google Docs might not be underlining misspelled words because the spell-check feature has been disabled. You can enable it by navigating to the ‘Tools’ tab at the menu bar.

Then, hover over ‘Spelling and grammar’, and ensure that the ‘Spelling and grammar check’ option is checked.

2. Incorrect Language Settings in Document

The spell check may not function if your document is set to the wrong language. To fix this, go to the ‘File’ menu, select ‘Language’, and choose the correct language from the list to match the language you are writing in. For example, if you’re writing in English, make sure ‘English’ is selected.

3. Interference from Browser Settings or Extensions

Your browser settings or installed extensions might be blocking Google Docs from underlining misspelled words. To troubleshoot this issue, start by disabling any extensions that could affect text editing or language settings. 

You can do this by clicking on the Extensions icon located at the top right corner of the Google Chrome browser. 

From there, select ‘Manage extensions’ to see a list of all installed extensions. 

Look for extensions like grammar checkers or ad blockers and toggle them off one by one to check if that resolves the issue.

Additionally, you can open a new incognito window by pressing Ctrl+Shift+N (or Cmd+Shift+N on Mac).  Try accessing your document in this mode to see if the problem persists, as this usually disables all extensions by default.

We hope that you now have a better understanding of why Google Docs is not underlining misspelled words and how you can fix it. If you enjoyed this article, you might also like our article on how to put words over a picture in Google Docs or our article on how to highlight all of one word in Google Docs.