Enabling spell check in new Outlook 365
“I keep sending emails with typos to clients and colleagues. How can I make sure Outlook automatically checks my spelling before I send messages?” This common workplace concern affects professionals across all industries who rely on email communication to maintain their professional reputation and ensure clear messaging.
Turn on spell check in Outlook Windows 11 and solution overview
Email remains one of the most important forms of professional communication, where proper spelling plays a key role in maintaining credibility and attention to detail. However, many users find that Outlook’s spell check feature isn’t always enabled by default, resulting in unnoticed typos that can undermine otherwise polished messages.
Today’s walkthrough explains how to enable and configure automatic spell checking across different Outlook versions, the new Outlook for Windows 365, and the classic desktop app on Windows 11. You’ll learn how to activate background spell checking so that every email is automatically reviewed before it’s sent off to its recipients. To follow along, make sure you have an active Microsoft 365 subscription or Outlook desktop installation, administrative rights to adjust settings, and basic familiarity with the Outlook interface. The process uses the Outlook desktop app, the new Outlook for Windows, and the Outlook 365 web interface.
Where is spell check in Outlook – step-by-step implementation
Adding spell check to Outlook M365 desktop application
• Navigate to the File tab in your Outlook ribbon interface and select Options from the left-hand navigation menu to access comprehensive application settings.If you’re having trouble with other Outlook features, you might also want to check our guide on how to turn on notifications in Outlook Windows 11.
• Click on Mail in the Options dialog box left panel, then scroll down to locate the Compose messages section which contains spell checking configuration options.
• Check the box labeled “Always check spelling before sending” to ensure automatic spell verification occurs before each email transmission, preventing typos from reaching recipients.
• Select “Check spelling as you type” to enable real-time spell checking that underlines misspelled words with red wavy lines as you compose messages.
• Choose your preferred dictionary language from the dropdown menu, ensuring spell check recognizes terminology specific to your region and professional vocabulary requirements.
• Click the Spelling and Autocorrect button to access advanced spell checking options including custom dictionary management and autocorrect feature configuration.
Expert Tip: Enable “Ignore words in UPPERCASE” if you frequently use acronyms or technical terminology that shouldn’t trigger spell check alerts during composition.
How to get spell check on Outlook web version
• Open Outlook in your web browser and click the Settings gear icon located in the top-right corner of the interface.
• Select “View all Outlook settings” from the dropdown menu to access comprehensive configuration options for your web-based email experience.
• Navigate to Mail > Compose and reply in the settings panel to locate spell checking options specifically designed for web-based email composition.
• Toggle on “Check spelling while typing” to enable automatic spell verification that highlights potential errors with visual indicators during message creation.
• Choose your preferred spell check language from the available options, ensuring accuracy for your specific linguistic and regional requirements.
• Save your changes by clicking the Save button at the bottom of the settings panel to apply spell check configurations across all future email compositions.
Spell check emails automatically Outlook in new Outlook application
• Launch the new Outlook application and click on Settings located in the top navigation bar to access modernized configuration options.
• Select Mail from the settings categories, then navigate to the Compose section which contains updated spell checking features for the redesigned interface.
• Enable “Spell check” toggle switch to activate automatic spelling verification for all outgoing messages, ensuring professional communication standards.
• Configure “Check spelling before sending” option to create a mandatory spell check step that prevents transmission of emails containing potential spelling errors.
• Customize spell check language preferences by selecting your primary language from the dropdown menu, accommodating international users and multilingual environments.
• Apply settings changes and restart the application if prompted to ensure all spell checking features function correctly across your email workflow.
Important Tip: The new Outlook application may require periodic updates to maintain spell check functionality, so enable automatic updates in your Microsoft 365 settings.
Troubleshooting common spell check configuration issues
• Spell check not working after enabling settings: Clear Outlook’s cache by navigating to File > Options > Advanced > Outlook Data Files, then restart the application to refresh spell checking functionality.
• Red underlines not appearing for misspelled words: Verify that “Mark grammar errors as you type” is enabled in File > Options > Mail > Editor Options > Proofing settings panel.
• Custom words not recognized by spell checker: Add frequently used technical terms to your custom dictionary through File > Options > Mail > Spelling and Autocorrect > Custom Dictionaries.
• Spell check language incorrect for your region: Change the proofing language by accessing Review tab > Language > Set Proofing Language, then select your preferred regional dictionary option.
• New Outlook spell check features missing: Ensure you’re running the latest version of Microsoft 365 by checking File > Office Account > Update Options > Update Now for feature availability.
• Spell check disabled in specific email accounts: Check individual account settings by navigating to File > Account Settings > Account Settings, then verify spell check is enabled for each configured email profile.
Remember: Some third-party Outlook add-ins may interfere with spell check functionality, so temporarily disable add-ins if you experience persistent spell checking issues.