To turn on spell check in Windows 10, open Settings, select Devices, select Typing, and under Spelling turn on Highlight misspelled words. Turn on Autocorrect misspelled words as well if you want Windows to fix common typos for you.
Applies to: Windows 10 (with notes for Windows 11, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome). Checked against Microsoft Support on October 6, 2026.
What the two Windows spelling switches do
Windows 10 has two separate spelling switches, and you can use either one or both.
- Highlight misspelled words marks a word that Windows does not recognize so you can correct it yourself. This is the switch most people mean by “spell check.”
- Autocorrect misspelled words changes a mistyped word for you as you type.
These switches cover apps that rely on the Windows spell checker. Programs such as Word and Outlook, and web browsers, have their own spelling settings, which are covered further down. If spell check is missing in only one program, that program’s own setting is the place to look first.
Turn on spell check in Windows 10 Settings
- Select Start, then Settings, or press the Windows logo key + I. The Settings window opens.
- Select Devices. A list of device categories appears on the left.
- Select Typing in the left column. Look for the Spelling section.
- Turn on Highlight misspelled words. This is the switch that marks spelling mistakes.
- Optional: turn on Autocorrect misspelled words if you also want typos corrected automatically.
Turn on spell check in Word, Outlook and other Office apps
Office apps do not follow the Windows switches. Each one has its own setting, and Microsoft documents the steps in Check spelling and grammar in Office.
- Open the Office app and select File, then Options.
- In Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, Publisher or Visio, select Proofing. In classic Outlook, select Mail, then Spelling and Autocorrect.
- Select the Check spelling as you type check box.
- Select OK. Possible spelling errors are now marked with a red squiggly line, and you can right-click a marked word to choose a correction.
To check a whole document at once, press F7. If you earlier told Word to ignore certain words and want them checked again, go to File > Options > Proofing and select Recheck Document.
The OneNote for Windows 10 app is different: its spelling option is under Settings and More > Options > Proofing.
Turn on spell check in your web browser
Browsers check what you type into web pages, such as webmail and online forms, using their own setting.
- Google Chrome: select More, then Settings, then Languages, and turn on Check for spelling errors when you type text on web pages. Google explains the choices in Check your spelling in Chrome. Basic spell check keeps your text on your computer, while Enhanced spell check sends what you type to Google for better suggestions. On Windows 8 and later, Chrome’s basic spell check is provided by Windows.
- Microsoft Edge: open Settings, select Languages, and make sure spell check is turned on for the language you write in.
How to confirm it worked, and how to turn it off
Close and reopen the app you want to use, then type a deliberately misspelled word such as “recieve” followed by a space. With highlighting on, the word is marked as a possible error. With autocorrect on, a common typo may be replaced as you type.
To undo the change, go back to Settings > Devices > Typing and turn the same switches off. In Office, clear the Check spelling as you type check box.
Troubleshooting
Misspelled words are still not marked
Turn both spelling switches off, restart the computer, and turn them back on. Then check the app itself, because Word, Outlook and browsers ignore the Windows switches and use their own settings.
Correct words are marked as wrong, or nothing is marked
This usually points to a language mismatch. In Windows 10, open Settings > Time & Language > Language and make sure the language you type in is listed. Select it and choose Options to review its keyboards and language features. Add languages only through Windows or the app’s own settings, not from download sites. Our guide to adding a language and typing French accents in Windows 10 walks through installing one.
In Word, select the text, then go to Review > Language > Set Proofing Language. Choose the right language and clear the Do not check spelling or grammar check box. Microsoft covers this in Set up or change the languages used to check spelling and grammar. For regional spelling, see how to change Word spell check to UK English, and for spreadsheets see how to change the language in Excel.
Spell check works everywhere except one Word document
Word can apply spelling settings to a single document. Go to File > Options > Proofing and look at the Exceptions setting, which controls whether the setting applies to the current document only or to all new documents.
The setting is missing or locked on a work or school PC
Organizations can manage typing and browser settings centrally. Microsoft Edge, for example, has an administrator policy that turns spell check on or off for everyone. If a control is unavailable on a managed computer, ask your IT administrator rather than trying to work around it.
Frequently asked questions
Where is spell check in Windows 11?
The same two switches moved. In Windows 11, go to Settings > Time & language > Typing and look under Spelling for Autocorrect misspelled words and Highlight misspelled words.
Does the Windows setting turn on spell check in Word?
No. Word uses File > Options > Proofing and the Check spelling as you type check box, independent of Windows Settings.
What is the difference between highlighting and autocorrect?
Highlighting only marks a word and leaves the decision to you. Autocorrect changes the word without asking. If autocorrect keeps changing names or technical terms, turn it off and keep highlighting on.
Is there a keyboard shortcut for spell check?
In Office apps, press F7 to start a spelling and grammar check of the document. The Windows spelling switches have no shortcut of their own, although Windows logo key + I opens Settings quickly.
Is Windows 10 still supported?
Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 Home and Pro on October 14, 2025. Spell check still works, but the system no longer receives regular security updates, so plan a move to Windows 11 if your PC is eligible.
Once the Windows switches are on, open the app you write in most and confirm its own spelling option is on too, since that is where most “spell check is not working” problems end.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.