Fix Word Spell Check Not Working After Update

Word spell check stops checking other languages after an update. Start with the quick proofing language fix, then dig into settings, and finally reset Word completely if needed.

Fix 1: The 30-Second Quick Fix

Before you start tearing into settings, check the proofing language on the document itself. Updates have a nasty habit of flipping the default language back to English (or whatever the OS uses). One document might be set to French, but Word thinks you want US English.

Here's the quick check:

Select the text that's being spell-checked.
Go to Review > Language > Set Proofing Language.
Make sure the correct language is highlighted. If it's not, pick it and click OK.

Also, uncheck “Detect language automatically” if it's on. That feature sounds smart but gets confused after updates, especially with mixed-language documents.

If that doesn't do it, move on.

Fix 2: The 5-Minute Fix – Check the Language Settings

If the text is set correctly but spell check still isn't working for that language, the problem is likely in Word's language preferences. Updates sometimes reset or disable the proofing tools for secondary languages.

Step 1: Verify the language is installed

Open File > Options > Language. Look under “Choose Editing Languages”. You should see your target language listed with a note like “Proofing installed” or “Proofing available.”

Proofing installed – good, move on.
Proofing available – you need to install the proofing tools. Click “Not installed” and hit “Install”.
Language not listed – click “Add a Language” and pick it. Word will prompt you to install the proofing tools.

This is the most common culprit after updates. The update doesn't remove the language, but it might disable the proofing tools for it.

Step 2: Set the default editing language

Make sure your preferred language is set as the default. In the same dialog, select the language and click “Set as Default.” Yes, it might say “Windows” next to it—that's fine.

Step 3: Check the language for the Normal template

The Normal.dotm template stores default language settings. If it's set to English, every new document inherits that. To change it, open a new blank document, set the proofing language to your target, and then in the Home tab, right-click on the Normal style and choose Modify. Click Format > Language, set your language, and check “New documents based on this template.” Hit OK twice.

If that still doesn't fix it, you've got a deeper issue.

Fix 3: The 15-Minute Fix – Reset Word Completely

When updates leave behind corrupted settings or old registry keys, the only reliable fix is to reset Word's configuration. Don't bother with the “Repair” option from Control Panel—I've seen it leave the problem half-fixed. Do it properly.

Step 1: Close Word and rename the registry key

Exit Word completely. Then open the Registry Editor (regedit) and go to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Word

If you're on Office 2013, it's 15.0, and for 2010 it's 14.0. Right-click the Word key and rename it to Word_old. This forces Word to recreate its settings on next launch.

Also, delete the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Word\Data subkey if it exists—that's where Word stores a load of corrupted state.

Step 2: Delete the Normal template

Close Word and locate the Normal.dotm file. It's typically in:

%appdata%\Microsoft\Templates

Rename it to Normal.old. Word will create a fresh one when you restart. This clears any language settings stuck in the template.

Step 3: Disable add-ins that mess with language

Some third-party add-ins—especially translation tools or language packs—can break spell check after an update. Go to File > Options > Add-ins. At the bottom, select COM Add-ins from the dropdown and click Go. Uncheck anything that looks language-related, then restart Word.

Step 4: Repair Office if nothing else works

If you've done all that and spell check still won't check your language, then run the Office repair. Go to Settings > Apps > Microsoft Office (or Control Panel > Programs and Features), select the Office product, and click Change. Choose Quick Repair first. If that doesn't work, go back and run Online Repair—it takes longer but it's thorough.

One thing to note: the registry reset will wipe ALL your Word customization—keyboard shortcuts, auto-correct entries, the works. Export the key first if you want a backup. But honestly, most people don't care.

Why This Happens After Updates

Microsoft updates often rewrite the proofing tools registration, and sometimes the language ID for the default dictionary gets messed up. It's not that the language files are gone—they're just not being picked up. That's why the quick fix works so often: you're forcing Word to re-read the language setting.

If you're dealing with a specific scenario—like a user with a French primary language but an English OS—the update will often flip the proofing language back to the OS default. That's why the first fix is so effective.

Blunt truth: Most “spell check not working after update” complaints are just the proofing language getting reset. The registry reset is overkill for 80% of cases. Start with Fix 1, then Fix 2, and only go nuclear if you're still stuck.

After you've done the reset, test with a fresh document. Type a sentence in your target language and see if the red squiggles appear. If they do, you're done. If not, check that the correct dictionary is selected in Review > Language > Set Proofing Language.

If you're still dead in the water after that, it's likely a broken Office installation—run the Online Repair and call it a day. That's the last resort, and it works.