If Outlook spell check isn’t working, you may be overlooking an error that can be unprofessional or embarrassing. Below are the most common causes of this problem and a list of ways to quickly fix it.

This handy feature can save you from embarrassing spelling mistakes, but only if it works. Here are some factors that can cause Outlook's spell check tool to malfunction or stop working:

Follow these solutions in the order we listed them, so you can try the easier solutions first.

Close Outlook and reopen it. This is a good first step, because it doesn't take long. A temporary glitch in the software or on your computer can disrupt the functionality of the spell checker.