How to Set Up Spell Check and AutoCorrect in Windows 11

Windows 11 includes a variety of grammar features that help with spelling and autocorrect typos as you type in most apps. However, in some apps, such as Notepad, Outlook, and Microsoft 365, you need to manually configure the available grammar tools.

If you have a PC with the latest version of Windows 11, the system can highlight misspelled words and automatically correct typos, as well as offer text suggestions without having to use third-party tools. The Notepad app also integrates with the system’s writing features, but you have to enable them manually.

Apps like Microsoft Edge, Outlook for Windows 11, and Microsoft 365 also offer grammar assistance features, but because they offer different capabilities, you’ll need to enable them in the app’s settings page.

In this guide, I’ll explain how to configure the grammar features available in Windows 11 and most popular Microsoft apps.

How to Enable Grammar Tools in Windows 11

In Windows 11, you can configure different grammar tools to be available in different apps, but in some programs you will still need to configure these features manually.

Turn on spell checking and autocorrection

To set up spell checker, word suggestions, and other grammar tools in Windows 11, follow the steps below.

Open Settings.
Click on Time and language.
Click Typing page on the right.

Windows 11 Typing Settings

(Photo source: Mauro Huculak)

Turn on “Autocorrect misspelled words” a switch that allows the system to automatically correct typos.

Autocorrect misspelled words

(Photo source: Mauro Huculak)

Quick note: This function does not correct serious errors.

Turn on “Highlight misspelled words” toggle the switch to turn on spell checking.
(Optional) Enable “Show text suggestions when typing on a physical keyboard” toggle the switch to generate a prediction list.
(Optional) Enable “Multilingual Text Suggestions” toggle the switch if you use multiple languages and want the system to suggest text as you type.

Once you complete these steps, the system will highlight misspelled words and automatically correct typos in any application.

View your writing stats

To check your typing statistics in Windows 11, do the following:

Open Settings.
Click on Time and language.
Click Typing page on the right.

Windows 11 Typing Settings

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Click “Insight into Writing” setting.

Insight into writing

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Validate your statistics with the system’s grammar tools.

Writing Information Overview

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(Optional) Turn off the “Writing Insights” toggle to disable this feature.

After completing these steps, you can review spelling corrections, suggested and auto-completed words, and keystrokes recorded using these features.

Manage Custom Dictionary

If the spell checker highlights some text as incorrect but is spelled correctly, you may have added some words to your custom dictionary by mistake. You can’t edit your custom dictionary, but you can clear it to start over.

To clear the custom dictionary in Windows 11, do the following:

Open Settings.
Click on Privacy and security.
Click Personalization of writing and inking side.

Personalization of writing and inking

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Click Custom Dictionary setting.

Custom Dictionary

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(Optional) Turn off “Custom Dictionary of Handwriting and Writing” toggle the switch to disable this feature.
(Option 1) Review the list of words added to the dictionary using the spell checker.
(Option 2) Click “Clear your custom dictionary” button to clear all words for this account.

Clear your custom dictionary

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Quick note: This feature does not include the option to delete individual words.

After completing these steps, you can review your custom dictionary and clear it if necessary.

How to Enable Grammar Tools for Specific System Apps in Windows 11

Although spell checking is available globally, in some applications (such as Notepad, Microsoft Edge, and the new Outlook) you need to manually configure access to spell checking.

Notebook

To enable spell checking features in Notepad, do the following:

Open Notebook.
Click Settings (gear) button in the upper right corner.
Turn on Spell check rocker switch.

Spell check and autocorrect in Notepad

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(Optional) Click Spell check setting.
Enable or disable the file type you want to include or exclude from this feature.
Turn on Autocorrect rocker switch.

Once you complete these steps, the app will be able to use the spell checker in Windows 11 to highlight misspelled words and typos.

Microsoft Edge

To enable spell checking features in Microsoft Edge, follow these steps:

Open Microsoft Edge.
Click Settings and more (three dots) button in the upper right corner.
Choose Settings option.
Click on Tongue from the left panel.
Turn on “Turn on grammar and spelling help” rocker switch.
Choose Microsoft Editor the ability to use a service similar to Grammarly that offers improved grammar, spelling, and style suggestions.

Turn on grammar and spell checking in Edge

(Photo source: Mauro Huculak)

Quick tip: If you are only interested in basic spell checking features, select the Basic option.

(Optional) Enable “Use text prediction” toggle the switch to allow the browser to display word suggestions as you type, like in Windows 11.
(Optional) Enable “Collaborate with Copilot while writing online” toggle the switch to access Copilot assistant for writing content for the web.

Microsoft Edge Writing Assistance Features

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Quick note: If you disable this feature, the browser will not assist in rewriting content when selecting text on the web.

(Optional) Click Customize dictionary setting.
Remove or add new words to the list (if necessary).

After completing these steps, your browser will apply the new spelling settings to your computer.

Perspectives

To configure spell checking features in Outlook, follow these steps:

Open Perspectives for Windows 11 applications.
Click New button on the Home tab to start writing a new email.
Click Options strap.
Click Editor button.
Click on Editor Settings.

Outlook Editor Settings

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Turn on “Text Predictions” rocker switch.
Turn on “Turn on auto-correction” rocker switch.

Predictive text and autocorrect in Outlook

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(Optional) Enable “Enable automatic capitalization” rocker switch.
Configure “Amendments” features including spelling and grammar settings.
Configure Improvements features that let you adjust clarity, formality, tone, vocabulary, and other grammatical refinements.

Outlook Fixes and Improvements

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Click Okay button.

Once you complete these steps, your email client will provide grammar assistance based on your chosen configuration.

Microsoft 365 Apps

To set up spell checker in Word, Excel, OneNote, and other Microsoft 365 apps in Windows 11, follow these steps:

Open Microsoft 365 App (such as Word).
Click on File and click Options.
Click on Impregnation on the left side.
Check “Check your spelling as you type” option.
Check “Mark grammar as you write” option.
Choose “Grammar and Improvements” option from the “Writing Style” setting.

Correcting spelling and grammar

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Quick tip: You can also choose to use only the “Grammar” settings.

Click Settings button.
Configure features for Grammar, conciseness, formality, inclusiveness, punctuation conventions, CV, sensitive geopolitical references, AND Vocabulary.

Word grammar settings

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Click Okay button.
(Optional) Click Custom Dictionaries button.

Custom Dictionaries

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Choose “RoamingCustom.dic” option.
Click “Edit word list” button.

Word Edit Custom Dictionary

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Add or remove words from the dictionary.
Click Okay button.
(Optional) Click “Autocorrect options” button.

Autocorrect options

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Click on Autocorrect strap.
Check these options if you want corrections to be made automatically as you type in your document.

Autocorrect settings for Word

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Quick tip: In this section, you can also configure autocorrect settings for math, format, and operations.

Click Okay button.
Click Okay press the button again.

After completing these steps, your validation settings will be applied to Microsoft 365 apps.

Although you’ll find proofing settings in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, each application will have different options. As a result, for more detailed configuration, you’ll need to update the proofing settings in each application. (It’s important to note that some customizations will apply to all applications.)

You can also use Microsoft Editor features in Microsoft Word by purchasing a Microsoft 365 subscription, but the settings are available through the online version of Word and are essentially the same as those in the new Outlook for Windows 11.

More resources

For more helpful articles, resources, and answers to frequently asked questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources: