How To Turn Off Spell Check In Outlook : Turn Off Real Time Corrections

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Spell check underlines every potential error in Outlook, yet you can turn off this automatic proofreading for specific documents or permanently. If you’ve ever wondered how to turn off spell check in outlook because those red squiggly lines distract you or mark correct terms as wrong, this guide walks you through every method. Whether you use Outlook for Windows, Mac, or the web version, you’ll find clear steps to disable spell check instantly.

Many people find automatic spell checking helpful, but it can be annoying when you’re typing technical terms, names, or abbreviations. The good news is Outlook gives you full control. You can turn it off for a single email, for all new messages, or even for specific dictionaries. Let’s start with the most common requests.

How To Turn Off Spell Check In Outlook

This section covers the core methods for disabling spell check across different Outlook versions. Follow the steps that match your setup. The process varies slightly between Windows, Mac, and Outlook.com, but all are simple.

For Outlook On Windows (Desktop App)

Outlook for Windows uses the same spell check engine as Microsoft Word. You can adjust settings directly in the Outlook options menu. Here’s how:

  1. Open Outlook on your Windows computer.
  2. Click File in the top-left corner.
  3. Select Options from the left sidebar.
  4. In the Outlook Options window, click Mail.
  5. Scroll down to the Compose messages section.
  6. Click the button labeled Spelling and Autocorrect.
  7. In the new window, uncheck the box that says Check spelling as you type.
  8. Click OK to save changes, then OK again to close.

After you do this, Outlook stops underlining words as you type. However, it will still run a manual spell check when you press F7 or click the Spelling button. If you want to disable that too, uncheck Always check spelling before sending in the same window.

For Outlook On Mac

The Mac version of Outlook has a slightly different layout. The spell check settings are found in the preferences menu. Follow these steps:

  1. Open Outlook on your Mac.
  2. Click Outlook in the top menu bar.
  3. Select Preferences from the dropdown.
  4. In the Preferences window, click Spelling and Grammar.
  5. Uncheck the box for Check spelling while typing.
  6. Optionally, uncheck Check grammar with spelling if you want.
  7. Close the preferences window to apply changes.

One quirk on Mac: Outlook sometimes reverts to default settings after an update. If you notice red lines reappearing, repeat these steps. Also, you can turn off spell check for a single message by going to Edit > Spelling and Grammar > Show Spelling and Grammar and unchecking the box there.

For Outlook On The Web (Outlook.com Or Office 365)

The web version of Outlook has fewer options, but you can still disable automatic spell check. The setting is tied to your browser’s spell check, not Outlook itself. Here’s what to do:

  1. Open Outlook.com or your Office 365 email in a browser.
  2. Click the gear icon (Settings) in the top-right corner.
  3. Select View all Outlook settings at the bottom.
  4. Go to Mail > Compose and reply.
  5. Scroll down to Spelling and toggle Check spelling as you type to Off.
  6. Click Save at the top.

If this toggle doesn’t work or isn’t visible, your browser’s built-in spell check may still be active. You can disable that in your browser settings. For example, in Chrome, go to Settings > Languages and turn off Spell check.

Turning Off Spell Check For A Single Email

Sometimes you only want to disable spell check for one message, not all emails. Outlook makes this easy. You can temporarily turn off the red lines for a specific email you’re composing.

In Outlook For Windows

While composing a new email, follow these steps:

  1. Click inside the email body.
  2. Go to the Review tab in the ribbon at the top.
  3. Click Spelling & Grammar.
  4. In the dialog that opens, click Options.
  5. Uncheck Check spelling as you type for this session.
  6. Close the dialog and continue typing without red lines.

This change only applies to the current email. When you close and reopen Outlook, the default settings return. It’s a quick fix for emails with lots of proper nouns or code snippets.

In Outlook For Mac

On a Mac, you can disable spell check for a single email from the Edit menu:

  1. Start composing a new message.
  2. Click Edit in the top menu bar.
  3. Hover over Spelling and Grammar.
  4. Uncheck Check Spelling While Typing.
  5. The red lines disappear immediately for that message.

This setting resets when you close the email window. It’s handy for drafts where you don’t want distractions.

Disabling Spell Check For Specific Words Or Dictionaries

If you don’t want to turn off spell check entirely, you can add words to your custom dictionary. This prevents Outlook from marking them as errors. It’s useful for names, technical terms, or company jargon.

Adding Words To The Dictionary

When you see a red underline on a word you know is correct, right-click it. From the menu, select Add to Dictionary. Outlook will remember that word and stop flagging it in the future.

You can also manage your custom dictionary manually:

  1. In Outlook for Windows, go to File > Options > Mail > Spelling and Autocorrect.
  2. Click Custom Dictionaries.
  3. Select the dictionary you want to edit (usually RoamingCustom.dic).
  4. Click Edit Word List.
  5. Add or remove words as needed.
  6. Click OK to save.

This approach keeps spell check active but silences it for your specific vocabulary. It’s a balanced solution if you still want some error detection.

Common Issues When Turning Off Spell Check

Sometimes the steps above don’t work as expected. Here are frequent problems and how to fix them.

Spell Check Still Appears After Disabling

If red lines persist after you’ve turned off spell check, try these fixes:

  • Restart Outlook completely. Settings sometimes require a restart.
  • Check if an add-in is overriding your settings. Go to File > Options > Add-ins and disable any third-party spelling tools.
  • Verify you changed the correct setting. In Windows, the Check spelling as you type option is under Mail > Spelling and Autocorrect, not in the Editor options.
  • For Outlook on the web, clear your browser cache and cookies, then try again.

Spell Check Reverts After Update

Microsoft updates sometimes reset your preferences. After a major update, check your spell check settings again. You might need to re-disable them. To prevent this, note your settings or take a screenshot after configuring.

Spell Check Works Differently In Replies Vs. New Emails

Outlook treats replies and forwarded messages differently. Spell check settings for new emails apply to replies as well, but if you use a different email format (HTML vs. plain text), the behavior may vary. Stick to HTML format for consistent results.

Advanced Options: Using Registry Or Group Policy

For IT administrators or power users, you can disable spell check via Windows Registry or Group Policy. This is useful for deploying settings across an organization. Be careful, as editing the registry can cause issues if done incorrectly.

Registry Method (Windows Only)

  1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
  2. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Options (adjust version number as needed).
  3. Create a new DWORD (32-bit) value named SpellCheckAsYouType.
  4. Set its value to 0 to disable, or 1 to enable.
  5. Restart Outlook for the change to take effect.

This method overrides the user interface setting. It’s permanent until you change the registry value back.

Group Policy Method

If you manage multiple computers, use Group Policy to disable spell check. Under User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Outlook 2016 > Outlook Options > Mail Format, find the policy for Turn off automatic spell checking. Enable it to force the setting across all users.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to common questions about disabling spell check in Outlook.

Can I turn off spell check for only one email account?

No, Outlook applies spell check settings globally across all accounts. However, you can disable it for a single email as described earlier. For per-account control, you’d need separate Outlook profiles.

Why does spell check keep turning back on in Outlook?

This often happens after an Office update or if you sync settings across devices. Check if your account is syncing preferences via Office 365. You may need to disable sync or reapply settings after updates.

Does turning off spell check affect grammar checking too?

In most cases, yes. Disabling Check spelling as you type also stops grammar suggestions. If you want only grammar checks, keep spell check on and disable grammar in the same settings window.

How do I turn off spell check in Outlook for Android or iOS?

Mobile Outlook apps use your device’s built-in spell check. To disable it, go to your phone’s keyboard settings (e.g., Gboard or iOS keyboard) and turn off spell check there. Outlook itself doesn’t have a separate setting.

Can I remove the red underline without disabling spell check?

Yes, you can right-click a word and choose Ignore or Ignore All to remove the underline for that session. Adding the word to your dictionary also works permanently.

Final Tips For Managing Spell Check In Outlook

Turning off spell check in Outlook is straightforward once you know where to look. The exact steps depend on your version, but the core idea is the same: find the spelling options and uncheck the box. If you’re a heavy user of technical terms, consider building a custom dictionary instead of disabling everything. This gives you the best of both worlds—error detection for real mistakes, and no false flags for your specialized vocabulary.

Remember that Outlook’s spell check is tied to Microsoft Word’s engine on Windows. Changes you make in Outlook may affect Word too, and vice versa. If you use both apps, check both settings to avoid surprises. On Mac, the integration is less tight, so changes in Outlook don’t affect other Office apps.

For quick reference, here’s a summary of the main methods:

  • Windows desktop: File > Options > Mail > Spelling and Autocorrect > Uncheck “Check spelling as you type.”
  • Mac desktop: Outlook > Preferences > Spelling and Grammar > Uncheck “Check spelling while typing.”
  • Web version: Settings > View all Outlook settings > Mail > Compose and reply > Toggle off “Check spelling as you type.”
  • Single email: Use the Review tab (Windows) or Edit menu (Mac) to disable temporarily.

If you encounter any issues, restarting Outlook or your computer often resolves them. For persistent problems, check for add-ins or corrupted settings. You can also run the Office repair tool from the Control Panel to reset Outlook without losing your emails.

Spell check is a helpful tool, but it’s not for everyone. Whether you find it distracting or it marks too many correct words, you now have all the steps to control it. Disable it completely, use it selectively, or build a custom dictionary—the choice is yours. With these instructions, you can work in Outlook without those annoying red lines getting in your way.