If spelling or grammar underlining is not working in New Outlook, the issue may be caused by a disabled suggestion setting, a language mismatch in the draft, or the app showing a different set of controls than expected. Use the steps below to check the draft, the Editor settings, and your language choice, then retest with a new message.
What broken spell check in New Outlook usually means
In practice, missing or incorrect proofing usually points to a setting that is turned off, the wrong language being applied to the draft, or a menu path that does not match the version you are using.
No red underlines at all
Open the message draft and check whether proofing is enabled in Editor. If the underline indicators are not showing, the spelling suggestion option may be turned off.
Everything is underlined as wrong
This often happens when the draft language does not match the text you typed. If you write in more than one language, a message can keep the wrong language setting until you change it for that draft.
The Editor pane opens, but suggestions are missing
If the pane opens but does not show useful suggestions, review the Editor settings and make sure the needed suggestion types are enabled.
Which fix should you try first?
Start with the draft itself, then check Editor settings, and finally confirm the language used in that message. If the steps in the app do not match what you see, use the version-specific help for your Outlook app.
Most likely: Editor is off or suggestion types are disabled
- Open the email draft.
- Select Message > Editor > Open Editor.
- In the Editor pane, confirm that spelling suggestions are turned on.
- If needed, open Editor Settings.
- Turn the needed suggestion types back on, then select OK.
If the settings look wrong, choose Reset to default, then select OK again. After that, test a new draft rather than the old one.
Often: the proofing language does not match the draft
- Open the draft.
- Open the draft overflow menu.
- Choose Manage spellcheck languages or Add another language.
- Pick the correct language for the text you typed.
- Choose Add, then Done.
Less common: you are in a different Outlook version
If the menus do not match these steps, you may be using a different Outlook version. In that case, the available proofing controls can look different.
How do I turn on spell check in New Outlook?
Open the draft and use Editor to check whether spelling suggestions are enabled. If they are not, turn on the spelling suggestion type you need and save the change.
- Open a new email draft.
- Select Message > Editor > Open Editor.
- Look for spelling suggestions in the pane and underlined text in the message body.
- Open Editor Settings.
- Turn on the spelling suggestion type you need.
- Select OK.
If the pane still looks wrong, choose Reset to default in Editor Settings, then select OK again. Open a fresh draft after that.
How do I change the proofing language in New Outlook?
Use the language controls in the draft that needs correction. If the text is in another language, add that language for the message and then test the proofing again.
- Open the email draft that has the wrong language.
- Open the draft overflow menu.
- Select Add another language.
- Pick the correct language for the text you typed.
- Select Add.
- Select Done.
Retest in a new draft if the first one still looks off. If you write in more than one language, set the language separately for each message.
How do I stop New Outlook from marking everything wrong?
When every word is underlined, first check that the draft language matches the text. If that does not help, reset the Editor settings and test again with a fresh draft.
- Open the draft and confirm the language of the text.
- Open the draft overflow menu.
- Choose Manage spellcheck languages or Add another language.
- Pick the language that matches the text, then select Add and Done.
- Open Message > Editor > Open Editor.
- Open Editor Settings.
- If the settings look wrong, choose Reset to default.
- Select OK, then start a fresh draft and test again.
If unwanted underlines remain after the language is fixed, turn the specific suggestion types back on in Editor Settings one by one.
Symptom-to-fix troubleshooting table
Use the symptom that matches the screen first. That makes it easier to choose between checking Editor, checking the draft language, or confirming that you are in the right Outlook version.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Exact click path in New Outlook |
|---|---|---|
| No red underlines at all | Editor is off or spelling suggestions are disabled | Message > Editor > Open Editor > Editor Settings > turn on spelling suggestions > OK |
| Everything is marked wrong | Wrong proofing language for the draft | Draft overflow menu > Add another language > choose language > Add > Done |
| The Editor pane opens but looks empty | Suggestion types are off | Message > Editor > Open Editor > Editor Settings > Reset to default > OK |
| Steps do not match your menus | You may be using a different Outlook version | Check the controls in your app version |
What to do if the fix still does not work
If the steps above do not help, confirm that the app is up to date, close and reopen Outlook, and try again with a new draft. If the controls still do not appear as expected, the Outlook version or account setup may be limiting what you can change.
Check for controls that are missing, not broken
If Open Editor, Editor Settings, or Add another language is not available, the app may not be showing the controls you expect.
Confirm that you are actually in New Outlook for Windows
New Outlook for Windows uses the message draft overflow menu, supports Editor Settings in the simplified ribbon, and allows Manage spellcheck languages. If your menus look older, do not keep following New Outlook steps.
Fallback to classic Outlook
If New Outlook steps do not work, use the spell-check controls available in classic Outlook instead. That version uses different proofing commands, including Review > Spelling & Grammar.
Prevention: When you send in more than one language, set the proofing language in each new draft before writing the message.
Frequently asked questions
How do I fix spell check in new outlook?
Open the draft, then use Message > Editor > Open Editor. If suggestions are missing, open Editor Settings, turn on spelling suggestions, and select OK. If everything is flagged, change the draft language through the overflow menu and test a new draft.
How do I turn on automatic spell check in new outlook?
Open a draft and choose Message > Editor > Open Editor. Then open Editor Settings, enable the spelling suggestion types you want, and select OK.
How do I change the spell check language in new outlook?
Open the draft overflow menu, choose Add another language, select the correct language, then choose Add and Done.
Why is spell check not working in new outlook?
Check Editor settings, confirm that the draft language matches the text, and verify that the app is showing the controls you expect. If the menus do not match, try the proofing tools in the other Outlook version you have installed.
How do I use editor in new outlook?
Open a draft and select Message > Editor > Open Editor. The pane shows spelling, grammar, and style suggestions, and the message body can show red underlines for flagged words.
How do I stop new outlook from underlining everything as wrong?
Open the draft overflow menu and set the correct proofing language with Add another language, then choose Add and Done. If that does not fix it, open Editor Settings and choose Reset to default, then select OK and start a fresh draft.