How to Turn Spellcheck On or Off in Windows 11
Spellcheck in Windows 11 checks your spelling as you type and marks mistakes with a red wavy line. The feature spots typos across apps like Notepad, Outlook, and web browsers to help you keep your messages clean.
Turning spellcheck off stops Windows from flagging names, foreign words, and slang. You can manage this setting in the Windows 11 Settings app under Time & language Typing
Navigate to Settings, then Time & language, and select Typing. Toggle the “Highlight misspelled words” option to On or Off to control spellcheck.
Turn Spellcheck On or Off Using Windows Settings
Use the main Settings menu to enable or disable spellcheck:
- Open Settings : Click the Start button (the Windows logo) at the bottom-left corner, then choose Settings. Or press Win+I on your keyboard.
- In the Settings window, click Time & language from the left menu.
- On the right, click Typing.
- Look for the option Highlight misspelled words.
- Toggle the switch to On to turn spellcheck on, or Off to turn it off.
Here are some pictures to help find the right settings:
Bonus: Change Spellcheck Using the Windows Registry (Advanced)
Advanced users can also toggle spellcheck through the Windows Registry Editor (a hierarchical database storing low-level operating system settings). Mistakes inside the registry cause system instability, so proceed carefully. Here is the process:
- Open the Registry Editor: Press Win+R, type
regedit, and press Enter. - Navigate to this folder (you can copy and paste it into the address bar at the top):
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\TabletTip\1.7 - If you don’t see the
1.7folder, right-click onTabletTip, choose New Key, and name it1.7. - Click the
1.7folder. In the right pane, right-click and choose New DWORD (32-bit) Value. - Name the new value
EnableSpellchecking. - Double-click
EnableSpellcheckingand set its value to:- 1 to turn spellcheck ON
- 0 to turn spellcheck OFF
- Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
Summary
- Spellcheck helps by showing red lines under misspelled words.
- You can easily turn it on or off in Settings Time & language Typing.
- Advanced users can also change this setting in the Windows Registry.
- Turning spellcheck off can reduce distractions if it marks correct words incorrectly.
For more tips on customizing Windows 11, check out how to change your display language or how to reset the Settings app.
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Richard
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Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
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