How To Disable Grammarly In Word

9 min read

How to Disable Grammarly in Word

If you're using Microsoft Word and want to temporarily turn off Grammarly to focus on raw writing or to avoid corrections, here's a quick guide on how to disable Grammarly in Word. This article walks you through the exact steps for both the desktop and online versions, troubleshooting tips, and why you might choose to disable the tool. By the end, you'll have a clear understanding of the process and be able to work without Grammarly's suggestions whenever you need.

Understanding Grammarly Integration

Grammarly is a powerful AI‑driven writing assistant that integrates easily with Microsoft Word, both on Windows/macOS and the web. Once installed, it monitors your text in real time, highlighting grammar errors, style issues, and even tone adjustments. While this can be incredibly helpful for polishing documents, there are moments when you might want to disable Grammarly in Word—perhaps when drafting a first version, working offline, or simply because the constant prompts feel distracting. Understanding how the integration works makes it easier to turn it off when necessary.

Not obvious, but once you see it — you'll see it everywhere.

Step‑by‑Step Guide to Disable Grammarly in Word

For Microsoft Word Desktop (Windows or macOS)

  1. Open Word and handle to the document you are editing.
  2. Click the File tab located at the top‑left corner of the window.
  3. Select Options (or Preferences on macOS) from the left‑hand menu.
  4. In the Word Options dialog, choose Proofing from the categories listed on the left.
  5. Under the Proofreading section, locate the Check spelling and grammar as you type and Mark grammar errors also checkboxes. Uncheck both of them.
  6. Still under Proofing, find the Grammar and Spell Checking section and click Settings.
  7. In the Grammar and Spell Checking Settings window, uncheck Enable Grammarly (if present) and then click OK to save.
  8. Return to the document; Grammarly should no longer display underlines or suggestions.

For Microsoft Word Online

  1. Sign in to Office.com and open your document using Word Online.
  2. Click the Edit Document button and choose Edit in Word Online if prompted.
  3. Once the document loads, click the File menu (the three horizontal lines in the upper‑left corner).
  4. Choose Info from the left pane.
  5. Locate the Disable Add‑ins section (often near the bottom). Click Disable next to Grammarly for Office.
  6. A confirmation dialog will appear; click Disable again.
  7. Refresh the page or work through away and back to ensure the changes take effect. Grammarly will no longer run in the online environment.

Quick Keyboard Shortcut (Desktop)

If you frequently toggle Grammarly on and off, you can set a custom shortcut:

  1. Go to File → Options → Customize Ribbon.
  2. Click Keyboard shortcuts at the bottom.
  3. In the Categories dropdown, select All Commands.
  4. Find Grammarly_Toggle (or a similar entry) and assign a key combination you prefer.
  5. Click Assign and then Close to save.

Why You Might Want to Turn Off Grammarly

  • Uninterrupted Focus: During brainstorming or drafting, constant pop‑ups can break concentration. Disabling Grammarly in Word lets you write freely without interruptions.
  • Avoiding Over‑Correction: Grammarly sometimes flags legitimate style choices as errors, especially with industry‑specific terminology. Turning it off helps preserve your intended voice.
  • Offline Work: If you need to edit a document without an internet connection, disabling the add‑in prevents Grammarly from attempting to verify text online.
  • Performance Gains: For older computers, Grammarly can consume CPU and memory. Disabling it can improve overall responsiveness when working on large files.
  • Testing Other Tools: If you're comparing writing assistance platforms, you may need a clean slate where Grammarly is not active.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with clear steps, some users encounter hiccups. Here are solutions to typical problems:

  • Grammarly Still Shows Suggestions: Ensure you have unchecked the Enable Grammarly option in both the Proofing settings and the Office Add‑ins list. Restart Word after making changes; sometimes a fresh instance is required.
  • Add‑in Missing from Options: If Grammarly does not appear under File → Options → Proofing, it might be disabled at the system level. Open Control Panel → Programs → Programs and Features, locate Grammarly, and choose Disable. Then reinstall the add‑in from the Microsoft Store or Grammarly’s official site.
  • Word Online Not Updating: Clear your browser cache and cookies, then close all tabs. Reopen the document in a new incognito window to ensure no cached settings interfere.
  • Shortcut Not Working: Verify that the assigned shortcut does not conflict with an existing Word command. Adjust the key combination in File → Options → Customize Ribbon → Keyboard shortcuts.
  • Grammarly Re‑Enables After Restart: Some installations have a “restore on startup” feature. In the Grammarly desktop application, go to Settings → General and uncheck Automatically enable Grammarly when I open Word.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Will disabling Grammarly affect my document’s formatting?
A: No. Grammarly only adds suggestions and underlines; it does not alter formatting, fonts, or layout Easy to understand, harder to ignore..

Q: Can I disable Grammarly for a single document only?
A: The steps above apply globally. That said, you can create a new document without Grammarly’s add‑in installed, or use the Disable button in Word Online for that specific session The details matter here. Nothing fancy..

Q: Is there a way to keep Grammarly turned off permanently?
A: Yes, you can uninstall Grammarly from the Control Panel/Applications folder. If you later decide to use it, reinstall the add‑in through the Microsoft Store or Grammarly’s website.

Q: Does disabling Grammarly in Word also disable it in Outlook?
A: No. Grammarly often syncs across Office applications. You’ll need to disable it separately in Outlook’s options if you want it off there as well That's the part that actually makes a difference..

Q: Will my existing Grammarly account settings be lost?
A: No. Disabling the add‑in only stops it from running in Word; your account, preferences, and other integrations remain intact.

Conclusion

Disabling Grammarly in Word is a straightforward process

that empowers you to tailor your editing experience. Even so, whether you need a temporary pause to focus on your own writing flow or a permanent removal to avoid any interference, the methods outlined provide complete control. By following these steps, you can confirm that Microsoft Word remains your primary tool, free from any unwanted suggestions, allowing you to work with the clarity and efficiency you prefer.

that empowers you to tailor your editing experience. Whether you need a temporary pause to focus on your own writing flow or a permanent removal to avoid any interference, the methods outlined provide complete control. By following these steps, you can make sure Microsoft Word remains your primary tool, free from any unwanted suggestions, allowing you to work with the clarity and efficiency you prefer.

The bottom line: the ability to disable Grammarly on your terms ensures that your writing environment aligns perfectly with your workflow. Worth adding: this flexibility means you can take advantage of Grammarly's powerful features when you need them and step back when you don't, all without compromising the core functionality of Word. The choice is yours, and with these tools, you have the power to make it.

This changes depending on context. Keep that in mind.

Alternative Methods for Managing Grammarly in Word

If the standard toggle in Settings doesn’t suit your workflow, consider these additional approaches:

  1. Using the Add‑ins Dialog

    • Open Word, go to File → Options → Add‑ins.
    • At the bottom, select COM Add‑ins from the Manage dropdown and click Go….
    • Uncheck Grammarly for Microsoft Word and press OK. This disables the add‑in for the current session and prevents it from loading on startup.
  2. Disabling via Group Policy (Enterprise Environments)

    • On a Windows machine joined to a domain, open the Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc).
    • handle to User Configuration → Administrative Templates → Microsoft Word 2016 → Add‑ins.
    • Enable the policy List of COM add‑ins that are disabled and add Grammarly.AddIn.Module.
    • After a group‑policy refresh (gpupdate /force), Grammarly will remain blocked for all users under that policy.
  3. Mac‑Specific Procedure

    • Launch Word, choose Word → Preferences → Add‑ins.
    • Locate Grammarly in the list, uncheck the box, and close the preferences window.
    • To prevent automatic reinstallation, move the Grammarly.bundle file from ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/Content Delivery Apps to another location (e.g., your Desktop) and keep it there until you wish to restore it.
  4. Temporary Session Disable via Word Online

    • When editing a document in Word Online, click the … (More actions) button on the toolbar.
    • Select Add‑ins, then toggle off Grammarly. The change lasts only for that browser session; reloading the page restores the default state.
  5. Using a Simple Macro to Toggle the Add‑in

    • Press ALT+F11 to open the VBA editor.

    • Insert a new module and paste the following code:

      Sub ToggleGrammarly()
          Dim addIn As COMAddIn
          Set addIn = Application.COMAddIns("Grammarly.AddIn.That said, module")
          addIn. That's why object. Consider this: enabled = Not addIn. Object.
      
      
    • Close the editor, then assign the macro to a button on the Quick Access Toolbar. One click will enable or disable Grammarly without digging through menus Worth keeping that in mind..

Troubleshooting Common Issues

  • Grammarly still appears after disabling – Ensure you’ve disabled the add‑in in both the Add‑ins dialog and the COM Add‑ins list; sometimes a residual registry entry keeps it active. Removing the key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\Word\Addins\Grammarly.AddIn.Module (after backing up the registry) can resolve this.
  • Performance lag persists – Even with the add‑in turned off, lingering background processes (e.g., GrammarlyService.exe) may consume resources. Open Task Manager, locate any Grammarly‑related tasks, and end them. Prevent future launches by disabling the service in services.msc if you never intend to use the desktop app.
  • Re‑enabling fails – If the toggle refuses to turn the add‑in back on, try repairing the Grammarly installation via Control Panel → Programs → Programs and Features → Grammarly → Repair. A corrupted add‑in file often causes this symptom.

Final Thoughts

Taking charge of how Grammarly interacts with Microsoft Word empowers you to shape

By mastering these controls, you can eliminate unwanted interruptions, reduce latency, and keep your focus on the content rather than on spelling suggestions. On top of that, remember to verify that the add‑in is truly inactive by checking both the Word Add‑ins pane and the COM Add‑ins list, and to clear any lingering background processes if performance concerns persist. Whether you opt for a permanent policy adjustment, a quick macro toggle, or a manual disable, the steps are reversible, giving you flexibility without compromising system stability. With the right approach, Grammarly can remain a helpful tool when needed while staying out of the way during intensive writing sessions Easy to understand, harder to ignore. Nothing fancy..

To keep it short, disabling Grammarly in Word is straightforward across Windows, macOS, and the web, and the provided macro offers a convenient one‑click solution for power users. Choose the method that aligns with your workflow, confirm the add‑in is truly disabled, and enjoy a smoother, distraction‑free editing environment Most people skip this — try not to..

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