5 Fixes for Spell Check Not Working in Microsoft Teams for Windows

Quick Tips

• Try restarting or updating the Microsoft Teams app to see if that resolves the spell check feature issue.
• Deleting or replacing Microsoft Teams’ dictionary file can also fix this particular problem.
• Consider clearing Microsoft Teams app cache on Windows if the nothing else works.

Fix 1: Disable and Re-Enable Spell Check

This may seem too simple, but disabling and re-enabling the spell check feature in Microsoft Teams can help. Hence, try that first.

Step 1: In the Microsoft Teams app, click the three horizontal dots icon at the top right corner and select Settings from the list.

Step 2: In the General tab, clear the Enable spell check box.

Step 3: Click the Show hidden icons arrow on the taskbar, right-click on the Teams logo, and select Quit.

Reopen the Teams app after this and enable the spell-check feature again.

Fix 2: Select the Appropriate Language in Teams and Windows

Setting different languages in Microsoft Teams and Windows can prevent the spell check feature from working correctly. To avoid any discrepancies, set the Teams app and Windows to the same language using these steps:

Step 1: Open the Microsoft Teams settings menu.

Step 2: In the General tab, click the drop-down menu under App language to select your preferred language.

Step 3: Close the Teams app. Click the language icon on the taskbar and select the same keyboard layout from the list.

Fix 3: Delete the Teams Dictionary File

Microsoft Teams creates and stores a dictionary file on your Windows PC to conduct spell checks. If this file has become corrupted or inaccessible, the spell check feature may become unavailable in Teams. Deleting the problematic dictionary file will force Microsoft Teams to recreate it, resolving any issues with the spell check feature.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type the following path in the address bar at the top and press Enter:

%appdata%\Microsoft\Teams\dictionaries

Step 2: Select the BDIC file and click the trash icon at the top to delete it.

After this, restart the Teams app. Type a misspelled word in a chat, right-click on it, and check if the spell check feature works properly.

Fix 4: Import the Dictionary File From Another App

If deleting the dictionary file from the Teams library proves ineffective or if the file is already missing, try importing a dictionary file from another app, such as Chrome. Several users on a Microsoft Community post reported fixing issues with Teams’ spell check feature with this workaround. You can also give it a try.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type the following path in the text field and press Enter:

%LocalAppData%\Google\Chrome\User Data

Step 2: In the File Explorer window, locate the BDIC file named en-us or something similar. Select it and click the copy icon in the toolbar at the top.

Step 3: Type %appdata%\Microsoft\Teams\dictionaries in the File Explorer address bar and press Enter.

Step 4: Click the paste icon to paste the file.

Once you complete the above steps, Teams should detect and suggest corrections for misspelled words as expected.

Fix 5: Clear Microsoft Teams Cache

Outdated or corrupted cache files associated with the Teams app can cause such problems. You can try deleting the existing Teams cache files to see if that helps.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type %appdata%\Microsoft\Teams in the box and hit Enter.

Step 2: In the File Explorer window that opens, select all the files and folders and click the trash icon at the top to delete them.