How to Turn Off Editor in Word: Quick Step-by-Step Guide

That red squiggly line under every sentence was driving me nuts. 💡 I spent 20 minutes hunting for the off switch in Word before realizing it’s buried where no one looks.

Microsoft hides the Editor toggle under Review > Editor in newer versions. Older Word? It might be called “Spelling & Grammar Check” instead. The path changes, but the frustration stays the same.

You’ll silence the constant corrections with two clicks. No add-ons, no registry hacks—just a setting that should’ve been front and center. Works for Word 2016 through 365.

Fair warning: this doesn’t disable spellcheck entirely. For that, you’ll need to dig into Proofing options. But this kills 90% of the noise immediately.

What Youll Need

Step-by-Step Instructions for Disabling Editor in Word

Here’s the quick process I use to disable this feature without losing any work.

Launch Microsoft Word and open any document. Click File in the top-left corner, then select Options at the bottom of the left-hand menu. This opens the Word Options window where all settings are controlled.

If you’re using a recent version, the Options button appears in the backstage view. Older versions may have it under Word > Preferences on Mac, but we’re focusing on Windows here.

In the Word Options window, click Proofing from the left-hand list. This section contains all spelling, grammar, and editing-related settings. Scroll down until you see the Editor section—it’s usually near the bottom.

Here’s the thing—Microsoft sometimes moves these options between versions, but Proofing has always been the home for editing features. If you don’t see it immediately, look for Writing Style or Grammar & Refining.

Under the Editor section, you’ll find checkboxes for different editing features. Uncheck Check grammar and spelling as you type and Show readability statistics to disable the real-time editing.

For a complete shutdown, also uncheck Check grammar with spelling and Show corrections as you type. Click OK to save changes.

Return to your document and start typing. The red and blue underlines for spelling and grammar errors should disappear immediately. If they persist, restart Word to ensure the changes take effect.

Real talk: Some versions cache these settings, so a quick restart of the application is the easiest way to confirm it’s truly off. If you still see underlines, double-check that all the proofing options were unchecked.

If you want to keep some editing features active, return to Proofing and selectively enable options. For example, you might keep Check spelling as you type but disable Grammar only.

I’ve found that disabling grammar checks while keeping spelling active strikes a good balance. It catches typos without the constant grammar suggestions slowing down my workflow.

Tips & Tricks for Perfect Editor Disabling in Word

Small details make the difference between a clean disable and lingering issues.

The Version Factor: In Step 1, if you’re on an older version of Word, remember that Options might be hidden under Word > Preferences on Mac. I learned this the hard way after upgrading from a 2016 version to 2021—Microsoft moved things around.

Hidden Settings: For Step 2, don’t overlook the Writing Style or Grammar & Refining sections if Proofing isn’t immediately visible. Microsoft sometimes rebrands these settings between updates, but they all lead to the same place.

Cache Clear: In Step 4, if those red and blue underlines persist after disabling everything, a full restart of Word is your best bet. Some versions cache settings aggressively, and a quick close-and-reopen forces the changes to take effect.

Selective Disable: Step 5 is optional but powerful—if you’re like me and still want basic spellcheck, keep Check spelling as you type enabled while disabling the grammar-related options. It’s the perfect middle ground.

Frequently Asked Questions

Turning off the Editor in Word is quick and easy once you know where to look. 🎯 Simply disable it via the Review tab or adjust settings to suit your needs. Now that you’re equipped with this knowledge, try customizing other Word features to enhance your workflow even further!