Install Grammarly in Word by adding Grammarly for Windows or Mac, signing in, then opening its suggestions pane while you write.
If you’ve ever typed a paragraph in Word and felt that little “something’s off” itch, Grammarly can help catch slips and smooth your wording without leaving the document. Pick the setup that matches your Word, then confirm it’s active.
This guide walks you through the clean, current setup for Windows, Mac, and Word on the web, plus the fixes that solve most “it’s not showing up” headaches.
What You Need Before You Start
Before you click download, line up three basics so setup goes smoothly.
- A Grammarly account: Free works for grammar, spelling, and clarity suggestions.
- A compatible Word setup: This article focuses on Word for Windows, Word for Mac, and Word on the web (Word Online).
- Permission to install apps or extensions: On a work or school device, installs can be blocked. If you hit that wall, you may need your IT admin to allow it.
Install Options At A Glance
Use this table to pick the method that matches where you write.
| Where You Write In Word | Best Install Method | What You’ll See When It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Word desktop on Windows | Install Grammarly for Windows (desktop app) | Underlines in text and a Grammarly panel you can open |
| Word desktop on Mac | Install Grammarly for Mac (desktop app) | Underlines plus a side panel/tab you tap for suggestions |
| Word on the web in Chrome | Install the Grammarly browser extension | Underlines in Word Online and a Grammarly button/toolbar |
| Word on the web in Microsoft Edge | Install the Grammarly browser extension | Underlines in Word Online and click-to-apply suggestions |
| Word on the web in Safari | Use Grammarly for Mac plus the browser add-on if available | Results vary by Safari version and settings too |
| Word in a virtual desktop (Citrix/VDI) | Ask IT to deploy Grammarly for Windows/Mac where allowed | It works only if the host system allows app installs |
| Work or school Microsoft 365 account | Install Grammarly app/extension, then sign in with the right account | Suggestions appear only when you’re signed into Grammarly |
| Older “Grammarly for Microsoft Office” add-in installed | Remove the old add-in, then use the newer desktop app | Fewer crashes and a more consistent experience |
How Do I Install Grammarly In Word?
The clean answer depends on whether you use Word as a desktop app or in a browser. Either way, you’ll install Grammarly once, sign in once, and then you’ll get suggestions right inside your document.
Installing Grammarly In Word On Windows Desktop
On Windows, Grammarly works in Word through the Grammarly for Windows desktop app. Once it’s installed and running, it can surface suggestions while you type in Word.
- Download Grammarly for Windows. Get it from Grammarly’s official page. (Avoid third-party download sites.)
- Run the installer. Double-click the downloaded file, then follow the prompts.
- Sign in to Grammarly. Use the account you plan to write with.
- Open Microsoft Word. Create a new document or open an existing one.
- Turn Grammarly on for Word if prompted. Grammarly may ask which apps it should work in. Make sure Word is enabled.
- Open the Grammarly suggestions view. In Word, you’ll usually see a Grammarly icon or panel entry point once Grammarly is active.
If you want Grammarly’s own written steps for this Windows route, check Grammarly’s Microsoft Office setup page.
Quick Windows Check
Type a sentence with a clear spelling mistake. If you see an underline, you’re set. Click the underline to view the suggestion, then apply it right in place.
Installing Grammarly In Word On Mac
On macOS, Grammarly works in Word through Grammarly for Mac. If you used an older Word-only add-in in the past, you may notice things look different now. The desktop app route is the one Grammarly currently points Mac users to.
- Download Grammarly for Mac. Use Grammarly’s desktop download page.
- Install the app. Open the downloaded file and follow the macOS install steps.
- Grant macOS permissions when asked. Grammarly may request access so it can show suggestions as you type.
- Sign in. Use the Grammarly account you want tied to your edits.
- Open Word and start typing. Look for underlines on possible issues, then click to review.
Mac Tip For Full Visibility
If you don’t see suggestions, open Grammarly from your Applications folder and keep it running while Word is open.
Using Grammarly With Word On The Web
If you write in Word Online (the browser version in Microsoft 365), the simplest route is the Grammarly browser extension. It adds suggestions directly in the editor while you type.
- Pick your browser. Chrome and Microsoft Edge are the smoothest choices for this setup.
- Install the Grammarly extension. Add it from the browser’s extension store, then pin it so you can spot it quickly.
- Sign in inside the extension. This step matters. If you skip sign-in, Grammarly may stay idle.
- Open Word Online. Go to Microsoft 365, open Word, then open your document.
- Write a few lines. Grammarly should underline issues and show suggestions when you click.
If your organization uses Microsoft 365 add-ins and you want to understand how Word manages them, this Office Store help page on starting add-ins in Word can clarify where add-ins live.
Checking That Grammarly Is Actually Running
Grammarly can be installed and still feel “missing” if it isn’t running, it’s paused, or Word is set up in a way that blocks it. These quick checks catch most cases.
- Look for underlines: Grammarly marks text with underlines. No underlines usually means it isn’t active in that moment.
- Check the Grammarly icon: On Windows, it may appear in the system tray. On Mac, it may appear in the menu bar.
- Confirm you’re signed in: Open Grammarly and confirm your account name. If you’re logged out, suggestions can stop.
- Try a fresh document: A corrupted Word file can behave oddly. A new doc is a clean test.
If Word is open for hours, close it fully once a day; long sessions can keep old add-ins stuck in memory.
Still stuck? Here’s a fast self-check line you can search on your own: type “how do i install grammarly in word?” and compare your setup to the platform steps above.
Settings That Change What You See In Word
Once Grammarly shows suggestions, a few settings can make it feel either calm and helpful or noisy and distracting. A small tweak can make Word feel more natural to write in.
Set Goals So Suggestions Match Your Draft
Many Grammarly setups let you pick writing goals like audience, formality, and intent. If Grammarly seems too strict, lower the formality or switch the intent to match what you’re writing.
Turn Off Categories You Don’t Want
Not every draft needs every kind of suggestion. If you’re writing a quick class note, you might only want spelling and grammar. If you’re polishing a submission, you might want clarity and tone guidance too.
Open the Grammarly panel, then look for filters or categories. Turn off what you don’t plan to act on right now.
Add Words To Your Personal Dictionary
Names, local place spellings, brand terms, and course jargon can trigger repeated flags. Add them to your personal dictionary so Grammarly stops nagging you every time you type them.
Pause Grammarly For Sensitive Drafts
If you’re working with private material, you may prefer to pause Grammarly for that document. The exact control varies by platform, yet most setups let you pause checking for a while or disable it per site/app.
Common Install Problems And Fixes
When Grammarly won’t appear in Word, the cause is usually one of a few repeat offenders: a blocked install, a sign-in mismatch, or Word running in a mode that limits add-ins and background tools.
| What You See | Likely Cause | Fix That Usually Works |
|---|---|---|
| No Grammarly icon or panel in Word | Grammarly app not running, or Word wasn’t enabled | Open Grammarly first, sign in, then reopen Word |
| Underlines show in some apps, not in Word | Word is disabled in Grammarly settings | Open Grammarly settings and enable Microsoft Word |
| Grammarly keeps asking you to sign in | Browser or app session not sticking | Sign out, close Word, reboot, then sign in again |
| Suggestions appear, yet clicking does nothing | Word is in a protected or restricted mode | Save a local copy, edit outside protected view, retry |
| Word slows down after installing Grammarly | Conflict with another writing tool or add-in | Disable other add-ins one by one, then restart Word |
| Nothing installs on a work PC | Device policy blocks new apps/extensions | Ask IT to allow the Grammarly installer or extension |
| Grammarly works in Word Online, not desktop Word | Extension is installed, desktop app is missing | Install Grammarly for Windows/Mac for desktop Word |
| Old Office add-in is still present | Legacy add-in installed from years ago | Remove it, then rely on the desktop app route |
Two Small Fixes People Miss
Restart Word after installing Grammarly. Word can keep running in the background even after you close a document. Quit Word fully, then reopen it.
Check which account you used to sign in. If you have a personal Grammarly account and a work one, it’s easy to sign into the wrong one and wonder why your settings don’t match.
Uninstall Or Switch Your Setup Cleanly
If you installed the wrong thing, or you’re troubleshooting a stubborn setup, a clean uninstall and reinstall can be faster than chasing one setting at a time.
Remove Grammarly From Windows
- Close Word.
- Open Windows Settings, then Apps.
- Find Grammarly in the app list, then uninstall.
- Reboot, then reinstall Grammarly for Windows and sign in again.
Remove Grammarly From Mac
- Quit Word.
- Open Applications, find Grammarly, then move it to Trash.
- Empty Trash, reboot, then reinstall Grammarly for Mac.
Remove The Grammarly Extension For Word Online
- Open your browser’s extensions page.
- Find Grammarly, then remove it.
- Reinstall it from the official extension store, then sign in.
If you’re cleaning up after a legacy Office add-in, open Word’s add-ins manager and remove Grammarly from there too. You can find that area under Word’s add-ins options, depending on your Word version.
Quick Run-Through Checklist
Use this as a final pass so you leave with a working setup, not a “maybe it’s installed” feeling.
- Installed Grammarly for Windows or Grammarly for Mac (desktop Word)
- Installed the Grammarly browser extension (Word Online)
- Signed in and confirmed your account name
- Opened Word after Grammarly was installed
- Typed a test sentence and saw at least one underline
- Clicked a suggestion and applied it successfully
If you’re still searching for “how do i install grammarly in word?” after trying these steps, the issue is usually a device policy or a Word mode that limits tools, so the next move is checking your IT rules or Word settings.