PLEASE tell me how to turn off grammar checking in Outlook (Outlook for Mac)!

Well, it looks like I spoke too soon, because regardless of me ticking that box and telling it to make that the default, it still switches the grammar check back on for every new email. Once I start typing the email, if I untick and then tick that box, it turns it off, but who has time to do that for every email they write?

What is Microsoft's problem? Why can it not just allow ME control over the emails I write? Even when I manage to track down the hidden-away off switch, it still overrides it! Other people might relish being slaves to AI and told how to construct language, but I don't.

I found the same thing. If I actually accepted these suggestions it's giving me, my emails would be incomprehensible. They need to fix this

I'm facing the same problem. The solution works but I have to deselect & reselect this option for every new email. I wouldn't mind if the suggestions were actually grammar related, but most of them are just "the AI doesn't like your vibe".

Agreed with the above. Why can I NOT turn off these features that are not good for my work?!?!? Curse you MS

thanks for this nice find! this saved my day. :-)

This is so great. Thanks, Andrew.

Hi Andrew,

Firstly, I completely understand the frustration and annoyance you're experiencing, especially with the sudden interface changes in the 16.99.2 update, which have made familiar options like AutoCorrect and Spelling & Grammar "disappear" or hard to adjust. You've been patient in trying the workarounds, and it's understandably exhausting when they don't work as expected. I know how irritating it can be when you just want to write emails freely without constant software "interference." We greatly appreciate your persistence and apologize for this inconvenience; this is a common issue many other users are facing after the update, and our team is monitoring it closely.

To better assist you, I've personally tested this on the latest version of Outlook on my end. When I intentionally typed with spelling and grammar errors, the underlines appeared as you described. Clicking on the word brought up an "Ignore" option, and selecting "Ignore All" opened the Editor pane on the right side, with an "Options" link at the bottom. Clicking that revealed the Grammar and Spelling sections, allowing me to customize them. By combining the Ignore feature with disabling Grammar checks, the underlines for errors and grammar disappeared in that session. However, I noticed it's not always consistent. Sometimes the suggestions reappear unpredictably and importantly, the Grammar and Spelling options didn't vanish from my Settings entirely. This confirms the challenges you're facing, and it's clear why the new interface feels disruptive.

That said, for the most reliable and optimal experience, I still recommend reverting to an older version of Outlook (before the error occurred), as this could be due to a conflict in the last update. This will restore the familiar AutoCorrect and Spelling & Grammar options in a more straightforward way, allowing you to easily toggle them as you wish and completely eliminate the unwanted underlines and suggestions. Many users have tried this and reported that it works stably (for example, downgrading from 16.99.2 to 16.85.2), helping them return to normal work without further issues. You can refer to the update history and download older versions here: Update history for Office for Mac.

Here's a simple way to do it (please back up your data first for safety):

1. Uninstall the current version: Open Finder > Applications > Drag Outlook to the Trash, then empty it completely (you can use a tool like App Cleaner if needed).
2. Download and install the older version from the link above (choose a suitable version before 16.99.2).
3. After installation, open Outlook and check Preferences the original options will reappear, and you can disable Spelling & Grammar as well as AutoCorrect as per the initial guide.

This is just a temporary fix while Microsoft works on improving the new version. if there's any update on changes (such as a bug fix or new patch), I'll let you know right away so you can upgrade safely. We're here to support you every step of the way, and if you run into any difficulties during the installation or need more detailed guidance, please reply to me right away. I'll assist directly to make everything smooth.

Thank you for your trust and for sharing. We truly value it and are committed to doing everything to ensure your satisfaction.

"Clicking on the word brought up an "Ignore" option, and selecting "Ignore All" opened the Editor pane on the right side, with an "Options" link at the bottom."

I don't get "Ignore All", the only option I have is the single word "Ignore", which disappears when I click on it:

The three dots say "More options", but the only option is "Stop checking for this". I don't have the time or patience to individually select countless issues Outlook thinks are worthy of attention and tell it to stop checking them one by one.

There is an Editor option on the menu bar across the top, but the pane it brings up does not have an "Options" link, it simply summarises what it has found:

Finally, when it comes to reverting to a previous version, my employer has Auto Updates enabled, and I'm not about to try to turn back time and go against the wishes of my IT department by uninstalling and reinstalling Outlook.

As is so often the case with Microsoft programs, it appears I will simply have to get used to it doing stuff I don't want it to, and haven't asked it to.

Hi Andrew,

Have a good day and I hope you're doing well!

I completely understand your frustration with these persistent issues in Outlook for Mac. It's really annoying when the app doesn't work as expected, and having to deal with inconsistent options like the missing "Ignore All" or links in the Editor pane only adds to the hassle. You've been very patient in providing details and screenshots, and I appreciate that; it helps everyone in the community learn and find better solutions.

This is Nghia-P, a moderator here. It's a pleasure for me to help others, and I'll try to support you as best I can. I am merely a fellow user trying to provide insightful perspectives and information that may be helpful to others. This forum is not Microsoft support; it is a place for mutual support among users. Forum members do not have access to your account, so we can only provide recommendations based on shared experiences.

That said, since your setup is managed by your company's IT department (with Auto Updates enabled), I recommend contacting them if possible. They might be able to raise a support ticket on your behalf with Microsoft, potentially disabling or customizing these proofing features at an admin level without affecting your updates. Additionally, you can send feedback directly through the Outlook app by going to Help > Feedback. I know your opinions are very important and can help drive changes and improvements as quickly as possible. Microsoft often uses this feedback to prioritize bug fixes in updates.

If you try any of these and have updates, or if there are additional suggestions from the community that I can share, feel free to reply. We're all in this together to overcome the issue, and if I spot any "ray of hope" in this matter (like a new update or a solution from the community), I'll update you as quickly as possible so you know.

Wishing you a productive day!

Hi Andrew,

Have a good day!

I hope you're doing well. Just reaching out to see if you've had a chance to review the responses shared earlier. If you have any updates or further questions, please feel free to share.  And you feel this helped point you in the right direction, kindly consider marking it as “Accepted Answer” so others facing similar issues can find it more easily.  This helps others in the community too. Thanks for your understanding and support!