Firefox’s spell checker can be a powerful tool for users who write regularly on the Internet but especially for those users who want to make sure that they do not overlook typing errors. It helps to have the spell checker running in the background to check for these obvious spelling mistakes.
It can happen that the Firefox spell check is not working. The first thing that Firefox users need to do in this case is to see if spell checking is enabled in the web browser. This is done by going to Tools > Options > Advanced. The Check My Spelling As I Type box should be checked in the menu. If it is not check it and it is likely that spell checking is working from then on in Firefox.
It can happen that the spell check is still not working even if the option is enabled in the settings. This is then usually caused by a missing dictionary file.
To test if this is this case do the following:
Right-click a web form on any web page. Pay close attention to the options that are displayed. If you see Add Dictionaries you have no dictionaries installed and should do so. This is usually the case if spell checking is not working if the option is enabled in the settings.
Firefox will launch a new window that is displaying available dictionaries for the web browser. All of these dictionaries are installed as add-ons in the web browser. Once the dictionary has been installed spell checking should be working.
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Speaking of spell check, there is a good program Spell Check Anywhere (SpellCheckAnywhere.Net) it adds spell check to all programs.
Woo hoo! I now have integrated spell chocking and can not see lots of red underlined words. Interestingly it doesn’t like the word Firefox which is strange.
But thank you, it was very easy to work out following your instructions!
This worked! Thanks a lot. I had no idea what was wrong with the spell check.
hi- I am using firefox on my macbook and while i get the red lines underneath the misspelled word, i am unable to figure out how to get the spelling suggestions. I’ve tried right clicking and nothing happens. I tried following your steps Tools> Options> Advanced via the firefox tool, but the only options i have under Tools are Web Search, Downloads, Add ons, Error Console, Page Info, Start Private Browsing, clear recent history. Any ideas? Thanks
Thanks didn’t realise you needed to actually do something first, before the spell checking worked.
Thanks! Always had to install google toolbar to get spell checking!
Thank you. Your instructions are very simple and complete.
thaaaanks… I must have looked at that tab a dozen times and missed the setting because it was in my local language, so silly
Mega, I am naked without a spell checker!
Thanks! :D
Hey, very nicely written article and helpful. I actually had the dictionaries but for some reason, checking for Italian was enabled and not English so pretty much every word I would type would be underlined in red. Not sure how that happened… I just reverted back to Linux FF version 3.5.4 because 3.6 wouldn’t install for some reason. Maybe that had to do with it. Anyway, thanks!
Thank you! It was greatly helpful.
That did it for me, now my spell checker facility is restored. Thanks!
Wow. Thanks. I had to completely reconfigure a new computer and I was lost without the Firefox spell checker. I had the option selected but I didn’t know I didn’t have any dictionaries installed. This solved the problem. Thanks.
Tremendous. I have tried to fix this 10 times, various web pages described registry settings, special this and special that. I gave up a few months ago. A new search today – after deciding I was to try and fix for good – yielded your suggestion and it was fixed with two clicks. You deserve some sort of god status for fixing this so easy and fast. Much appreciated.
You are welcome :)
Thank you very much. I’m using the Firefox Beta (4) and had wondered where my spell checking had gone, and with your description to add a dictionary, it is now fixed.
Still not working… it use to work… now it does not work anymore….
I download firefox and the spell check is not working. Does any one know why.
thank u
Super – thank you!
Brilliant – I’ve been trying to figure this out for days, since I got a new netbook. Thanks a lot.
This spell checker is very limited and i often have to go to google search and type the word i cant spell and google will say “did you mean” and 9 times out of 10 it will give me the correct spelling, i then have to copy and paste it.
If google can give me to correct spelling why cant this firefox spell checker do it?