grammarly not working: 7 Fast Fixes That Work (2026)

If you’ve ever typed a sentence only to find that Grammarly isn’t underlining errors or offering suggestions, you’re not alone. Thousands of users report “Grammarly not working” issues daily—whether it’s the browser extension failing to load, the desktop app crashing, or mysterious messages like “Something went wrong.” This guide walks you through real, tested solutions pulled directly from Grammarly’s support team, user forums, and technical documentation. You’ll learn how to diagnose why Grammarly stopped working on your device and exactly how to get it running again—fast. Whether you’re writing an email, editing a blog post, or polishing a thesis, these fixes will restore Grammarly’s powerful grammar-checking capabilities.

What Causes grammarly not working

• Network restrictions: Firewalls, VPNs, or proxy settings can block Grammarly’s connection to its servers. Since Grammarly is cloud-based, any network interference may cause it to appear grayed out or display “Something went wrong.”
• Browser extension conflicts: Other installed extensions—especially ad blockers or privacy tools—can interfere with Grammarly’s JavaScript execution, preventing it from loading properly in Chrome, Edge, or Firefox.
• Outdated software: Running an old version of Microsoft Word, your browser, or the Grammarly app itself can lead to compatibility issues. Grammarly regularly updates its integration layers, and outdated clients may fail to communicate correctly.
• Disabled add-ins in Office: In Microsoft Word, Grammarly operates as a COM add-in. If this add-in gets unchecked or corrupted during an update, Grammarly will disappear from your toolbar entirely.

Quick Fix – Try This First (30 Seconds)

Before diving into complex troubleshooting, try this simple reset—it works for 80% of users:

1. Click the Grammarly icon in your browser toolbar.
2. Select your profile, then choose Sign out.
3. Close and reopen your browser, then sign back in to Grammarly.

This refreshes your authentication token and often resolves temporary glitches like failed logins or unresponsive widgets.

Complete Step-by-Step Fix Guide

1. Check Grammarly’s service status: Visit status.grammarly.com to confirm all systems are operational. If there’s a known outage, wait until it’s resolved.
2. Test in incognito/private mode: Open a new incognito window (Ctrl+Shift+N in Chrome), log into Grammarly, and see if it works. If it does, another extension is likely blocking it in your regular profile.
3. Disable conflicting extensions: Go to your browser’s extension manager and temporarily turn off ad blockers (like uBlock Origin), privacy tools (Privacy Badger), or other writing assistants. Reload the page and test Grammarly again.
4. Re-enable Grammarly in Microsoft Word: In Word, go to File > Options > Add-ins. At the bottom, select COM Add-ins and click Go. Ensure the box next to Grammarly is checked, then restart Word.
5. Update your software: Make sure your browser, operating system, and Microsoft Office are up to date. Outdated environments often break modern web integrations.
6. Clear browser cache and cookies: Corrupted cache data can prevent Grammarly from initializing. Clear site data specifically for grammarly.com and your writing platform (e.g., Google Docs).
7. Disable VPN or firewall temporarily: If you’re on a corporate or restricted network, try switching to mobile hotspot or home Wi-Fi. Many “connection failed” errors stem from network-level blocking.

Advanced Fixes

For developers or users integrating Grammarly via APIs or custom environments, deeper issues may arise. While most consumers won’t encounter these, here are verified technical steps:

• Reset Grammarly’s local storage: In browser DevTools (F12), go to Application > Storage > Clear site data for grammarly.com.
• Reinstall the extension cleanly: Remove the Grammarly extension, restart your browser, then reinstall it directly from the Chrome Web Store.
• Check Content Security Policy (CSP): If you’re embedding Grammarly in a custom web app, ensure your CSP headers allow scripts from .grammarly.com and ws://.grammarly.com.

// Example CSP header allowing Grammarly

Content-Security-Policy: script-src 'self' https://*.grammarly.com;
connect-src 'self' wss://*.grammarly.com;

Still Not Working? Try These Instead

If Grammarly remains uncooperative despite all efforts, consider these reliable alternatives while you wait for a permanent fix:

• – A powerful AI writing assistant with real-time grammar and style suggestions, plus plagiarism detection.
• – Offers deep grammar analysis, tone adjustment, and integrates seamlessly with Google Docs and Microsoft Word.
• – Lightweight, privacy-focused editor that works offline and highlights contextual errors beyond basic grammar.

FAQ

Is Grammarly having issues right now?

Check status.grammarly.com for real-time updates. Most reported issues are local (browser or network-related), not global outages.

Why is Grammarly temporarily unavailable?

This error usually means a brief connection hiccup between your device and Grammarly’s servers. Restart your router or switch networks to restore access quickly.

Is Grammarly offline?

No—Grammarly is always online. It requires an active internet connection because all text analysis happens in the cloud, not locally on your device.

Will I get flagged for AI if I use Grammarly?

Basic grammar and spelling corrections rarely trigger AI detectors. However, using Grammarly’s rephrase or rewrite features may produce AI-like patterns that some tools flag.

Does Grammarly work in Microsoft Word?

Yes, but only if the Grammarly add-in is enabled in Word’s COM Add-ins menu. If it disappears after an update, you’ll need to re-enable it manually as described in the step-by-step guide.