Troubleshooting Grammarly Issues in Google Docs Made Easy

Grammarly is one of the most widely used writing tools for checking grammar, spelling, clarity, and tone. It’s especially useful when writing in Google Docs, where many people do their everyday work or school assignments. But what happens when Grammarly suddenly stops working in Google Docs?

Whether Grammarly isn’t highlighting errors, the sidebar doesn’t load, or nothing seems to happen at all, it can be frustrating—especially if you rely on it to catch important mistakes. The good news is that most Grammarly issues in Google Docs are easy to fix once you know what to check.

In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through the most common causes of Grammarly not working in Google Docs and how to get it running smoothly again.

1. Make Sure Grammarly is Enabled for Google Docs

Grammarly’s integration with Google Docs only works if the feature is turned on in your Grammarly browser extension settings.

To enable Grammarly in Google Docs:

• Click the Grammarly icon in your browser toolbar (top-right corner).
• Go to Settings (gear icon).
• Scroll to “Check for writing suggestions on Google Docs” and ensure it’s toggled ON.

After enabling, refresh your Google Docs tab and wait a few seconds—Grammarly should appear with underlined suggestions or a sidebar.

2. Use a Supported Browser

Grammarly’s Google Docs integration currently works best on Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. If you’re using another browser like Firefox or Safari, Grammarly may not function properly—or at all—in Google Docs.

Fix:

• If you’re using an unsupported browser, switch to Chrome or Edge.
• Install the official Grammarly browser extension from the Chrome Web Store or Microsoft Add-ons site.

3. Refresh or Restart Google Docs

Sometimes, all you need is a quick refresh. If Grammarly was recently installed or updated, the current Google Docs session may not recognize it right away.

What to do:

• Press Ctrl + R (Windows) or Cmd + R (Mac) to refresh the tab.
• If that doesn’t work, close and reopen the Google Docs file.
• You can also restart the browser for a clean session.

After reopening, Grammarly should load in the bottom-right corner or display suggestions directly in the document.

4. Update Grammarly Extension

Outdated extensions can cause bugs and compatibility issues. Grammarly regularly pushes updates to improve functionality in platforms like Google Docs.

Steps to update:

For Chrome:

1. Go to chrome://extensions/ in your address bar.
2. Toggle on Developer mode (top right).
3. Click Update to refresh all extensions.

For Edge:

1. Visit edge://extensions/.
2. Enable Developer mode.
3. Click Update.

Then restart your browser and open Google Docs again.

5. Clear Browser Cache and Cookies

Sometimes, your browser’s saved cache can conflict with Grammarly’s ability to function correctly—especially after updates or setting changes.

How to clear cache in Chrome:

1. Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear browsing data.
2. Select Cached images and files , and then click on Cookies and other site data.
3. Choose Time range: All time.
4. Click Clear data , then restart the browser.

After clearing the cache, sign back into Google Docs and check if Grammarly works.

6. Disable Conflicting Extensions

Other browser extensions (like ad blockers, script editors, or privacy tools) can interfere with Grammarly. If one of these is blocking Grammarly’s scripts, you may not see any suggestions in Docs.

What to do:

• Temporarily disable other extensions one by one.
• Reload your Google Docs page after disabling each.
• Common conflicting extensions include:
  • AdBlock/Adblock Plus
  • Privacy Badger
  • Ghostery
  • Grammarly “clones” or other grammar checkers

If Grammarly starts working after disabling an extension, that extension is likely the cause.

7. Check Grammarly Account and Login Status

If you’re not logged into your Grammarly account, some features—especially the sidebar and tone detection—may not work correctly.

How to check:

• Click the Grammarly icon in your browser toolbar.
• Make sure you’re signed in.
• If not, log in using your email and password.
• Reload Google Docs after logging in.

Also, ensure your Grammarly account is in good standing and hasn’t been disabled or limited.

8. Confirm That You’re Using a Regular Google Docs File

Grammarly may not work properly in special Docs environments, such as:

• Google Docs Preview Mode
• Files set to “View Only”
• Files in restricted shared drives

Make sure you’re editing a standard, editable Google Docs file. If the document is in read-only mode, Grammarly can’t scan or suggest corrections.

9. Try Incognito or Private Browsing Mode

If Grammarly still isn’t working, try using Incognito Mode (Chrome) or InPrivate Mode (Edge). This disables most extensions except those you manually allow.

Steps:

• Open a new Incognito/Private window.
• Enable Grammarly extension for Incognito (via Chrome extension settings).
• Open Google Docs and see if Grammarly works.

If it does, the issue is likely with your normal browsing setup (possibly another extension or cache).

10. Reinstall the Grammarly Extension

If all else fails, a clean reinstall can often fix deep-rooted problems.

How to reinstall:

• Go to your browser’s Extensions page.
• Remove Grammarly.
• Restart your browser.
• Visit the Grammarly Chrome Extension page.
• Reinstall the extension and sign back in.

Open Google Docs again, and Grammarly should now load properly.

Conclusion

Grammarly not working in Google Docs is annoying—but it’s usually easy to fix. Whether it’s an outdated extension, browser conflict, or a settings issue, a few quick adjustments can usually bring Grammarly back to life.

Start by ensuring Grammarly is enabled for Docs, use a supported browser, and clear your cache. If needed, update or reinstall the extension, and don’t forget to disable any conflicting add-ons.

By following these steps, you’ll be back to catching typos, polishing your tone, and writing confidently in Google Docs—just like you expect from Grammarly.