Office Mac 2011 : Word cannot start the spelling checker

Posted on January 3, 2011 by @HKw@!

I just purchased Word 2011 for office used. When my user open some of the Word document, it keep on pop up the following warning message

Word cannot start the spelling checker.
The spelling checker files may be missing.
Make sure the spelling checker files are
installed or use the Microsoft Office Installer
to install the spelling checker.

Once the warning message pop up, you cannot access the document at all. To solve this problem, just follow the following steps:-

Open Word 2011

Click on Tools > Auto Correct > Show All

Open Spelling and Grammar

Under Spelling, remove the tick from ‘Check Spelling as you type’

You should be able to open the older document now. You may save it in the new Word 2011 format and enable back the spellchecker.

43 thoughts on “Office Mac 2011 : Word cannot start the spelling checker”

Nizam Malek on January 20, 2011 at 3:05 pm said:

Hye,

Thanks for the information. It works! =)

Best regards,
Nizam Malek
http://www.NizamMalek.com
http://www.StrategiInternet.com
Nelson Martinez on March 12, 2011 at 11:28 pm said:

Thank you so much for the info. Works 100% 😀
Irene on April 12, 2011 at 1:59 pm said:

Thanks so much for sharing this tip & saving my time trying to solve it 🙂
@HKw@! on April 15, 2011 at 11:28 am said:

u r welcome 🙂
Rob on April 30, 2011 at 8:57 am said:

If Word 2011 is still not checking your spelling:
Select all the text in your doc. Go to Tools/Language. Choose the right language, like English(US), and make sure the Do not check spelling or grammar check-box is NOT selected.
@HKw@! on May 1, 2011 at 10:44 am said:

Hey Rob
Thank you for your comment.
mujah on August 25, 2011 at 8:19 pm said:

Bro, it works..you are genius. thanks ya..
@HKw@! on August 29, 2011 at 9:09 am said:

🙂
Danny on September 5, 2011 at 10:31 pm said:

I face the same problem.

i try to force quit it, and reopen the words. But once words open, the error message immediately pops out, and i don’t even have a chance to choose any word preference nor tools.

please help

Thanks
Ra on September 12, 2011 at 11:21 pm said:

Thanks loads. You save my life : )
Tony on September 24, 2011 at 4:53 am said:

Thank you, it worked 100%
Grateful on October 18, 2011 at 5:12 pm said:

FANTASTIC man. <3
@HKw@! on October 19, 2011 at 1:44 pm said:

Thank you
fid on November 13, 2011 at 1:04 pm said:

thanks!! it solved my problem..i have to delete the document that i had already open in order to access the tools.
winson on November 18, 2011 at 1:54 am said:

Thanks..This post does a really great favour to solve the irritating warning message…How wish Microsoft can do something about it, otherwise, users may think to switch….
JUn on December 24, 2011 at 10:40 pm said:

THANK YOU.. You’re a lifesaver for creating this post.

@Danny: Simply open the Microsoft Word program by itself (ie. a blank document) and implement the changes. Good Luck.
John on January 3, 2012 at 2:35 pm said:

It is solved~ Thank you!
Bill on January 29, 2012 at 4:33 pm said:

Thank you so much! This is really helpful.
Sonam on February 11, 2012 at 1:35 am said:

Millions and billions of thanks Guru!
What a peace! now I can really focus on my last hour assignment! i was nearly start by handwriting but 100pages would be suffering enough to be enlightened!
Cheers!
@HKw@! on February 11, 2012 at 12:24 pm said:

u r welcome
christine on March 7, 2012 at 5:50 pm said:

definitely works!! thank you so much
Zahari on April 6, 2012 at 12:27 am said:

Thanks for your help gave me a scare earlier when can’t open
zaft on April 8, 2012 at 3:55 pm said:

real life saver.thanks alot
hardi on April 30, 2012 at 5:20 pm said:

thanks it’s work…
for those who cant even get out from error…
try this way…

place your cursor at the X (X = red dot for exit)
hit enter and click.
Darshana Gangwal on May 14, 2012 at 1:12 am said:

Thanks …it works 🙂
Cynthia on May 23, 2012 at 9:00 pm said:

Thanks! Makes life easier now 🙂
Khadie on June 27, 2012 at 11:10 pm said:

This is so helpful. Thank you!
@HKw@! on July 2, 2012 at 10:14 am said:

you are welcome
nish on July 30, 2012 at 7:49 am said:

thanks a lot
SK on August 15, 2012 at 5:24 pm said:

Thanks!!!! finally it works… God bless
Diane on August 23, 2012 at 9:52 am said:

thank you so much! very helpful
Tuanku Badzlin Hashfi on September 20, 2012 at 10:11 pm said:

thank you!!
Mau Mendoza on October 2, 2012 at 12:48 am said:

Thanks!!!
kumar on October 10, 2012 at 12:42 am said:

This works like a plum. Much thanks mate. Its October ’12 but still relevant.

Much thanks yet again.
Dhiya on October 21, 2012 at 9:27 pm said:

Dude, you’re awesome!! I’m about to die before I found your post here. Thank you so much! 😀
vishesh on November 4, 2012 at 7:57 am said:

Thanks man….u r genius
Ahmed on November 14, 2012 at 3:07 pm said:

Thanks … works perfectly … however I had to hold down SHIFT key when opening word to create temp before tools options were made available, before completing the above.
You a star!
Susan on January 29, 2013 at 12:21 pm said:

You’ve saved my skin! Thank you!
yunnie on February 21, 2013 at 5:30 pm said:

i experienced the same problem but i cant click the spelling and grammar at all. doesnt help when i click the hit the enter and click at the red dot for exit button.

someone please help! thanks a million!
nuna on March 14, 2013 at 8:26 am said:

yeaaa its work..yunnie seriusly follow the step;-)
Sanya Khera on April 15, 2013 at 6:45 pm said:

LIFE SAVED! THANKS SO SO SO MUCH! <3
Khairunnisa on May 28, 2013 at 8:05 pm said:

THANK YOU SO MUCH NEED THIS HELP URGENTLY AND IT WORKS FINE! May God bless you 🙂
ajpl on December 21, 2015 at 1:20 am said:

thanks so much !!

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Office Mac 2011 : Word cannot start the spelling checker

43 thoughts on “Office Mac 2011 : Word cannot start the spelling checker”

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