What causes "Grammarly Not Working in Google Docs"?

Grammarly's Google Docs checking toggle is off Outdated browser extension ('Update required') Footnotes or tables in the document break compatibility Documents of 30+ pages slow or stall Grammarly Superhuman Go activated - Superhuman logo appears instead of the G icon Document opened in Viewing instead of Editing mode

How do I fix "Grammarly Not Working in Google Docs"?

1. Pin the extension and reset the Google Docs toggle: Click the puzzle-piece Extensions icon in Chrome and pin Grammarly Click the G icon in the toolbar Turn off 'Check for writing suggestions on Google Docs', then turn it back on Refresh the Google Docs tab 2. Switch the doc to Editing mode: In Google Docs click the mode selector (top right, pencil icon) Choose Editing - Grammarly does not check in Viewing mode 3. Reinstall the latest extension: Go to chrome://extensions Click Remove under Grammarly Reinstall Grammarly from the Chrome Web Store Reopen the document 4. Temporarily remove footnotes and tables: Cut footnotes/tables into a separate doc Run Grammarly on the text Paste the elements back afterwards 5. Split long documents: If the doc is 30+ pages, copy sections into smaller docs Check each section separately 6. Clear the browser cache (Firefox, Edge, Safari or if Chrome still fails): Open chrome://settings/clearBrowserData Choose All time and Cached images and files Clear data and reload Docs 7. Check for Superhuman Go: If you see a Superhuman logo or tab on the right edge instead of the G icon, Superhuman Go is active - this is expected and it still checks writing

Try or Bye

Browse all analyzed products with real user feedback patterns.

Grammarly Not Working in Google Docs

Workaround available Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari Updated October 21, 2026

Quick answer

Usually the Google Docs toggle is off, the extension is outdated, or the document contains footnotes or tables. Pin the extension, toggle 'Check for writing suggestions on Google Docs' off and on, and reinstall if you see 'Update required'.

Most likely fix: Pin the extension and reset the Google Docs toggle.

Symptoms

No G icon in the lower-right of the doc, no underlines while typing, an 'Update required' banner, or suggestions that don't apply when clicked.

Why it happens

Grammarly's Google Docs checking toggle is off
Outdated browser extension ('Update required')
Footnotes or tables in the document break compatibility
Documents of 30+ pages slow or stall Grammarly
Superhuman Go activated - Superhuman logo appears instead of the G icon
Document opened in Viewing instead of Editing mode

How to fix it

Try these in order — the most common fix is first.

1. Pin the extension and reset the Google Docs toggle
1. Click the puzzle-piece Extensions icon in Chrome and pin Grammarly
2. Click the G icon in the toolbar
3. Turn off 'Check for writing suggestions on Google Docs', then turn it back on
4. Refresh the Google Docs tab
2. Switch the doc to Editing mode
1. In Google Docs click the mode selector (top right, pencil icon)
2. Choose Editing - Grammarly does not check in Viewing mode
3. Reinstall the latest extension
1. Go to chrome://extensions
2. Click Remove under Grammarly
3. Reinstall Grammarly from the Chrome Web Store
4. Reopen the document
4. Temporarily remove footnotes and tables
1. Cut footnotes/tables into a separate doc
2. Run Grammarly on the text
3. Paste the elements back afterwards
5. Split long documents
1. If the doc is 30+ pages, copy sections into smaller docs
2. Check each section separately
6. Clear the browser cache (Firefox, Edge, Safari or if Chrome still fails)
1. Open chrome://settings/clearBrowserData
2. Choose All time and Cached images and files
3. Clear data and reload Docs
7. Check for Superhuman Go
1. If you see a Superhuman logo or tab on the right edge instead of the G icon, Superhuman Go is active - this is expected and it still checks writing

This guide also covers

grammarly not working in google docs
grammarly not showing in google docs
grammarly not underlining in google docs
grammarly update required google docs

Still not working?

If Grammarly keeps failing, you're not alone. See every Grammarly problem users report or the alternatives people switch to.

Other Grammarly errors