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Office Installation Errors

How to Install a Proofing Language in Microsoft Office 2019

Camila MilosovichCamila Milosovich Oct 16, 2026 871 views

Question details

The user needs to add a spelling and grammar proofing language that is currently missing in Microsoft Office 2019.

How to Install a Proofing Language in Microsoft Office 2019
Product
Microsoft Office 2019
Device & OS
not provided
Scenario
The user is attempting to check spelling and grammar for a specific language but finds the necessary proofing tools are not installed in their Office suite.
Observed behavior
The desired proofing language is missing, requiring the download and installation of a language accessory pack.
Before you start

Ensure you have a stable internet connection and administrative privileges on your computer, as these are required to download and install new language accessory packs.

Solution 1Recommended

Install Proofing Language Directly Through Office Options

The quickest and most straightforward way to add a missing proofing language is through the built-in language settings in any Office application.

1
Open Office Options

Launch any Microsoft Office 2019 application, such as Word or Excel. Click on 'File' in the top-left corner, then select 'Options' at the bottom of the left-hand menu.

2
Navigate to Language Settings

In the Options dialog box, click on the 'Language' tab located in the left sidebar.

3
Add a New Language

Under the 'Office authoring languages and proofing' section, click on the 'Add a Language...' button.

4
Select and Install

Scroll through the list to select your desired language. Ensure the box for acquiring proofing tools is checked if prompted, then click 'Add' and follow the prompts to complete the installation.

Install Proofing Language Directly Through Office Options
Restart Required: You must completely close and restart all running Office applications for the newly installed proofing language to take effect.
Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Seamless Multilingual Spell Checking

Struggling with complicated language pack installations in Microsoft Office? WPS Office is a free, lightweight alternative that offers excellent compatibility with Microsoft formats and features highly accessible built-in spell checking for multiple languages.

  1. 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download and install the free suite.
  2. 2. Open a Document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document you wish to edit.
  3. 3. Switch Proofing Language: Navigate to the 'Review' tab, click on 'Spell Check', and choose 'Set Language' to easily switch your active proofing language.
Highly compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx).Built-in multilingual spell checking and proofing tools without complex accessory pack installations.Free and lightweight, consuming minimal system resources and disk space.Familiar user interface for a zero-learning-curve transition from Microsoft Office.
microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check if my proofing language is already installed in Office 2019?

Go to File > Options > Language in any Office application. Look under 'Office authoring languages and proofing'. If the language status says 'Proofing installed', it is ready to use. If it says 'Proofing available', you need to click it to initiate the download.

Why is the proofing language not working after installation?

First, ensure you have completely closed and restarted all Office applications. Secondly, the text itself might be set to the wrong language. Select your text, go to the Review tab, click Language, select 'Set Proofing Language', and choose your newly installed language.

Can I install multiple proofing languages in Office 2019?

Yes, you can install as many proofing languages as you need. Just repeat the process of navigating to File > Options > Language > Add a Language for each specific language accessory pack you want to include.

Are Microsoft Office 2019 language accessory packs free?

Yes, Microsoft provides language accessory packs for Microsoft 365 and Office 2019 completely free of charge to licensed users. You can download them directly from the Microsoft support website without any additional fees.