Office Compatibility Issues

Fix Microsoft Word Similarity Checker Showing Zero Reviews and No Highlights

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where the Microsoft Word Similarity Checker detects similarities but fails to highlight the text or respond to clicks.

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Checking a large document for similarities and plagiarism.
Observed behavior: The Similarity Checker reports similarities reviewed (e.g., 0/10), but clicking the results does nothing, and no text is highlighted in the document despite Word being fully updated.

Before you start

Ensure your device has an active and stable internet connection, as the Microsoft Word Similarity Checker relies entirely on cloud services to analyze documents and return results.

Solution 1Recommended

Wait for Service-Side Fix and Keep Office Updated

Since this is a recognized service-side bug affecting users globally, ensuring your Office suite remains up to date will allow you to receive the fix as soon as Microsoft releases it.

Microsoft support has confirmed that this behavior is a known issue currently under investigation by their engineering team. Because the Similarity Checker processes data on Microsoft's servers, local troubleshooting steps like repairing or reinstalling Office may not resolve the problem until a service-side patch is deployed.

Open Account Settings

Launch Microsoft Word, click on 'File' in the top-left corner, and select 'Account' from the bottom of the left-hand menu.

Check for Updates

Under the Product Information section, locate 'Office Updates'. Click the 'Update Options' button.

Install Updates

Select 'Update Now' from the drop-down menu. Word will automatically check for, download, and install any available patches.

Automatic Updates: If you do not see the 'Update Now' option, you may need to click 'Enable Updates' first, or your updates might be managed by your organization's IT department.

Solution 2

Submit Diagnostic Feedback to Microsoft

Reporting your specific system environment and document details helps Microsoft's engineering team accelerate the investigation and release a patch.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Reliable Document Editing

If Microsoft Word's cloud features are currently experiencing outages or bugs, WPS Office provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative. It ensures you can continue editing your important documents without interruptions caused by service-side errors.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installation package for your operating system.
2. Install the Software: Run the downloaded installer and follow the simple on-screen instructions to set up WPS Office on your device.
3. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing Word document to continue editing and reviewing seamlessly.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Word Similarity Checker not highlighting text?

This is a known service-side issue recognized by Microsoft. The checker successfully detects similarities and shows a review count, but a cloud-service bug prevents the highlights from rendering or the links from navigating to the corresponding text.

Does document size affect the Similarity Checker?

Yes, very large documents can sometimes cause cloud-based features like the Editor or Similarity Checker to time out or behave unpredictably. Breaking the document into smaller sections may help as a temporary workaround while waiting for an official fix.

How can I check my document for plagiarism while this feature is broken?

While waiting for Microsoft to issue a service-side patch, you can use reputable third-party plagiarism checking services online or install a dedicated writing add-in through the Office Store to review your document.

Office App Problems