Office Settings & Configuration

Fix Office 365 Tabs and Proofing Tools Not Working in Word

Phi Hung Vo Oct 19, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to restore missing or malfunctioning tabs, proofreading tools, and third-party add-ins in Microsoft Word.

How to Fix Office 365 Tabs and Proofing Tools Stopping in Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Using Microsoft Word for document editing with third-party extensions like EndNote or built-in utilities like Ink Equation.
Observed behavior: Features such as the EndNote tab, Word proofreading tools, and Ink Equation work temporarily after a fresh installation but eventually stop working or disappear from the ribbon.

Before you start

Ensure your Windows operating system is fully up to date and check if your Microsoft 365 subscription is active before modifying any system applications.

Solution 1Recommended

Update Add-ins and Test Word in Safe Mode

Outdated add-ins often conflict with Office 365 updates, causing tabs to disappear. Safe Mode helps isolate if a specific add-in is the root cause.

If you use EndNote or other third-party reference managers, an outdated version of the software might not be fully compatible with the latest Microsoft Word build.

Update EndNote

Visit the official Clarivate support website to download and install the most recent updates for your version of EndNote.

Launch Word in Safe Mode

Press 'Win + R' on your keyboard, type 'winword /safe' in the Run dialog, and press Enter. This opens Word without loading any add-ins.

Isolate the Conflicting Add-in

If the proofing tools work normally in Safe Mode, go to File > Options > Add-ins. Select 'COM Add-ins' from the Manage dropdown and click Go. Uncheck add-ins one by one to identify which is causing the issue.

Update Add-ins and Test Word in Safe Mode

Re-enable Disabled Items: Sometimes Word disables crashing add-ins automatically. You can check this by selecting 'Disabled Items' from the Manage dropdown in the Add-ins menu.

Solution 2

Run the Microsoft Office Repair Tool

If core features like Proofing Tools or Ink Equation are malfunctioning, the Office installation files may be corrupted and require a built-in repair.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my Microsoft Word tabs disappear randomly?

Tabs can disappear due to conflicts with third-party add-ins, corrupted Microsoft Office configuration files, or licensing verification issues that temporarily lock certain features.

How do I re-enable a disabled EndNote add-in in Word?

Navigate to File > Options > Add-ins. At the bottom of the window, select 'Disabled Items' from the Manage drop-down list and click Go. Find EndNote in the list, select it, and click Enable.

Why is the Ink Equation feature missing from my Word ribbon?

Ink Equation requires a supported Office configuration. It may be absent if your Office 365 installation is corrupted, if you lack the appropriate subscription license, or if your device setup does not support Windows Ink features.

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