Office Settings & Configuration

How to Disable Left-Click Spell-Check Suggestions in Outlook and Word

Elise Williams Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users want to stop spelling suggestions from appearing when left-clicking a misspelled word, preferring the traditional right-click-only menu.

Product: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Outlook (Microsoft 365)
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Editing documents or writing emails where the new left-click spell-check menu interrupts the typing and editing workflow.
Observed behavior: Left-clicking a misspelled word automatically opens the spelling suggestion menu due to a recent Microsoft 365 update, overriding the classic right-click-only behavior.

Before you start

Ensure your Microsoft 365 applications are fully updated, as Microsoft occasionally releases patches or new settings based on user feedback regarding proofing features.

Solution 1Recommended

Submit Feature Feedback and Manage Proofing Settings

Currently, Microsoft 365 does not offer a built-in toggle to disable the left-click spell-check menu without turning off spell check entirely. The best approach is to submit official feedback while deciding whether to keep proofing enabled.

Microsoft recently updated the behavior of the spell checker in Microsoft 365, making left-clicks on misspelled words trigger the suggestion menu. Because there is no specific setting to revert this to a right-click-only action, the official recommendation is to submit feedback to the development team.

Access the Help menu

Open Microsoft Word or Outlook. On the top ribbon, click on the 'Help' tab.

Open the Feedback tool

Click on 'Feedback' and select 'I have a suggestion' or 'I do not like something'.

Detail your request

Explain that the left-click spelling suggestion interrupts your workflow and request an option to restore the traditional right-click-only functionality.

Submit to Microsoft

Click Submit. Feedback from organizational and corporate accounts is often highly monitored by the product team for future updates.

Submit Feature Feedback and Manage Proofing Settings

Disabling Proofing Altogether: You can technically stop the left-click menu by completely disabling 'Check spelling as you type' via File > Options > Proofing. However, this removes all automatic spell-checking functionality, which most users find unacceptable for daily work.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does disabling 'Check spelling as you type' fix the left-click issue?

Yes, it prevents the left-click menu from appearing, but it completely turns off automatic spell checking. You will have to manually run the spell checker by pressing F7 to find errors, which is not an ideal workaround for most users.

Can I revert to an older version of Microsoft 365 to remove the left-click spell check?

If you are on a compatible update channel, you can roll back your Office installation using the Office Deployment Tool. However, this is a complex process and stops you from receiving critical security updates.

Is this left-click behavior present in older standalone versions like Office 2019?

This specific behavior was introduced in newer Microsoft 365 updates. Users on older perpetual licenses, such as Office 2016 or Office 2019, generally still retain the traditional right-click-only functionality.

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