Office for Mac Issues

How to Fix Microsoft Editor Similarity Checker Not Working on Mac

Kushani Nimanthika Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to use the Microsoft Editor Similarity Checker on their Mac and needs to resolve an error message to resume checking documents.

How to Fix Microsoft Editor Similarity Checker Not Working on Mac

Product: Microsoft 365 Word for Mac
Device & OS: Mac (macOS)
Scenario: Checking a document for text similarity or plagiarism using the Microsoft Editor tool.
Observed behavior: The Similarity Checker fails to run and displays the error message 'Something went wrong. Try again.'

Before you start

Ensure that your Mac is connected to a stable internet network, as the Similarity Checker requires active online access to compare text against web sources. Please save your document before proceeding with the troubleshooting steps.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear the Microsoft Word Container Folder

Resetting the Word container folder clears corrupted cache and temporary files that may be causing the Editor to fail.

macOS isolates app data in specific container folders. When the configuration or cache within this folder becomes corrupted, features like Microsoft Editor may stop working correctly. Moving this folder to the desktop forces Word to generate fresh, clean settings upon the next launch.

Quit all Office applications

Ensure Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are completely closed on your Mac.

Open the Go to Folder menu

Click on the Finder icon in your dock, then press Command+Shift+G on your keyboard.

Navigate to the Containers folder

Type '~/Library/Containers' in the search box and press Enter.

Move the Word folder

Locate the folder named 'Microsoft.Word' (or 'Microsoft Word' depending on your macOS version). Drag and drop this folder onto your Desktop as a backup.

Relaunch Word

Open Microsoft Word again, load your document, and test the Similarity Checker.

Clear the Microsoft Word Container Folder

Safe backup: Moving the folder to the desktop preserves your old settings. If everything works perfectly, you can later delete the folder from your desktop.

Solution 2

Update Microsoft 365 for Mac

Installing the latest updates fixes known bugs and compatibility issues that might be breaking the Microsoft Editor.

Solution 3

Start Mac in Safe Mode

Booting in Safe Mode clears system caches and disables conflicting background applications that might interfere with Word.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Experience Hassle-Free Document Editing with WPS Office

If you are tired of troubleshooting continuous errors in Microsoft 365, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and user-friendly experience for all your word processing needs on macOS, complete with powerful proofreading tools.

1. Download the installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the Mac version.
2. Install WPS Office: Open the downloaded file and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
3. Open your documents: Launch WPS Writer and seamlessly open your existing .docx files to continue editing.

Seamlessly compatible with all Microsoft Word (.docx) formatsFree and lightweight design that runs smoothly on MacBuilt-in smart proofreading and editing toolsFamiliar user interface requiring zero learning curve

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an internet connection required for the Similarity Checker in Word?

Yes, the Microsoft Editor Similarity Checker requires a stable internet connection because it compares your document's text against an online database of web pages using Bing search.

Does the Similarity Checker cost extra?

While the basic spell check is free, the advanced Similarity Checker is a premium feature that requires an active Microsoft 365 subscription to function.

What should I do if clearing the container folder doesn't work?

If clearing the Microsoft.Word container folder does not resolve the 'Something went wrong' error, you may need to completely uninstall Microsoft 365 for Mac and reinstall the latest version from your Microsoft account.

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