Office Settings & Configuration

How to Restore the Classic Spell Check Dialog in Word 2016

Phi Hung Vo Oct 21, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to bring back the traditional spelling and grammar check dialog instead of using the new Editor pane that appeared after a recent software update.

How to Restore the Classic Spell Check Dialog in Word 2016

Product: Microsoft Word 2016
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Checking spelling and grammar in a document using the classic dialog box interface.
Observed behavior: Word 2016 suddenly displays the new Editor sidebar pane instead of the traditional spell check dialog, likely due to unintended shared code from newer Office updates.

Before you start

Ensure your Microsoft Word 2016 is fully updated, and verify that your Trust Center settings allow you to execute macros, as the primary workaround involves VBA code.

Solution 1Recommended

Use a VBA Macro to Restore the Classic Spell Check Dialog

Since the new Editor pane is not natively optional, you can use a custom VBA macro to bypass it and force Word to open the classic Spelling and Grammar dialog.

Microsoft occasionally releases shared update code across newer Office versions. Because versions from 2016 onward share much of the same underlying code, updates intended for newer iterations can inadvertently push new features (like the Editor pane) to perpetual-license products like Word 2016.

By assigning a VBA macro to a custom shortcut or Quick Access Toolbar button, you can continue using the traditional interface without waiting for a patch.

Open the VBA Editor

Launch Microsoft Word, open any document, and press Alt + F11 to open the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window.

Create a New Module

In the top menu, click 'Insert' and select 'Module' to open a blank code window.

Insert the Classic Spell Check Macro

Paste a standard VBA macro designed to trigger the classic dialog (often found on the Microsoft Office Answers forum as 'Classic Spell Check Dialog Macro').

Save and Assign to the Ribbon

Save the macro and close the VBA Editor. Right-click the Quick Access Toolbar, select 'Customize Quick Access Toolbar', choose 'Macros' from the 'Choose commands from' dropdown, and add your new macro to the toolbar for one-click access.

Submit Feedback to Microsoft: Because Office 2016 is a perpetual license, the Editor feature was likely an unintended addition. You can report this bug via the official Microsoft Word Feedback Portal.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my Word 2016 spell check change to the Editor pane?

Office versions from 2016 onward share much of the same update code. Occasionally, updates intended for Microsoft 365 or newer versions inadvertently push new features, like the Editor pane, to perpetual-license products like Word 2016 which are normally not supposed to receive feature updates.

Can I disable the Editor pane in Word 2016 settings?

No, the new Editor feature is not natively optional in the standard options menu. The most reliable workaround is using a custom VBA macro or an add-in to force the classic dialog to open.

Will Microsoft fix this unintended update in Word 2016?

Microsoft may reverse the change in a future patch since perpetual-license products are not meant to receive new feature overhauls. Users are highly encouraged to report the issue through the official Word Feedback Portal to raise awareness.

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