How To Add Grammarly To Outlook

Have you ever hit “Send” on an email, only to spot a silly typo a second later? Or maybe you reread your message and thought, “Hmm… that didn’t sound as professional as I wanted”? We’ve all been there.

Emails might look simple, but they carry a lot of weight. A well-written email makes you look polished, confident, and trustworthy. On the flip side, one small mistake can leave the wrong impression. And let’s be honest, most first impressions these days happen online, so your words really do matter.

That’s where Grammarly comes in. It’s not just about catching spelling errors. Grammarly helps you fix grammar, improve clarity, and even adjust your tone so your emails sound exactly the way you want—professional, friendly, or somewhere in between.

Now, here’s the best part. If you’re an Outlook user, you don’t need to copy-paste text into Grammarly anymore. You can integrate it directly into Outlook. That means Grammarly checks your emails in real time while you type no extra steps, no switching windows.

In this blog, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about adding Grammarly to Outlook. We’ll cover step-by-step installation for Windows, Mac, and Outlook Web. You’ll also get troubleshooting tips and some best practices to make sure Grammarly works smoothly every time.

By the end, you’ll be ready to write emails with confidence, clearly, professionally, and typo-free.

Grammarly & Outlook: What You Need to Know Before Installation

Before jumping straight into the setup, let’s take a quick look at what you actually need to make Grammarly work smoothly with Outlook. Trust me, a little prep here saves you a lot of headaches later.

Supported Outlook Versions

Good news: Grammarly plays well with most versions of Outlook. You can use it on:

• Outlook Desktop for Windows
• Outlook for Mac
• Outlook 365 (cloud-based version)
• Outlook Web (yes, even in your browser!)
• And on mobile, you won’t find a direct add-in, but the Grammarly keyboard app has your back.

So, no matter where you’re writing your emails, chances are Grammarly can slip right in and help out.

System Requirements

Now, let’s talk requirements. Don’t worry, nothing too crazy here.

• On Windows, you’ll need Microsoft Office installed (2016 or later works best).
• On Mac, Grammarly supports newer Outlook versions, but keep in mind, updates may roll out differently compared to Windows.
• For Outlook Web, all you really need is a modern browser like Chrome, Edge, or Safari. Easy, right?

Think of it this way: as long as your system isn’t stuck in the early 2000s, you’re good to go.

Free vs. Premium in Outlook

Here’s where things get interesting. Grammarly is free to use inside Outlook, but the free version only covers the basic things such as spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Great for catching typos and small mistakes.

But if you want the full power, like tone detection, clarity rewrites, vocabulary suggestions, and advanced style improvements, that’s where Grammarly Premium shines. Personally, if you’re sending a lot of professional or business emails, Premium feels like an investment in your credibility. But if you just want to make sure there are no embarrassing typos, the free plan is still solid.

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Step-by-Step Guide: How to Install Grammarly in Outlook

How to Add Grammarly to Outlook on Windows (Desktop)

If you’re using Outlook on Windows, the setup is pretty simple. Here’s exactly what you need to do:

Step 1: Head over to Grammarly’s website.

First things first, open your browser and go to the official Grammarly website.

Look for the option that says “Grammarly for Microsoft Office” or “Get Grammarly for Windows.” That’s the download you need. 

Step 2. Download the installer.

Click the download button, and the Grammarly for Windows installer will start downloading. Don’t worry, it’s a small file, so it usually only takes a few seconds.

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In my above screenshot, I already installed Grammarly, which is why you see the “Reinstall” button instead of Install.

Step 3. Run the installer.

Once the file is ready, open it up and follow the installation prompts. After finishing the installation, you need to sign in to your Grammarly account. During the process, you’ll see an option to install Grammarly for Outlook and Word. If you use both, I’d suggest keeping both checked; it saves you from doing this twice.

Step 4. Open Outlook and enable Grammarly.

After installation is done, open your Outlook app. You should now see the Grammarly add-in right inside your toolbar or ribbon. It usually shows up as a widget, and once you sign in with your Grammarly account, you’re good to go.

From here on, Grammarly will start checking your emails as you type, catching grammar slips, improving clarity, and making your messages sound sharp and professional.

Pro tip: If you don’t see the Grammarly widget immediately, don’t panic. Just restart Outlook, and it should appear. If it still doesn’t, double-check under Outlook’s Add-ins section to make sure Grammarly is enabled.

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How to Add Grammarly to Outlook Mac (Step-by-Step Guide)

Adding Grammarly in Outlook on Mac is not rocket science. You just need to follow the below step suggested by us. Shall we start?

Step 1: Download Grammarly for Mac

Go to Grammarly’s official website and download the Grammarly for Mac (iPhone and iPad) installer.

Step 2: Run the installer.

Double-click the downloaded file to open it.

Follow the on-screen prompts, accept terms, and enter your Mac password if asked.

When the installer asks, choose to add Grammarly to Microsoft Office components (select Outlook if it gives that option).

Step 3: Sign in to Grammarly

After installation, the Grammarly app may launch. Sign in with your Grammarly account.

If you don’t have an account, create one; it takes a minute.

Step 4: Open Outlook and enable the add-in.

Open Outlook for Mac.

If Grammarly doesn’t show automatically, look for add-ins in one of these places (Outlook varies by version):

• Ribbon—Get Add-ins (search “Grammarly” and add it), or
• Outlook menu – Preferences → Add-ins / COM Add-ins and enable Grammarly.

Not sure where to click? Try the Help menu and search “add-ins”—Outlook will usually point you.

Step 5: Test it quickly.

Compose a new email. Type a sentence with a typo or an awkward phrase.

You should see inline underlines for quick corrections and a Grammarly icon/sidebar for deeper suggestions.

One click accepts a suggestion, easy.

If Grammarly doesn’t appear: quick fixes

Not seeing Grammarly? Try these in order:

1. Restart Outlook (yes, it often works).

2. Restart your Mac if restart alone didn’t help.

3. Open the Grammarly desktop app and make sure it’s running and signed in.

4. Check Outlook’s Add-ins list again and enable Grammarly manually.

5. If the installer asked for permissions (Accessibility / Input Monitoring), go to System Settings → Privacy & Security and allow the permissions Grammarly requested.

Still stuck? Re-run the installer and choose “Repair” or reinstall.

Handy tips once it’s working

• Want Grammarly less chatty? Tweak suggestion types inside the Grammarly app (tone, correctness, clarity).
• Use the custom dictionary for company names or slang so Grammarly stops flagging them.
• Need privacy for a draft? Pause Grammarly temporarily while you write.
• Prefer mobile? Use the Grammarly keyboard on your phone as a backup for on-the-go emails.

How Grammarly Works Inside Outlook

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Where and How Suggestions Appear

Once Grammarly is active in Outlook, you’ll notice suggestions pop up right where you’re typing. Small underlines show up inline to flag mistakes or improvements. If you want more detail, you can open the sidebar or widget on the right. That’s where Grammarly explains why it’s suggesting a change, so you’re not just blindly clicking “fix.”

What Grammarly Checks (Beyond Just Spelling)

Grammarly goes way beyond catching typos. You’ll see:

• Tone detection: Are you sounding too formal? Too casual? Grammarly helps you adjust.
• Clarity suggestions: It highlights wordy sentences and suggests ways to make them sharper.
• Punctuation fixes: Commas, apostrophes, and those sneaky missing periods—Grammarly catches them all.
• Fluency improvements: Sometimes it rephrases your sentence so it flows better. Honestly, a game-changer for emails.

Accepting, Rejecting, and Adjusting

You stay in control. If you like a suggestion, click once and it’s applied instantly. Don’t like it? Reject it and move on. You can also adjust settings to decide what kind of help you want: grammar only, style improvements, tone checks, or all of the above.

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Best Practices for a Smooth Experience

Here are a few tricks to get the most out of Grammarly in Outlook:

• Customize your dictionary: Add your own words (like brand names or technical terms) so Grammarly stops flagging them.
• Ignore rules you don’t care about:If you’re fine with starting sentences with “and” or “but,” tell Grammarly to chill.
• Adjust sensitivity: Choose how strict Grammarly should be—casual, professional, or something in between.
• Disable when needed:Writing something personal or creative? Just turn Grammarly off temporarily and focus on your thoughts.

With these features, Grammarly in Outlook becomes more than a spell-checker; it feels like a writing coach that works with your style, not against it.

Troubleshooting Common Issues with Grammarly in Outlook

Alright, so you’ve installed Grammarly in Outlook… but something’s not working the way it should? Don’t panic; it happens, and most of the time the fix is pretty simple. Let’s go through the common hiccups and how you can solve them.

1. Grammarly not showing up in Outlook

Opened Outlook and don’t see Grammarly anywhere? 

First, check if the add-in is enabled. Sometimes it’s just turned off by default. You can go to Outlook’s add-ins or COM add-ins menu and make sure Grammarly is ticked on.

Still not working? Double-check your Office version. Grammarly doesn’t always play nice with outdated software. A quick update to the latest Microsoft Office often does the trick.

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2. Installation errors

Did you run into errors while installing Grammarly? 

This usually comes down to permissions or conflicting software. Try running the installer as an administrator, or temporarily disable any security apps that might be blocking it. Once Grammarly is installed, you can switch them back on.

3. Performance or lag issues

Noticing Outlook getting a little… sluggish? 

Sometimes Grammarly’s real-time checking can slow things down, especially if you’re writing long emails. One trick is to disable Grammarly in Outlook when you don’t need it, then turn it back on when you do. It’s a quick toggle and can make a big difference.

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4. Browser issues with Outlook Web

If you’re using Outlook Web, Grammarly runs through your browser. If suggestions aren’t showing, try disabling Incognito/Private mode; Grammarly doesn’t always run in those sessions. Also, check your browser extensions. Another extension may be clashing with Grammarly, so test it by turning others off one by one.

5. When to use Grammarly Editor instead

Sometimes, no matter what you try, Grammarly just doesn’t want to cooperate inside Outlook. In that case, there’s always the Grammarly Editor as a fallback. Copy your text into the Grammarly app or web editor, polish it there, and then paste it back into Outlook. It’s not as seamless, but it gets the job done when you’re in a pinch.

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Pros, Cons & Alternatives of Using Grammarly in Outlook

Pros of Grammarly in Outlook

Instant polish: No more embarrassing typos sneaking into your emails. Grammarly checks your writing as you type.

Tone control: Ever worried your email sounds too blunt? Grammarly helps you strike the right balance—professional, friendly, or formal.

Clarity boost: Long-winded sentences? Grammarly suggests simpler alternatives that make your emails easier to read.

Confidence factor: Honestly, knowing Grammarly has your back makes hitting “Send” way less stressful. 7 AM to 8 AM

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Cons of Grammarly in Outlook

Premium price tag: The free version is good, but if you want advanced features like tone or fluency, you’ll need Grammarly Premium.

Performance dips: On slower computers or huge email threads, Grammarly can sometimes make Outlook feel a little laggy.

Not always perfect:Occasionally, Grammarly misses context or makes suggestions that don’t fit your style. At the end of the day, you still have to decide what sounds best.

Alternatives to Grammarly in Outlook

Not convinced Grammarly is the one? Here are a few alternatives worth checking out:

Microsoft Editor:Built right into Outlook and Word, this tool is surprisingly good for grammar and style. It’s free with Microsoft 365.

ProWritingAid: Offers deeper reports on writing style and structure. Great if you want more than just grammar checks.

Hemingway App: Not an add-in for Outlook, but useful for simplifying writing. Perfect if you tend to get wordy.

Grammarly Cost & Plan Comparison for Outlook Users

Grammarly Free

The free version is a solid start. You get the basics like

• Grammar and spelling checks
• Simple punctuation fixes
• Basic clarity suggestions
• Generate text with 100 AI prompts

If you’re only worried about typos or small grammar slip-ups in Outlook emails, Free might be all you need.

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Grammarly Premium

Now here’s where things get interesting. Premium unlocks features that are game changers for professional communication:

• Tone detection (are you sounding too harsh or too soft?)
• Advanced clarity (suggestions to tighten up your writing)
• Vocabulary improvements (find sharper or more varied words)
• Fluency fixes (make sentences flow naturally)
• Formatting help in some cases (like consistent style across emails)
• Detect plagiarism and AI-generated text
• Generate text with 2,000 AI prompts
• Unlimited personalized suggestions

But that’s not all; Premium also comes with powerful team features, such as

• Style Guide: Keep writing consistent across your team
• Brand Tone: Make sure emails sound like your company voice.
• Knowledge Share & Snippets: Save time by reusing templates and common phrases.
• Analytics Dashboard: Track how your team are improving their writing over time.

And if you ever run into trouble, Premium users get extra support perks like

• Access to Grammarly’s detailed Help Center
• Priority Support for faster help when you need it most

If you’re sending work emails daily, especially to clients or managers, these features can make your writing feel more polished and confident.

Grammarly Business (for Teams)

If you’re managing a team or a company, Grammarly Business is where things get really powerful. It includes everything in Premium (Pro) plus:

Extra Security & Control:

• Dedicated support for your team
• BYOK encryption (Bring Your Own Key) for enterprise-level data security
• Custom roles and permissions
• Data loss prevention features
• Cost center visibility to track expenses
• Ability to generate text with unlimited AI prompts

Team Features at Scale:

• ROI Report: See the value Grammarly adds to your business
• Effective Communication Score: Measure team communication quality
• Unlimited Style Guides & Brand Tones:Keep all messaging consistent.
• Knowledge Share & Snippets: Save time with reusable content
• Analytics Dashboard with both team and individual insights

Customer Support:

• Full access to the Help Center
• Priority Support
• Dedicated support for business accounts

Grammarly Free is great for casual use. Premium is perfect if you want to look more professional in your Outlook emails. But if you’re leading a team or running a company, Grammarly Business gives you enterprise-level tools, analytics, and security that go far beyond grammar checking.

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FAQs: Adding Grammarly to Outlook