Install Grammarly as a Chrome extension first

Grammarly works inside Google Docs through a Chrome extension — a small program that adds features to your browser. You cannot use Grammarly in Google Docs without installing this extension first, even if you have a Grammarly account.

Go to the Chrome Web Store and search for "Grammarly: AI Writing and Grammar Checker". Click the blue "Add to Chrome" button. Your browser will ask you to confirm — click "Add extension". The Grammarly icon (a red circle with a "G") will appear in the top right corner of your browser window.

If you do not have Chrome, Grammarly also works in Edge, Safari, and Firefox through their respective extension stores. The steps are the same: search for Grammarly, install the extension, and confirm.

Sign in or create a Grammarly account

After you install the extension, click the Grammarly icon in your browser. A window will open asking you to sign in or create an account. If you already have a Grammarly account, enter your email and password. If not, click "Sign up" and follow the prompts — you will need an email address and a password.

Grammarly offers a free version and a paid version called Grammarly Premium. The free version catches basic spelling and grammar mistakes. Premium adds advanced features like tone detection, clarity suggestions, and plagiarism checking. You can start with free and upgrade later if you want the extra features.

Open Google Docs and set up Grammarly

Go to Google Docs and open a document or create a new one. Grammarly should set up automatically — you will see the red "G" icon appear in the top right corner of the Google Docs toolbar, next to the "Share" button and other tools.

If the icon does not appear, refresh the page. If it still does not show up, click the Grammarly icon in your browser's extension area (top right corner) and make sure it is turned on for Google Docs. Some browsers require you to give permission for extensions to run on specific websites.

Use Grammarly while you write

As you type in Google Docs, Grammarly checks your writing in real time. When it finds a mistake, a small red underline appears under the word or phrase. Click the underline to see Grammarly's suggestion. You can accept the suggestion, ignore it, or see more options.

The Grammarly icon in the toolbar shows a number if there are issues in your document — for example, "3" means Grammarly found three problems. Click the icon to open a sidebar on the right side of your screen that lists all the issues it found, organized by type (spelling, grammar, clarity, tone, and so on).

You can also click the icon to see your document's score — a number out of 100 that rates the overall quality of your writing. This score is based on the number and severity of the issues Grammarly found.

Key Takeaways

  • Grammarly only works in Google Docs if you install the Chrome extension (or the equivalent for Edge, Safari, or Firefox) first.
  • After installing the extension, sign in with an existing Grammarly account or create a new one using your email address.
  • The Grammarly icon appears in the Google Docs toolbar once you are signed in, and it checks your writing automatically as you type.
  • Click any red underline to see a suggestion, or click the Grammarly icon to open a sidebar showing all issues in your document.
  • The free version catches spelling and grammar mistakes; Premium adds advanced features like tone detection and plagiarism checking.

Troubleshooting common problems

If Grammarly is not showing up in Google Docs, first check that the extension is installed and turned on. Click the extension icon in your browser's top right corner, find Grammarly, and make sure it is enabled. Some browsers show a puzzle-piece icon for extensions — click that and look for Grammarly in the list.

If Grammarly is installed but not working in Google Docs, try refreshing the page or signing out and back in. Sometimes closing and reopening your browser fixes the problem. If you are using an older version of Chrome or another browser, update it — Grammarly may not work on outdated versions.

If you see the Grammarly icon but it is not underlining mistakes, check your settings. Click the icon and look for a settings option (usually a gear icon). Make sure the toggle for "Check spelling" or "Check grammar" is turned on. You can also choose which types of issues you want Grammarly to flag.

Adjust Grammarly settings for your needs

Click the Grammarly icon in the Google Docs toolbar and look for a settings or gear icon. From here you can choose your writing goals — for example, whether you are writing formally or casually, and whether your audience is general or specialized. Grammarly uses these settings to decide which suggestions to show you.

You can also turn off specific types of checks if they are not useful for your work. For instance, if you are writing creative fiction, you might turn off some grammar rules that would explore to formal writing. The free version has fewer customization options than Premium, but you can still adjust the basics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to pay for Grammarly to use it in Google Docs?

No. The free version of Grammarly works in Google Docs and catches spelling and grammar mistakes. You only need to pay for Premium if you want advanced features like tone detection, plagiarism checking, and more detailed clarity suggestions.

Will Grammarly slow down Google Docs?

Grammarly may cause a slight delay when you first open a document or paste in a large block of text, but most users do not notice a significant slowdown. If your computer is running slowly, try disabling Grammarly temporarily to see if that helps, or close other browser tabs and programs.

Can I use Grammarly in Google Docs on my phone?

Grammarly extensions do not work on mobile browsers the same way they do on desktop. However, Grammarly has a mobile app for iPhone and Android that works with some apps. For Google Docs on mobile, you would need to use the web version on your phone's browser, and Grammarly may not function fully.

What if Grammarly suggests something I disagree with?

You can ignore any suggestion by clicking the X next to it or straightforward not accepting it. If Grammarly keeps flagging the same thing, you can add it to your personal dictionary so Grammarly will not flag it again. This is useful for proper nouns, technical terms, or style choices you prefer.

Does Grammarly save my documents?

No. Grammarly only checks your writing — it does not save or store your documents. Google Docs saves your work automatically. Grammarly does not have access to your documents unless you are actively using it in the browser window where you are writing.