Microsoft Word Spell Check not working

Question

Hello, I'm a translator working with Trados Studio 2021 SR2 - 16.2.12.9338 and GS 2020 SR1 CU04. At our place of work, we have Office 365. Everything is completely up to date. A while ago, Microsoft Word Spell Check stopped working in Studio. Only for me - my colleagues with the exact same set-up, do not have this problem. 
 When I try to select Microsoft Word Spell Check instead of Hunspell, I get this error message: "Unable to select spell checker extension. Unable to locate if Microsoft Word is installed on this machine." 
 The spell check works just fine in Word! 
 Can you help me resolve this issue? 
 Thanks! 
 Kind regards, 
 Emma

Sorin Dolha · Accepted Answer

Hello everyone, 
 I have been able to reproduce this issue if I have manually added an (otherwise empty) custom macro in the default document template of Microsoft Word (Normal.dotm file). Spell checking communication relies on an empty document that is created by default by Word using that template in a temporary folder, leading to the issue in certain cases, possibly linked to changes recently done by Microsoft (maybe related to the group policy default changes that somebody also has pointed to). 
 To cause the issue I simply recorded a macro in there (into Normal.dotm) and started Trados Studio, then attempted to set it to use Word as spell checker. 
 To resolve the problem, I had to: 
 - close Trados Studio, close Outlook - open Normal.dotm file in Word using Open / Browse and going to: C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates - have all macros removed from ribbon Views / Macros dialog - close Word to save the document template 
 However, for me this didn't immediately solve the issue; I also had to: 
 - close all Winword.exe processes from Task Manager / Details - in Trados Studio attempt to set up Word spell checker again, in Options dialog / Spelling - in case of the macro-related error still appearing, repeat the two steps above and it has finally worked. 
 This can help or not (still after removing the macros from Normal.dotm, though): 
 - clean up temporary files from C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Word - sign out and back in to Windows/restart machine - have Word app started (and Outlook too/not) before opening Trados Studio to set up the Word spell checking again. 
 I don't know if this fix will apply in your cases (i.e. do you have macros in the default Word document template?), but I hope it helps! 
 Sorin Dolha

Perry Stinson · Answer

Hello everyone, 
 During a remote session with an RWS support agent, we found a workaround that works consistently for me: In Word, go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Macro Settings . Change the setting to " Disable all macros except digitally signed macros ". Restart Word and restart Studio. Then select the Word spell checker in Studio. 
 Note that this setting is possibly less secure that the default macro settings in Word, so be careful. The cause of the problem seems to be that Microsoft tightened the security of its Office products. Microsoft explains some changes in this article: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/deployoffice/security/internet-macros-blocked 
 None of the other workarounds in this thread worked for me: 
 
 Removing macros from Normal.dotm had no effect. 
 Running Studio as an administrator had no effect. 
 Adding Trusted Locations was not successful. Word does not allow you to add C:\Users\[USER]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Word as a trusted location due to security restrictions. With the support agent, we added C:\Users\[USER]\AppData\Local\Microsoft to the Trusted Locations (including subfolders), but that didn't solve the problem either. 
 
 The problem was only solved by the setting "Disable all macros except digitally signed macros", which worked with or without adding the trusted location. 
 I was having the problem with Studio 2019 and Studio 2022 in combination with Office 2302 (Build 16130.20868 Click-to-Run). 
 I hope that helps somebody! 
 
 Kind regards, Perry

Lydia Simplicio · Answer

Hey Emma Maris 
 Its likely to be related to admin rights when making your selection 
 We have an article about this: https://gateway.rws.com/csm?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0028362 
 Please let me know if it resolved your reported concern 
 Lyds

Lydia Simplicio · Answer

erg Jerzy Czopik Emma Maris I have office 365 and I am using Trados 2022. I can get it to work and while this not of help to you, what you can try check is this: Under File - Options - Languages so you have a/the correct language proofing pack installed? 
 Looking forward to your confirmation 
 Lyds

Sameh Elsharkawy · Answer

try this and let me know if it works for you!

Trados Studio > 1. Trados Studio

Microsoft Word Spell Check not working

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