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Why isn't my check spelling working?

  • 27 replies
  • 34 have this problem
  • 134 views
  • Last reply by xploer250

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Hi guys,

Since last Mozilla update to version 23.0 my check-spelling isn't working anymore. I seem to be miss-writing every word, as all of them are being underlined.

How do I solve this problem? I do not want to change to another crappy browser just because I can't use a check-spelling add-on...

Just as a side note, this whole thing was working on version 22, and I don't quite understand why it isn't now. I just want to see this fixed, please help? Thanks in advance.

Hi guys, Since last Mozilla update to version 23.0 my check-spelling isn't working anymore. I seem to be miss-writing every word, as all of them are being underlined. How do I solve this problem? I do not want to change to another crappy browser just because I can't use a check-spelling add-on... Just as a side note, this whole thing was working on version 22, and I don't quite understand why it isn't now. I just want to see this fixed, please help? Thanks in advance.

Chosen solution

I had the same problem and solved it by uninstalling Firefox 23 and all its data and downgrade to Firefox 22. Now the spell checking is working correctly! If a developer is reading this, please check the issue. My computer has Windows 8 64bit.


NOTE Apparently this problem was caused by a Firefox bug that was fixed in Firefox 23.1 The nature of the problem was such that none-English installs were most likely to be affected. My post under gives more information.

Users should not have this problem now, or if you do then it is likely to be another cause. Please therefore start a new question of your own using the standard link /questions/new/firefox

Update by a Forum Mod ~J99 1st edit Modified November 30, 2013 at 9:39:28 AM GMT by John99

2nd edit. This ws a Fx22-3 issue changing link to ordinary link

Read this answer in context 👍 2

All Replies (20)

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Do you have a dictionary installed and selected?

You can see which dictionary is selected if you right-click in a text area and open the Languages submenu.
At least one dictionary should be installed and have a check mark to indicate that it is selected.

  • Open the "Add Dictionaries" link to install a dictionary if you do not have one.
  • Make sure that [X] "Check Spelling" in the right-click context menu is check-marked.

You can enable or disable spell checking globally:

  • Tools > Options > Advanced : General: Browsing: "Check my spelling as I type"

You can look here for dictionaries:

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Hello,

Try Firefox Safe Mode to see if the problem goes away. Safe Mode is a troubleshooting mode, which disables most add-ons.

(If you're not using it, switch to the Default theme.)

  • You can open Firefox 4.0+ in Safe Mode by holding the Shift key when you open the Firefox desktop or Start menu shortcut.
  • Or open the Help menu and click on the Restart with Add-ons Disabled... menu item while Firefox is running.

Once you get the pop-up, just select "'Start in Safe Mode"

If the issue is not present in Firefox Safe Mode, your problem is probably caused by an extension, and you need to figure out which one. Please follow the Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems article for that.

To exit the Firefox Safe Mode, just close Firefox and wait a few seconds before opening Firefox for normal use again.

When you figure out what's causing your issues, please let us know. It might help other users who have the same problem.

Thank you.

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@ cor-el

Yes, I do have a dictionary installed and selected » http://prntscr.com/1kll8i In fact, I have 2 dictionaries installed, as you can see on the image. Otherwise the words wouldn't be underlined.

Also, the the check-spelling is enabled » http://prntscr.com/1klliy I've tried it all, nothing seems to work. :(


@ Waka_Flocka_Flame

Safe Mode activated now, original theme too.

Problem is, the English dictionary stops working or isn't there anymore, so how can I know if it's working? On safe-mode the only dictionary that shows is the original one (Brazilian) » http://prntscr.com/1kln0l


Also, just found out that I'm not the only one with this problem » http://prntscr.com/1klul6

Any other thoughts? Thanks guys, you've really been quite a help.

Modified by botail

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Try to reset the dictionary and spellcheck related prefs on the about:config page.

You can check for problems with preferences.
Rename or delete the prefs.js file and possible numbered prefs-##.js files and a possible user.js file to reset all prefs to the default value.

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Hi, thanks a lot for all your help.

Unfortunately, I've now uninstalled Mozilla Firefox as I don't feel I should be a computer expert in order to have a working check-spelling add-on.

There are a lot of offers out there, not as good as Mozilla I must confess, that works without the need of being an expertise and of changing file values.

I will, however, reinstall FF from time to time and check if this problem is fixed. Because, and again, there's not a browser like this one.

With that said, you may close this forum question/request. Truly and sincerely thankful for all your help.

Regards, and see you guys soon.

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Ubuntu makes a lot of changes to Firefox (possibly including the installation of extra dictionaries) and the result may not always work properly anymore.
So in case of problems it is best to install the version from the Mozilla server and disable any extensions that are installed globally.

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You could also had reset firefox, for that refer to the Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings article.

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Reset process was already tried previously... and it didn't work.

About the used FF installation, it was always downloaded from the Mozilla official website. So I guess that's not the problem...

As far as I'm concerned, the problem is on the Update to version 23 itself, and not on my side, as on version 22 everything worked perfectly.

Thanks for your help.

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You should have the two unpacked dictionary files (xx-xx.aff and xx-xx.dic) either in the dictionaries folder in the Firefox program folder or in case of an installed dictionary in the dictionaries folder of the extension in the extensions folder in the Firefox profile folder.

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Yes, I do have these two files...

Am I supposed to do something with them? Regards.

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No, you do not have to do anything with them. When they are there and the spellchecker.dictionary pref has the correct corresponding value then the spell check should work.

You can try another underline style to see if that has effect.

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So, basically we're back to editing file values... that won't do for me, sorry!

If you can offer me a valid answer that will fix my problem, without the need of being a computer expert, I'm glad to read it and follow it. If you're not able to, sorry, but I simply won't...

Just one further question: have you tested this issue yourself?

Modified by botail

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Chosen Solution

I had the same problem and solved it by uninstalling Firefox 23 and all its data and downgrade to Firefox 22. Now the spell checking is working correctly! If a developer is reading this, please check the issue. My computer has Windows 8 64bit.


NOTE Apparently this problem was caused by a Firefox bug that was fixed in Firefox 23.1 The nature of the problem was such that none-English installs were most likely to be affected. My post under gives more information.

Users should not have this problem now, or if you do then it is likely to be another cause. Please therefore start a new question of your own using the standard link /questions/new/firefox

Update by a Forum Mod ~J99 1st edit Modified November 30, 2013 at 9:39:28 AM GMT by John99

2nd edit. This ws a Fx22-3 issue changing link to ordinary link

Modified by John99

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Thanks for sharing your problem in this thread, pan-firefox.

Took me a little time to find a correct downloadable version of Mozilla FF 22, but once I got my hands on it: problem fixed!

Sorry Mozilla Firefox 23, but you'll have to wait a bit longer. You'll have to understand the dictionaries play an important role on the kind of usage I give to you, and if you can't handle the ones you provide on your own add-ons download page, something must be outrageously wrong.

In conclusion, the way to fix this problem is: downgrade your Firefox to previous version (22), by uninstalling the most recent version, and installing the older one.

Problem fixed, and as far as I'm concerned, you may close this one. Thanks a lot to everybody.

Modified by botail

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There is a bug in Firefox 23. It may well be fixed in a chemspill release 23.0.1that may be expected in a few days time.

The bug affects profile file paths that have certain characters in them.

  • Bug 902532 - Spellchecking broken with non-ASCII characters in profile path

( You need to make sure the profile path contains only simple ASCII characters (cf. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASCII).)

It is probably worth waiting for the new release, but advanced users will realise there are workarounds that will easily fix this problem #c13

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Another possibility could be to copy the two dictionary files (xx-xx.aff and xx-xx.dic) from their dictionaries folder in the extensions folder in the profile folder to the dictionaries folder in the Firefox program folder.

Modified by cor-el

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I never had a problem with Spell Checker on Firefox 22. But recently, it went missing on my Firefox 24. It works perfectly in the Safe Mode, but not in the normal mode. Finally, had to reset Firefox in order to fix the problem.

Bring back Spell Checker in Firefox

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You need to go Help > Troubleshooting Information >

Then left side, There are one box "Reset Firefox to its default state"

and click on "Reset Firefox"

I have done and solved the all problem with spelling check

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FIREFOX RESET

This is useful and solves many problems.

NOTE
You will lose open tabs and possibly other data as mentioned in the article linked above. You may wish to:

  1. Close all unnecessary open tabs, and book mark any remaining ones.
  2. Bookmark home-websites of all Firefox extensions. The extensions software will be removed and that will assist you in reinstalling them.
  3. Plugins (Things such as Flashplayer will not be affected) Before going on to try Firefox reset you may wish to
    • Try Firefox in its safe mode e.g hold the shift-key when clicking on the icon to start Firefox.
    • AND with all plugins disabled. Disable or remove Add-ons_how-to-disable-plugins.
    • These steps; before trying reset; are quick, easy and fully reversible.

Modified by John99

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I use the add-on or extension After the Deadline and that seemed to fix things for me as far as spell checking in Yahoo or other web email programs.

Peter

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