How To Resolve Grammarly Not Functioning in Gmail

Dealing with Grammarly not working in Gmail can be a real headache. Sometimes it’s just a matter of the extension being turned off or a hiccup in the browser stuff, but then there are times when the extension gets all corrupted or conflicts with other settings. Fixes aren’t always obvious, especially if the icon doesn’t show up where it’s supposed to or if Gmail’s interface suddenly stops recognizing Grammarly. The good news is, most of these issues boil down to a few common culprits—extensions, cache, browser settings, VPNs, or even Gmail language preferences. If you’ve tried the usual logouts and reboots, these fixes probably will help you get Grammarly back up and running in Gmail — or at least point in the right direction.

How to Fix Grammarly Not Working in Gmail

Check if the Extension is Enabled and Visible

This is probably the quickest fix, but it’s surprisingly overlooked. Sometimes, the extension gets turned off accidentally or the icon just disappears. It’s weird, but on some setups, the Grammarly icon doesn’t show up on your compose window unless everything’s turned on properly in Chrome.

• Open Google Chrome and go to Menu (the three dots in the top right).
• Navigate to More tools > Extensions.
• Look for the Grammarly extension and make sure the toggle switch is turned on.
• If it’s off, flip it on and refresh Gmail.

This usually makes Grammarly icon pop up in Gmail, and it might just start working. Sometimes, on certain setups, it takes a while or needs a browser restart, but if it doesn’t show up, move to the next fix.

Remove and Reinstall Grammarly Extension

If enabling didn’t fix it, maybe the extension is a bit corrupted—kind of weird, but not impossible. Removing and installing it again refreshes everything, and sometimes that’s enough to get it working—especially after a browser update or system change.

• Open Chrome’s Extensions menu again (three-dot menu > More Tools > Extensions).
• Find Grammarly, then click Remove.
• Confirm by clicking Remove again.
• Head over to the Chrome Web Store — Grammarly Extension.
• Click Add to Chrome and then Click Add extension in the prompt.

On some setups, it might take a browser restart or a little fiddling, but reinstalling often fixes issues caused by updates or file corruption.

Clear Cookies and Cache Files

Sometimes Chrome’s stored cache or cookies get bloated or corrupted, which can interfere with extension behavior. Clearing them is simple and sometimes the magic fix.

• Click on the three-dot menu in Chrome, then go to More Tools > Clear Browsing Data.
• Choose a time range—preferably All Time—to make sure you wipe everything.
• Check the boxes for Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
• Hit Clear data.

Sometimes, this resets the extension’s access to Gmail and makes it sync properly again. Keep in mind, it’ll log you out of some sites, so be prepared to sign back in.

Reset Chrome Settings

If the above doesn’t help, maybe Chrome’s settings are tangled up or conflicting. Resetting to defaults can fix that, but it’s a little extreme since it disables all extensions and resets your preferences.

• Open Chrome Settings.
• Scroll down and click Advanced (or just type chrome://settings/reset in the address bar).
• Find Restore settings to their original defaults.
• Click Reset settings in the dialog box.

This step often clears out conflicts caused by legacy settings or other extensions that interfere with Grammarly.

Disable or Remove Conflicting Extensions

If you’ve got a bunch of other extensions running, some might be conflicting or causing conflicts — security stuff, adblockers, or other writing tools. Disable or remove them temporarily to test whether Grammarly works better.

• Go back to Extensions.
• Turn off extensions you don’t use often or suspect might be interfering. Use the toggle switch.
• For extensions you’re not sure about, try removing them permanently — just click Remove.
• Don’t forget to refresh Gmail after changes.

Remove VPNs or Proxy Services

VPNs can throw a wrench in the works because they alter your network routing, which sometimes messes with extension connections. If Grammarly suddenly stops working only when VPN is active, disable it temporarily to test.

• Click on the Puzzle icon in Chrome (extensions menu).
• Choose Manage extensions.
• Toggle off the VPN extension or click Remove if you’re done testing.

Reset Chrome’s Experimental Features

Chrome flags can sometimes break things, especially if you toggled any experimental features. Resetting them to default is a good, if slightly technical, move.

• Type chrome://flags into the address bar.
• Click Reset all to default.
• Relaunch Chrome and try Grammarly again.

Adjust Gmail Language Settings

If your Gmail is set to a language that uses right-to-left text (like Arabic or Hebrew), Grammarly might not check properly. Make sure Gmail’s language is set to English (US or UK).

• Open Gmail, click the Settings gear icon, then See all settings.
• In the Language dropdown, pick English (US or UK).
• Save changes and refresh Gmail.

Try a Different Browser or Update Chrome

Sometimes, Chrome just isn’t cooperating, and moving to another browser can get you around the issue. Firefox or Edge tend to handle Grammarly pretty well, especially if Chrome keeps acting up after updates.

Also, check if Chrome needs an update:

• Click the three dots menu, then Help > About Google Chrome.
• If an update is available, Chrome will automatically download it. Afterward, click Relaunch.

Sometimes, a quick browser update or switching to a different one makes all the difference. If none of this works, there might be a deeper issue with your system or network, but these fixes cover most common ground.