If you’ve opened Microsoft Word recently and noticed Grammarly looks a little different, you’re not imagining it. Grammarly has rolled out a new interface for Windows (and Mac), changing how suggestions appear inside Word and how you access the tool from your desktop. These updates are designed to streamline the experience, but they also mean the familiar sidebar or floating icon may look or behave differently than before.

Below is a clear overview of what changed, why it matters, and how to adjust your settings if Grammarly isn’t appearing the way you expect.

A New Grammarly Experience Inside Word

Grammarly for Windows now offers two interface modes:

• The floating widget
• The docked Grammarly tab on the right edge of your screen

In Microsoft Word, this update affects how suggestions appear. Instead of the older sidebar panel, users may now see:

• Small balloon-style inline suggestions directly in the document
• A floating review window that lists suggestions for the next several pages
• A more compact, less intrusive interface overall

This new design focuses on keeping the writing space cleaner while still providing access to detailed feedback when needed.

Why Grammarly Might Seem to “Disappear” in Word

If Grammarly suddenly stopped showing up in Word, the update may have switched you from the widget to the docked tab. Grammarly’s support documentation notes that this is a common reason users think the tool is missing.

Another change that confuses users is that the Grammarly tab no longer appears in Word’s ribbon/navigation tabs, which makes the integration look like it has been removed even though it is still active.

To switch back to the familiar floating widget:

1. Locate the Grammarly icon in your Windows system tray (bottom-right corner).
2. Right-click it and select Settings.
3. Turn off the option labeled Use docked chat launcher.

Once disabled, Grammarly returns to the floating widget mode—the version that integrates most consistently with Word.

Accessing Grammarly from the Taskbar

With the new update, the system tray icon is now the central control point. From there, users can:

• Open Grammarly’s settings
• Switch between the widget and docked tab
• Restart Grammarly if suggestions stop appearing
• Confirm whether Grammarly is enabled for Word

This is the quickest way to adjust the interface if Grammarly’s behavior changes unexpectedly.

Troubleshooting Grammarly’s New Interface in Microsoft Word

If Grammarly still doesn’t appear after adjusting the interface mode, Grammarly’s support documentation recommends additional checks:

• Ensure Grammarly isn’t listed in your Block List
• Restart Grammarly from the system tray
• Restart your computer
• Confirm Word is in Print Layout view (Grammarly does not work in Draft, Outline, or Web Layout)
• On Mac, make sure only one Word document is open
• Verify your Office version is supported (Office 2016+ or Microsoft 365)

These steps resolve most cases where Grammarly seems to have vanished after the update.

If you’re ready to strengthen your manuscript, NEK Editing offers developmental editing, proofreading, and workflow guidance to support your writing goals.