The fastest way to add Grammarly to Google Docs
Open Google Docs, click the "Extensions" menu at the top, select "Get add-ons," search for "Grammarly," and click the Grammarly result to install it. You'll be asked to sign in or create a free Grammarly account. Once installed, Grammarly appears as a sidebar in your Google Docs and begins checking your writing automatically.
The whole process takes about two minutes. After installation, Grammarly stays active in every Google Doc you open — you don't need to reinstall it for each document.
Key Takeaways
- Grammarly installs through Google Docs' Extensions menu and requires a free or paid Grammarly account to work.
- Once installed, Grammarly checks spelling, grammar, and clarity in real time as you type, with suggestions appearing in a sidebar.
- The free version catches common errors; the paid version (Grammarly Premium) adds tone detection, plagiarism checking, and advanced writing suggestions.
- You can turn Grammarly on or off for individual documents using the toggle in the sidebar.
Step-by-step installation in Google Docs
Start with any Google Doc open in your browser. Click the "Extensions" menu in the top menu bar — it sits between "Tools" and "Help." A dropdown menu appears. Select "Get add-ons" from the list.
A new window opens showing the Google Workspace Marketplace. In the search box at the top left, type "Grammarly" and press Enter. The official Grammarly add-on appears as the first result, with the Grammarly logo (a red circle with a "G"). Click on it.
Click the blue "Install" button. Google asks you to confirm that you're allowing Grammarly to access your Google Docs. Click "Continue," then select your Google account if you have multiple accounts. Click "Allow" to grant Grammarly permission. The installation completes in seconds.
Creating or signing into your Grammarly account
After installation, Grammarly opens a sidebar on the right side of your Google Doc. If you already have a Grammarly account, click "Sign in" and enter your email and password. If you don't have an account, click "Sign up" and enter your email address. Grammarly sends you a confirmation link — check your inbox, click the link, and set a password.
You can also sign up using your Google account by clicking "Sign up with Google" and selecting the account you want to use. This skips the password step and connects your Grammarly account to your Google login.
What Grammarly checks in your writing
Once you're signed in, Grammarly begins scanning your document automatically. It highlights errors in your text with colored underlines: red for spelling and grammar, blue for clarity and style. Click any underline to see Grammarly's suggestion and accept or reject it.
The free version checks spelling, basic grammar, punctuation, and some clarity issues. Grammarly Premium — the paid version — adds tone detection (so you can see if your writing sounds angry or unclear), plagiarism checking, and more advanced suggestions about word choice and sentence structure. Premium costs about $12 per month when billed monthly, or less if you pay annually.
Turning Grammarly on and off
The Grammarly sidebar has a toggle switch at the top. Click it to turn Grammarly off for the current document without uninstalling it. This is useful if you're working on a document where you don't want real-time checking — for example, a creative writing piece where you want to ignore grammar rules intentionally.
The toggle setting applies only to that document. Other Google Docs will still have Grammarly active. If you want to uninstall Grammarly entirely, go to Extensions > Manage add-ons, find Grammarly, click the three-dot menu next to it, and select "Remove."
Grammarly free versus Premium in Google Docs
| Feature | Free | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Spelling and basic grammar | Yes | Yes |
| Punctuation | Yes | Yes |
| Clarity suggestions | Limited | Full |
| Tone detection | No | Yes |
| Plagiarism checking | No | Yes |
| Advanced writing goals | No | Yes |
The free version is sufficient for catching typos and obvious grammar mistakes. Premium is worth considering if you write frequently and want feedback on whether your tone matches your intent, or if you need to check whether your writing contains unintentional plagiarism.
Troubleshooting common problems
If Grammarly doesn't appear after installation, refresh your Google Doc by pressing Ctrl+R (Windows) or Cmd+R (Mac). If the sidebar still doesn't show, go to Extensions > Manage add-ons, find Grammarly, and click the three-dot menu to select "Use in this document."
If Grammarly signs you out unexpectedly, click "Sign in" in the sidebar and enter your credentials again. If you see an error message, try clearing your browser cache and cookies, then reload Google Docs. For persistent issues, you can uninstall and reinstall Grammarly by removing it from Extensions > Manage add-ons and repeating the installation steps above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Grammarly work in Google Docs on mobile?
Grammarly does not work as an add-on in the Google Docs mobile app. You can use the standalone Grammarly app on your phone to check writing, but it won't integrate directly into Google Docs the way the desktop version does. For mobile editing in Google Docs, you'll need to use the browser version on your phone.
Can multiple people use Grammarly in the same shared Google Doc?
Yes. Each person who has Grammarly installed sees their own sidebar with their own account. Grammarly's suggestions appear only to the person who has it installed — they don't show up for other collaborators viewing the same document. If you accept a suggestion, it changes the document text for everyone.
Will Grammarly slow down my Google Docs?
Grammarly has minimal impact on Google Docs performance. It runs in the background and checks your writing as you type, but most users don't notice a slowdown. If your document is very long (over 10,000 words), you might see a slight delay when Grammarly scans it, but this is usually brief.
What happens to my writing when I use Grammarly?
Grammarly only suggests changes — it doesn't modify your document unless you click to accept a suggestion. Your writing stays exactly as you wrote it until you approve each change. You can ignore any suggestion Grammarly makes.