To install this package:
If you currently have a spell checker extension installed, uninstall or disable it before installing this package. Examples are the ones in Resharper and GhostDoc. If using Visual Studio 2022, disable the built-in spell checker by going to Edit | Advanced and disabling the Toggle Text Spell Checker option.
Download the latest release of the VSIX installer from the Releases page of this project site. Separate packages are available for Visual Studio 2013/2015, Visual Studio 2017/2019, and Visual Studio 2022 and later.
Close all open instances of Visual Studio before installing the package.
Run the downloaded package and follow the prompts to install it. It can be installed in any edition of Visual Studio except Express editions. Express editions are not supported as they do not allow installation of third-party extensions. Consider switching to the newer Community Edition which does support them.
This package can also be installed from within Visual Studio from the Visual Studio Marketplace (Visual Studio 2013/2015, Visual Studio 2017/2019, and Visual Studio 2022 and Later) using the Tools | Extension and Updates option (Visual Studio 2017) or Extensions | Manage Extensions option (Visual Studio 2019 or later). Select the online marketplace and search for "Visual Studio Spell Checker". Include the quote marks for an exact match and find the one created by EWSoftware. Once found, you can click the Download button to download and install it.
Tip
The spell checker contains many configuration options that can help you fine tune how and when spell checking occurs. See the Configuration Options topic for complete details and information on what each of the options does. The global configuration can be edited using the menu option noted below.
Once installed, you will find a new Spell Checker option on the Tools menu. Unless other packages have been installed that alter its position, it will be the fourth or fifth option from the bottom between the External Tools and the Import and Export Settings options. Its submenu contains following options:
Spell Check Current Document - This opens the active document spell check tool window.
Move to Next Spelling Issue and Move to Prior Spelling Issue - These can be used in text editors to move to the next/prior spelling issue in the file. If these are bound to shortcut keys and used in conjunction with the Quick Actions shortcut key (Ctrl+.), it can be a quick and convenient way to find and resolve spelling issues without using the interactive spell checking tool window. See the Binding Spell Checker Options to Shortcut Keys topic for more information.
Disable in Current Session/Enable in Current Session - This option acts as a toggle to temporarily disable and subsequently re-enable interactive spell checking in editors during the current Visual Studio session. This is separate from the Spell check as you type option in the configuration files. If that option is disabled, this menu option will have no effect.
Use this option to temporarily suspend spell checking in the current session. To turn it off on a more permanent basis either globally or for a solution, project, folder, or file, use the configuration file option instead.
Spell Check Entire Solution - This opens the solution/project spell check tool window and immediately spell checks the entire solution.
Spell Check Current Project - This opens the solution/project spell check tool window and immediately spell checks just the currently selected project.
Spell Check Selected Items - This opens the solution/project spell check tool window and immediately spell checks just the items selected in the Solution Explorer window (projects, folders, files, or any combination thereof). If the solution node is selected, it effectively checks the entire solution.
Spell Check All Open Documents - This opens the solution/project spell check tool window and immediately spell checks just the files currently open for editing in Visual Studio.
Open the Solution/Project Spell Checker Window - This opens the solution/project spell check tool window but takes no action.
Edit Global Configuration - This opens the configuration editor which lets you adjust the global spell checker settings.
Correcting spelling errors within the editor is handled using the Quick Actions and Refactorings context menu option or the smart tags. See the Spell Check as You Type topic for more information. A spell checker toolbar is also available. Right click anywhere in the Visual Studio toolbar area and select the Spell Checker option from the context menu to display it.