If your Grammarly keyboard or app has suddenly stopped working on your Android phone, the issue is usually caused by temporary cache glitches, outdated app versions, or conflicting system settings. You can quickly fix this by restarting your device, checking your active keyboard settings, or clearing the app cache from your phone menu.
Nobody likes dealing with sudden tech hiccups, especially when you are trying to send an important email or finish a quick text on your phone. If you rely on the Grammarly Android app or keyboard to keep your writing polished, seeing it freeze, disappear, or stop checking your spelling can be super frustrating.
In this guide, we will walk through the exact steps to get Grammarly up and running on your Android device again.
Why Is Grammarly Not Working on Android?
Before jumping into the fixes, it helps to understand why the problem is happening. The Grammarly Android keyboard and companion app rely heavily on your phone’s system resources, accessibility permissions, and internet connection.
Common causes include:
- Corrupted App Cache: Temporary files stored by Android can sometimes cause the app to crash.
- Outdated Software: Running an old version of the Grammarly app or Android OS.
- Keyboard Conflicts: Other third-party keyboards or system UI glitches interfering with the Grammarly Keyboard.
- Disabled Permissions: Missing system permissions required to check text in other apps.
7 Quick Fixes for Grammarly on Android
Here are the most effective ways to troubleshoot and fix Grammarly when it stops working on your Android smartphone or tablet.
1. Restart Your Android Device
It sounds simple, but a quick reboot clears your phone’s temporary memory and stops background processes that might be blocking Grammarly.
- Press and hold your phone’s Power button (or Power + Volume Up on newer devices).
- Tap Restart.
- Once your phone turns back on, open an app like Gmail or Messages and check if Grammarly is working.
2. Check and Re-Enable the Grammarly Keyboard
Sometimes, Android disables third-party keyboards after a system update. You need to make sure the keyboard is still turned on in your settings.
- Open your phone’s Settings.
- Go to System > Languages & input (this path may vary slightly depending on whether you use Samsung, Google Pixel, or Motorola).
- Tap Virtual keyboard (or Manage keyboards).
- Make sure Grammarly is toggled On.
3. Clear the Grammarly App Cache
Over time, cached data can build up and cause the app to freeze. Clearing the cache forces the app to start fresh without deleting your personal dictionary or account data.
- Go to Settings > Apps (or Apps & notifications).
- Find and tap on Grammarly.
- Tap Storage & cache.
- Tap Clear Cache (Do not tap Clear Storage unless you want to log out and reset everything).
4. Switch Back and Forth Between Keyboards
If the Grammarly keyboard is visible but won’t type or check text, forcing a keyboard switch often wakes it up.
- Open any app where you can type.
- Tap the text box to bring up the keyboard.
- Tap the keyboard icon in the bottom-right corner of your screen (or swipe the spacebar).
- Switch to Gboard or Samsung Keyboard, then switch right back to Grammarly.
5. Update the Grammarly App
Running an outdated version of the app can cause compatibility issues with newer Android updates.
- Open the Google Play Store.
- Search for Grammarly.
- If you see an Update button, tap it to install the latest version.
6. Reinstall Grammarly Completely
If none of the steps above work, a fresh installation will replace any corrupted files.
- Press and hold the Grammarly app icon and tap Uninstall.
- Head back to the Google Play Store.
- Download and install Grammarly again, then log back into your account.
7. Check Your Internet Connection
Grammarly’s advanced AI suggestions require an active internet connection to analyze your text in real-time. If your Wi-Fi or mobile data is unstable, the app may fail to show corrections. Try toggling Airplane Mode on and off to reset your network connection.
Step-by-Step: Setting Up the Grammarly Keyboard on Android
If you just reinstalled the app or set up a new phone, follow these steps to ensure the Grammarly keyboard is set up correctly:
- Download and Open: Install Grammarly from the Google Play Store and open the app.
- Log In: Sign in with your Grammarly account (Google, Apple, or email).
- Enable Keyboard: Follow the on-screen prompts to enable the Grammarly keyboard in your Android Settings.
- Select Input Method: Switch your active keyboard to Grammarly when prompted.
- Test It Out: Open a messaging app, type a sentence with intentional spelling mistakes, and watch the green Grammarly logo offer corrections.
Grammarly Android App: Pros & Cons
| Pros 👍 | Cons 👎 |
|---|---|
| Real-time spelling and grammar checks across all apps. | Requires an active internet connection for full AI features. |
| Clean, minimalist user interface. | Can occasionally slow down older, budget Android devices. |
| Supports personal dictionary customization. | Advanced tone suggestions require a paid subscription. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why is the Grammarly keyboard disappearing on my Android phone?
This usually happens when Android’s battery optimization kills background apps to save power. You can fix this by going to your phone’s battery settings and setting Grammarly to “Unrestricted” or “Not Optimized.”
Do I need a paid subscription for the Grammarly Android app to work?
No. The free version of Grammarly provides essential spelling, punctuation, and basic grammar checks. You only need a subscription if you want advanced tone adjustments and full-sentence rewrites.
Why is Grammarly not showing suggestions in certain apps?
Some apps (like password managers or secure banking apps) block third-party keyboards for security reasons. Grammarly will not work inside fields designated for private data entry.
How do I update my Grammarly keyboard on Android?
You can update the app directly through the Google Play Store by searching for Grammarly and tapping the Update button.
Can I use Grammarly offline on my Android device?
Grammarly’s advanced checks require an internet connection. However, basic spell-check features may still function locally depending on your specific Android version and keyboard settings.
Is the Grammarly keyboard safe to use on Android?
Yes. Grammarly uses secure encryption and does not read or store sensitive data like credit card numbers or passwords entered in secure fields. You can review their privacy policy on the Grammarly Official Website.