Where to find spell check in Canva

Canva has a built-in spell checker that runs automatically as you type. You do not need to turn it on or install anything — it works in the background on any text you add to your design. When the spell checker finds a word it does not recognize, it underlines that word with a red squiggly line, the same way Microsoft Word or Google Docs does.

The spell checker works on text boxes, headings, captions, and any other text element you place on your canvas. It does not check text that is part of an image or embedded in a graphic you uploaded, only text you type directly into Canva.

Key Takeaways

  • Canva underlines misspelled words with a red squiggly line as you type, and you can right-click the word to see correction suggestions.
  • The spell checker recognizes common words and proper nouns you have used before, but may flag less common words or brand names as errors.
  • You can add words to your personal dictionary so Canva stops flagging them as mistakes in future designs.
  • Spell check works on text you type into Canva but not on text embedded in images you upload.

How to correct a misspelled word

When you see a red underline beneath a word, right-click on that word (or long-press if you are on a mobile device). A small menu will appear with suggested corrections at the top. Click the correct spelling from the list, and Canva will replace the misspelled word when ready.

If none of the suggestions are correct, you can click elsewhere to close the menu and edit the word yourself by hand. straightforward click into the text box, position your cursor in the word, and type the correction.

Adding words to your dictionary

If you use a word repeatedly that Canva does not recognize — such as a company name, a technical term, or a less common word — you can add it to your personal dictionary. Right-click the underlined word and look for an option that says "Add to dictionary" or similar wording (the exact label varies slightly by device and browser).

Once you add a word, Canva will stop flagging it as a mistake in all your future designs. This is useful if you design for a specific industry or brand where certain words appear often. Your dictionary is tied to your Canva account, so the words you add will be recognized no matter which device you use to log in.

Words the spell checker might miss

Canva's spell checker catches obvious misspellings, but it does not catch every error. It will not flag a word that is spelled correctly but used in the wrong context — for example, "their" instead of "there", or "its" instead of "it's". These are called homophone errors, and they require human reading to catch.

The spell checker also does not check grammar, punctuation, or capitalization beyond what it recognizes as a standard error. If you need to catch those kinds of mistakes, you will need to read through your text yourself or copy it into a tool designed for grammar checking.

Spell check on mobile devices

If you are designing on an iPhone or Android phone, Canva's spell checker still works, but the way you access corrections is slightly different. When you tap a misspelled word, a menu will appear with suggestions. Tap the correct spelling to replace it, or tap elsewhere to dismiss the menu and edit by hand.

Mobile keyboards sometimes have their own spell-check features that may overlap with Canva's. If you see suggestions from both your phone and from Canva, you can use whichever one you prefer — they will not conflict with each other.

When spell check does not work

If you notice that Canva is not underlining misspelled words, check whether you are using a browser that Canva fully supports. Spell check works best in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. If you are using an older browser or a less common one, the spell checker may not function.

You can also try refreshing the page or logging out and back in. If spell check still does not appear, the feature may be temporarily unavailable in your region or account type, though this is rare. In the meantime, you can copy your text into Google Docs or another tool with spell checking to verify it before pasting it back into Canva.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Canva spell check work in other languages?

Canva's spell checker primarily supports English. If you are designing in another language, the spell checker may not recognize words correctly or may not work at all. You may need to use a separate spell-checking tool for non-English text.

Can I turn off spell check if it is distracting me?

Canva does not have a setting to disable spell check entirely. If the red underlines are distracting, you can ignore them while you work and address them before you finish. Alternatively, you can copy your text into a separate document, turn off spell check there if needed, and then paste the final version back into Canva.

What if Canva flags a word that is actually spelled correctly?

This happens with brand names, slang, and specialized terms. Right-click the word and select "Add to dictionary" so Canva recognizes it going forward. If that option is not available on your device, you can straightforward ignore the underline — it will not affect your published design.

Does spell check work on text inside shapes or frames?

Yes. Any text you type directly into Canva, whether it is in a text box, a shape, a frame, or a heading, will be checked. The only text that is not checked is text that is part of an image file you uploaded.