You know that moment when you're typing an email and Grammarly keeps insisting that your perfectly fine sentence needs "correction"? Yeah, I've been there too. Last month I finally decided to uninstall Grammarly after it kept flagging my technical documentation as "incorrect" - turns out it doesn't understand specialized industry terms.
Maybe you're uninstalling Grammarly because you're switching to another tool, or maybe you're worried about privacy concerns. Could be you just find those persistent notifications downright annoying. Whatever your reason, I've helped dozens of colleagues remove Grammarly properly, and let me tell you - it's not always as simple as clicking uninstall.
See, what most guides won't tell you is that Grammarly leaves traces behind. Last year when I uninstalled it from my Mac, I kept seeing those little green underlines pop up in Google Docs weeks later. That's because I missed some hidden files.
Why People Remove Grammarly (It's Not Always About the Price)
Before we dive into the uninstall steps, let's address why you might be doing this. These are the top reasons I've seen:
| Reason | How Common | My Personal Take |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy concerns | Very common | Valid point - it does access everything you type |
| Too many false corrections | Extremely common | Worst when writing creative or technical content |
| Performance issues | Moderately common | Slowed down my older laptop noticeably |
| Subscription cost | Very common | $12/month adds up fast |
| Switching to alternatives | Growing trend | Lots of great options now |
Just last week, a freelance writer told me she removed Grammarly because it kept changing her unique voice to "corporate robot." I get that - sometimes its corrections strip personality from writing. But whatever your reason, let's make sure you uninstall it thoroughly.
Critical Prep Steps Before Uninstalling
Backup your custom dictionary! If you've added words to Grammarly's dictionary, those will disappear when you uninstall. To save them:
- Open Grammarly settings
- Go to Dictionary section
- Screenshot your added words or copy-paste to a document
Also worth noting: Your Grammarly account data isn't deleted when you uninstall the app. We'll cover account deletion separately later.
Uninstalling Grammarly on Windows: Beyond the Basic Method
Most people think they know how to uninstall Grammarly on Windows - just head to Add or Remove Programs, right? Well, that's the first step, but definitely not the last if you want it completely gone.
Standard Uninstall Method:
- Press Windows key + I to open Settings
- Go to Apps > Apps & features
- Find Grammarly in the list
- Click Uninstall > Uninstall again
- Follow the prompts
That removes the main program, but here's where people go wrong - they stop there. Grammarly leaves behind:
- Browser extension data
- AppData folder contents
- Registry entries
- Temporary files
The real magic happens when you clean up these leftovers. I learned this the hard way when Grammarly kept reappearing after reboot.
After uninstalling:
- Press Win + R and type %appdata%
- Delete any Grammarly folders
- Repeat for %localappdata%
- Check your browser extensions (Chrome, Firefox)
The Deep Clean Method for Windows
Last month I helped a client who kept seeing Grammarly suggestions despite uninstalling months earlier. Turns out some registry entries were still active. Here's how to properly remove Grammarly:
| Location | What to Delete | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|
| Registry Editor | HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Grammarly | Medium (backup first) |
| File Explorer | C:\Program Files\Grammarly | Low |
| AppData | Roaming\Grammarly and Local\Grammarly | Low |
| Temp Files | Run disk cleanup utility | Low |
Honestly, messing with the registry makes me nervous. If you're uncomfortable, use a free tool like Revo Uninstaller (Free version works fine). It finds leftovers automatically.
Removing Grammarly from Your Mac: The Hidden Files Problem
Apple users, you're not off the hook. Uninstalling Grammarly on Mac can be trickier than you'd expect. Dragging to Trash is just the beginning.
When I first tried removing Grammarly from my MacBook Pro, I thought I was done after moving it to Trash. But weeks later, I noticed it was still checking my Google Docs. Frustrating.
Basic Mac Uninstallation:
- Open Applications folder
- Drag Grammarly to Trash
- Empty Trash
But here's what's missing: Grammarly leaves support files in these locations:
- ~/Library/Application Support/Grammarly
- ~/Library/Preferences/com.grammarly.ProjectPlum.plist
- ~/Library/Caches/com.grammarly.ProjectPlum
- ~/Library/HTTPStorages/com.grammarly.ProjectPlum
To fully uninstall Grammarly:
- Open Finder and press Command+Shift+G
- Type ~/Library and press Enter
- Search for "Grammarly"
- Delete all found items (be careful not to delete system files)
Warning: Don't delete anything from /Library (system level), only your user Library (~/Library). I once accidentally removed a system component and spent hours fixing it.
Mobile Uninstall: Android and iOS Differences
Uninstalling Grammarly from phones is simpler but has quirks. Android lets you remove everything cleanly, but iOS? Not so much.
Android Removal
- Long-press Grammarly icon
- Tap Uninstall
- Confirm removal
That's it. Unlike desktop, Android apps leave minimal traces. Just clear your keyboard settings if you used Grammarly Keyboard.
iOS Removal
Here's where it gets messy. When deleting Grammarly from iPhone:
- Long-press app icon
- Tap Remove App
- Choose Delete App
But the keyboard? That stays installed. To remove it completely:
- Go to Settings > General > Keyboard
- Tap Keyboards
- Edit and remove Grammarly
- Go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management
- Remove Grammarly's device management profile
I missed step 5 on my first try and wondered why Safari still showed grammar suggestions. Took me days to figure that out.
Browser Extensions: The Hidden Grammarly You Forgot
This is where most people slip up. You uninstall the desktop app but forget about browser extensions. Then Grammarly keeps working in Chrome, leaving you confused.
To uninstall Grammarly extensions:
| Browser | Steps | Persistent Data? |
|---|---|---|
| Google Chrome | chrome://extensions > Remove Grammarly | Yes - clear browsing data |
| Mozilla Firefox | about:addons > Extensions > Remove | Minimal |
| Microsoft Edge | edge://extensions > Remove | Yes - clear data |
| Safari | Safari > Preferences > Extensions > Uncheck | Rare |
After removing extensions, clear browsing data:
- Chrome: Ctrl+Shift+Del > Clear cached images and files
- Firefox: Options > Privacy & Security > Clear Data
When I cleaned my mom's laptop, I found Grammarly still active in Edge despite uninstalling the app weeks earlier. Those extensions hide well.
Deleting Your Grammarly Account: Permanent Removal
Uninstalling the app doesn't delete your account. If you want everything gone permanently:
- Log into your Grammarly account online
- Go to Account Settings
- Scroll to Account Deletion section
- Read the scary warnings (they make it sound dramatic)
- Confirm deletion
Account deletion is permanent and:
- Deletes all your documents stored on Grammarly's servers
- Cancels any active subscription
- Removes all your personal data
Download important documents first!
Fun fact: Grammarly makes account deletion difficult to find. It's not in any obvious menu - you have to know where to look. Took me three attempts to find the right page.
Post-Uninstall Troubleshooting: Solving Lingering Issues
Thought removing Grammarly would be simple? Think again. Here are common post-uninstall problems I've encountered:
| Problem | Solution | How Often I See This |
|---|---|---|
| Grammarly still appears in browser | Clear browser cache and cookies | Daily |
| Microsoft Word still shows suggestions | Remove COM add-ins via Options > Add-ins | Weekly |
| Ghost notifications | Restart device, check Task Manager for processes | Monthly |
| Missing text corrections | Enable native spell check in your apps | Occasionally |
The Word add-in issue is especially sneaky. Last quarter, I encountered three clients whose documents still had green underlines weeks after uninstalling Grammarly. The solution:
- Open Word > File > Options
- Choose Add-ins
- Select COM Add-ins > Go
- Uncheck Grammarly
- Click OK
When Grammarly Won't Uninstall Properly
Sometimes the uninstaller fails. If you get errors:
- Restart your computer and try again
- Use Grammarly's official removal tool (found in their support docs)
- Try uninstalling in Safe Mode
- Use third-party uninstaller software
I prefer Revo Uninstaller Free for stubborn cases. Last month it helped remove Grammarly from a system where the standard uninstaller kept crashing.
Grammarly Alternatives: What to Replace It With
After uninstalling Grammarly, you might want an alternative. Here are the top options I've tested:
| Tool | Free Option | Best For | My Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| ProWritingAid | Limited free version | Fiction writers, long-form content | ★★★★☆ |
| Hemingway Editor | Full free online version | Concise writing, readability | ★★★★★ |
| LanguageTool | Solid free version | Multilingual support | ★★★★☆ |
| Microsoft Editor | Free with Microsoft 365 | Office integration | ★★★☆☆ |
| Ginger | Limited free version | Sentence rephrasing | ★★★☆☆ |
Personally, I switched to Hemingway Editor plus occasional ProWritingAid checks. Hemingway's desktop app costs $20 lifetime - no subscriptions. After paying for Grammarly for two years, that one-time fee felt like liberation.
Your Top Grammarly Uninstall Questions Answered
Will uninstalling Grammarly stop billing?
No! This catches people off guard. Uninstalling doesn't cancel subscriptions. You must:
- Log into your Grammarly account
- Go to Subscription settings
- Cancel before next billing cycle
Does Grammarly keep my data after uninstall?
Yes, unless you delete your account. Uninstalling removes the software but not your stored documents or account information.
Why does Grammarly still appear in Gmail?
Because browser extensions work independently. Check your Chrome extensions even after desktop uninstall.
Can I temporarily disable instead of uninstalling?
Absolutely. Right-click the Grammarly icon in system tray (Windows) or menu bar (Mac) and disable. Less permanent solution.
How to remove Grammarly from Microsoft Office completely?
Beyond uninstalling, go to Word Options > Add-ins and disable Grammarly COM add-in. Otherwise it lingers.
Is Grammarly safe to remove?
Completely safe. Your native spell check will remain intact. You're just removing an additional layer.
Final Advice: Making Your Uninstall Stick
After helping hundreds of people uninstall Grammarly, my biggest tip is: be thorough. Don't stop after the first uninstall prompt. Check browsers, check Office add-ins, check for leftover files.
If you're doing this to improve privacy, remember to delete your account too. Otherwise, your writing samples remain on their servers.
And if you miss having a grammar checker? Try Hemingway Editor first. Its simplicity feels refreshing after Grammarly's constant corrections.
Ultimately, whether you uninstall Grammarly permanently or just take a break, doing it properly saves headaches later. Those hidden extensions and leftover files will haunt you if you don't clean them out completely.
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