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How to Install Spellbook: Associate, Word & Google Docs

The master installation guide — set up Spellbook in Associate, Word, and Google Docs.

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Written by Eileen Lichtenstein

You use one Spellbook account for everything — Associate, the Word add-in, and Google Docs. Set it up once and your work follows you across all of them.

The quickest way to get going is to start in Associate, create your account and activate your license there, then install the Word add-in and/or the Google Docs add-in and sign in with the same account. This guide walks through each in order, then covers what to do if something goes wrong. There is a section for IT administrators at the end.

✅ This change does not affect your billing, your subscription, your playbooks, your saved prompts, or any of your existing work.

📧 Use the same email address everywhere. This is the single most important thing to get right. If you sign up for Associate with one address and Word or Google Docs with another, you'll end up with separate accounts and your work won't be shared between them.

What you'll need

  • Your work email address, and the ability to receive email at it. You'll need to enter a verification code.

  • Your license key. Your Spellbook sales rep or your organization's Spellbook admin will have this. If you can't find it, email success@spellbook.com.

  • Microsoft Word, if you're installing the Word add-in.

  • Google Chrome, if you're installing Spellbook in Google Docs with redline support (see the Google Docs section).

How signing in works

When you enter your email address, Spellbook automatically works out the right way to sign you in. Depending on your organization's setup, you'll get one or more of these:

Method

When you'll see it

Email and password

The default for most people

Email sign-in code

A short code emailed to you — no password to remember

Continue with Microsoft

If your organization has set this up with Spellbook

Continue with Google

If your organization has set this up with Spellbook

Single sign-on (SSO)

If your organization requires it for your email domain

Which one you will choose depends on a few parameters, outlined further in this article.

Step 1 — Create your account in Associate

Open Associate

Go to Associate in your browser:

  • https://associate.spellbook.legal

There's also a desktop app if you'd prefer it. It's optional.

How to download the Associate desktop app (optional)

Step 1 — Go to download.spellbook.legal.

Step 2 — The download starts automatically. Open Downloads in your browser (or your Downloads folder) and click the file.

Step 3 — Open the .zip file and click the installation app inside.

Step 4 — Allow your computer to open the download, if prompted.

Step 5 — Associate installs onto your computer.

Step 6 — Launch the app. You'll land on this homepage — now activate your account below.

Create your account

1. Click Sign up.

2. Enter your first name, last name, and work email address, then click Continue. You can use Continue with Google or Continue with Microsoft if your organization uses those already for signing into other applications.

3. Click Verify you are human.

4. Set a password. Pick something you'll remember — you'll use it for the Word add-in and Google Docs too.

5. Check your email for a verification code and enter it to finish creating your account.

⏱️Codes can take a couple of minutes to arrive, and requesting a second one cancels the first. Wait for the email rather than clicking resend. See "My sign-in code expired after 30 seconds" below for why.

Activate with your license key

6. Enter your license key and click Activate.

7. You'll land on the Associate home screen and can start working.

Step 2 — Install the Word add-in

Spellbook is a Microsoft Word add-in. It works on both Windows and MacOS, and there is no standalone desktop application.

Video Guide

Installation Steps

1. Open a Word document. On the Home tab, click the Add-ins icon on the far right.

2. Click More Add-ins.

3. Search for Spellbook and click it when it appears.

4. Click Add to install it.

5. Click Spellbook in the ribbon to open the side panel.


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🏢 Can't install add-ins? If your organization manages software centrally, your IT team will need to deploy Spellbook for you. Send them to the For IT administrators section below. If the Add-ins button itself is missing or gives a store error, see the troubleshooting section below.

Step 3 — Sign in to the Word add-in

  1. The add-in opens on a welcome screen with two options. Click Sign in — not "Create your account." You already made your account in step 1, and creating a second one is how people end up with duplicate accounts.

  2. Enter the same email address you used for Associate.

  3. Enter your password. If your organization uses SSO or Microsoft or Google sign-in, Spellbook will send you to that instead.

  4. If you're prompted for your license key, enter the same key you used in Associate and click Activate.

🔑 It's one license, not two. You may not be asked for your license key here at all — if your account is already licensed from Associate, Spellbook will skip straight through. If you are asked, use the same key.

That's it!

You won't normally see the sign-in screen again — Spellbook keeps you signed in until you sign out.

Step 4 — Install Spellbook in Google Docs

Spellbook's Google Docs add-in puts Spellbook in the Google Docs side panel — ask questions, review contracts, and run Playbooks without leaving your document.

👉 You need two pieces. The add-in opens Spellbook inside Google Docs. The Chrome extension is what lets Spellbook insert redlines as suggested edits. Without it, you'll see a "Tracked changes unavailable" banner.

Video Guide

Install the Google Docs add-in

Step 1 — Click Extensions

Step 2 — Go to Add-ons > Get add-ons

Step 3 — Search Spellbook

Step 4 — Click the Spellbook listing and click install.

Step 5 — Click Continue to sign in to Spellbook

Step 6 — Dismiss the installation confirmation once complete.

Step 7 — Click Extensions

Step 8 — Go to Spellbook > Open Spellbook

Step 9 — Open the Spellbook Ask tab

Step 10 — Spellbook will open up in Google Docs.

🔑 Do I need a new account for Google Docs? No. Sign in with the same Spellbook account you already use for Associate and Word.

Install the Chrome extension (for redlines)

The Chrome extension is what lets Spellbook insert redlines as suggested text in Google Docs. Once installed, the "Tracked changes unavailable" banner disappears. Chrome browsers only.

1. Open Spellbook in the Chrome Web Store and click Add to Chrome.

Step 2 — In the pop-up detailing Spellbook's access, select Add extension.

Step 3 — Open Chrome's Extensions menu and confirm Spellbook is listed. Click Manage Extensions to pin it for easier access. Refresh your Google Doc and reopen Spellbook. 🎉

Existing Account? See Below

If you already have an account

You will not be signed out mid-session. Nothing will interrupt you while you're working. The next time you restart Word, reload Spellbook, or reopen a Google Doc, you'll see the new sign-in screen.

If you already use Associate

You can skip step 1 entirely. Go straight to the Word add-in or the Google Docs add-in and sign in with the same email and password you use for Associate. Click Sign in — not "Create your account." Your account already exists and everything is already there.

If you've only ever used the Word add-in

You may never have set a Spellbook password, because the add-in used to sign you in through Word automatically. The way forward:

  • Click Forgot password to set one for the first time. Despite the wording, this works even if you've never had a password.

If the screen shows an email you don't recognize

Spellbook may suggest the Microsoft account you're signed in to Word with — which isn't always the address you originally signed up with. Click Use a different email and enter your business email instead. This ties your account to the right address going forward.

You have two Spellbook Accounts

This happens when you sign in with a different email from the one your history is attached to. To fix it, open the Spellbook menu in the add-in and choose Merge Accounts.

⚠️ Please read before merging. Merging cannot be undone.

  • All playbooks, prompts, and history from the merged account transfer to the surviving account.

  • The merged email address will stop working for sign-in permanently.

  • Choose carefully which address survives. You almost certainly want your business email, not a personal Gmail or Outlook address.

  • You'll get a confirmation email once it's done. You may need to reload Spellbook for everything to appear.

There's no way to reverse a merge, so if you're unsure which address should survive, email us first at success@spellbook.com.

Common blockers and how to fix them

"My sign-in code expired after 30 seconds"

It didn't. That 30-second countdown is how long you have to wait before you can request a new code — not how long your code lasts.

  • Sign-in and verification codes are valid for 10 minutes. Password reset links last 15 minutes.

  • Only the most recent code works. Every time you request another code, all earlier ones stop working immediately.

  • Corporate email security often holds messages for two or three minutes. That's normal.

What to do: request one code, then wait. Don't click resend. If you've already requested several, use only the code from the newest email — the older ones have been deactivated.

"Your organization needs to approve this app"

Your IT team needs to approve the Spellbook application in Microsoft Entra before you can sign in. Send them to the For IT administrators section below.

Worth knowing: this approval is what lets you sign in to Spellbook. It does not automatically give you Associate — access to Associate is controlled separately by your subscription.

"Continue with Microsoft" or "Continue with Google" gives an error

Those buttons only work if your organization has specifically configured Microsoft or Google sign-in with Spellbook. They may appear even when it hasn't been set up.

What to do: go back and sign in with your email and password. If your organization needs Microsoft or Google sign-in enabled, ask your IT team to contact us.

"That's not a work email"

Spellbook doesn't accept personal Google or Microsoft accounts through the social sign-in buttons. Use your business email address.

If your only address is a personal one, create your account with email and password instead of the social buttons.

My address ends in onmicrosoft.com and I can't receive the verification email

This is common if your company uses Microsoft 365 Apps for Business without Exchange Online — the onmicrosoft.com address exists for signing in to Office but can't receive mail.

  1. Create your Spellbook account using a real work email address you can actually receive mail at.

  2. Verify that address with the code we send you.

  3. Once you're in, use Merge Accounts in the add-in menu to link your Microsoft Office identity to it.

If you get stuck, email success@spellbook.com and we'll set it up with you.

"This email address has been deactivated"

You're trying to sign in with an address that was merged into another account. Only the surviving address works for signing in.

What to do: sign in with your other email address. If you're not sure which one survived, contact us and we'll tell you.

My license key isn't working

  • Check you're using the whole key, with no extra spaces at either end.

  • If you already activated in Associate, you may not need it again in the Word or Google Docs add-in — try continuing without it.

  • If it's still rejected, email success@spellbook.com. Keys are tied to a specific account and seat count, and we can confirm yours.

Spellbook asks me to sign in every time

In Word on your desktop: if you have several documents open at once, each window may prompt separately. To reset things:

  1. Sign out of Microsoft Office completely.

  2. Clear the Spellbook add-in cache using the debugger icon in the add-in.

  3. Quit Word entirely — not just close the document.

  4. Reopen Word and sign in again.

You can also check whether anything on your network is blocking Spellbook:

  • https://word-add-in.spellbook.legal/connectivity

The sign-in page won't load, or the add-in is a blank white screen

Your network is probably blocking one of the addresses Spellbook needs. Ask your IT team to allowlist the domains in the For IT administrators section — note that auth.spellbook.legal and login.spellbook.legal are new and may not be on their existing list.

My trial has expired

Sign-in errors on an expired trial usually mean exactly that. Contact your Spellbook rep or success@spellbook.com to extend it.

Word: "Add-ins" is missing, or the store is disabled

Word's add-in store relies on optional connected experiences. If those are switched off, you won't see the Add-ins button, or you'll get a store error.

On macOS:

  1. Click Word in the menu bar

  2. Click Preferences…

  3. Click Privacy

  4. Click Turn on optional connected experiences, then completely restart Word

On Windows:

  1. Go to File → Options

  2. Select Trust Center → Trust Center Settings

  3. Select Privacy Options → Privacy Settings

  4. Make sure the connected experiences boxes are checked, then restart Word

Still blocked? Your organization or device may be restricting add-ins. Ask your IT administrator to confirm Microsoft Office add-ins are allowed and that no policy blocks installation — especially on work or school accounts.

Google Docs: "Tracked changes unavailable"

This means the Spellbook Chrome Extension isn't installed, isn't enabled, or you aren't using Google Chrome. To fix:

  1. Make sure you're using Google Chrome

  2. Install the Spellbook Chrome Extension

  3. Confirm the extension is enabled

  4. Refresh your Google Doc

  5. Reopen Spellbook from the Extensions menu

Google Docs: the Chrome extension isn't working

  1. Confirm you're using Google Chrome

  2. Open Chrome's extensions menu

  3. Make sure the Spellbook extension is enabled

  4. Refresh your Google Doc

  5. Open Spellbook again from the Extensions menu

  6. If the issue continues, contact Spellbook Support

For IT administrators

1. Deploy the add-in

If your users can't install add-ins themselves, deploy Spellbook centrally. See How to Deploy Add-Ins in the Microsoft 365 Admin Centre:

  • https://help.spellbook.legal/en/articles/11661820-how-to-deploy-add-ins-in-the-microsoft-365-admin-centre

2. Grant admin consent in Microsoft Entra

Users signing in with a Microsoft account need the Spellbook application approved in Entra. Without it, sign-in requests appear in your Entra portal as pending approval requests and the add-in won't work.

🔑 There are two Spellbook applications in Entra, and both need to be approved:

  • Spellbook Word Add-In

  • Spellbook

If only one is approved, Spellbook will not work. Approving both is required for our apps to function.

Approving these applications grants sign-in access to Spellbook. It does not grant use of Spellbook Associate — that's governed separately by the customer's subscription entitlements.

3. Allowlist these domains

Unified sign-in:

  • auth.spellbook.legal

  • login.spellbook.legal

Functionality:

  • word-add-in.spellbook.legal

  • api.spellbook.legal

  • insights.spellbook.legal

  • frigade.spellbook.legal

  • browser-intake-datadoghq.com

  • events.launchdarkly.com

  • appsforoffice.microsoft.com

Restart Word after making changes.

4. Single sign-on

The Word add-in previously relied on Microsoft Office's own sign-in, which meant SSO worked with no configuration. That's no longer the case — if your organization requires SSO, it now needs to be configured with Spellbook directly, the same way it is for Associate.

We support Microsoft Entra ID, Okta, and other major providers. Contact your Customer Success Manager or success@spellbook.com and we'll send your team a setup link. Both Entra and Okta have straightforward configuration wizards.

5. If your organization uses several email domains

Companies with multiple domains — subsidiaries, recent rebrands, acquired entities — need a bit of planning so users don't end up with duplicate accounts across domains. Talk to your Customer Success Manager before rolling out to your users rather than after.

FAQs

Do I have to start with Associate? Can I install the Word add-in or Google Docs add-in first?

You can, but starting in Associate is smoother. Associate runs in a browser, so setting up your account and activating your license there avoids doing it inside a narrow side panel. Either way, the account is the same.

Can I install more than one at the same time?

Yes, and most people do. Word or Google Docs handles the document you're drafting; Associate handles workflows that span several documents at once.

Do I need to enter my license key twice?

It's one license, entered once per product where you're asked. You'll definitely be asked in Associate. In the Word or Google Docs add-in you may be asked again — use the same key. If you aren't prompted, your account is already licensed and there's nothing to do.

Will this change my billing or subscription?

No. This is a sign-in change only. Your plan, billing cycle, and features are unchanged.

Will I lose my playbooks, prompts, or history?

No. Nothing about your data changes.

Do I need separate accounts for Word, Associate, and Google Docs?

No — one account covers all three, as long as you sign in with the same email address everywhere.

Will I be signed out of Spellbook?

Not while you're working. You'll see the new sign-in screen the next time you restart Word, reload the add-in, or reopen a Google Doc.

Do I have to create a password?

No. You can use the email sign-in code every time if you'd rather not manage another password. If your organization uses SSO, you'll use your existing corporate credentials.

Can a merge be undone?

No. Merges are permanent and the merged email address can no longer be used to sign in. Ask us before merging if you're unsure.

Does Spellbook work with .docx files in Google Docs?

Spellbook only works with Google Docs (.gdoc) files. If you have a .docx, upload it to Google Drive and convert it to a Google Doc first, via File → Save as Google Docs.

Is there a standalone Spellbook desktop app for Word?

No. Spellbook for Word is a Microsoft Word add-in only. Spellbook Associate does have a desktop app, available at https://download.spellbook.legal.

I don't have a license key.

Your Spellbook sales rep or your organization's admin can provide it. If you can't track it down, email success@spellbook.com.

What's next?

Ready to master Spellbook at your own pace? Visit Spellbook Academy.

Need additional assistance? Contact our support team at success@spellbook.com

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