How to Turn Autocorrect On and Off in Windows

This guide shows you how to enable or disable autocorrect and text suggestions in Windows 10 and Windows 11. You’ll learn where the settings live, how to control them for the whole system or only certain apps, and what to do when the toggle doesn’t behave as expected. No prior technical knowledge is needed.

What You’ll Need

• A PC running Windows 10 or Windows 11 with a Microsoft account or local account (either works).
• Administrator access is not required for changing these settings—any standard user can do it.
• A keyboard or touchscreen (the settings are the same for both).

Step-by-Step

Turn Autocorrect Off or On in Windows 11

1. Open the Start menu by clicking the Windows icon in the taskbar or pressing the Windows key on your keyboard.
2. Click Settings (the gear icon). You can also press Windows + I to open it directly.
3. In the left sidebar, select Devices. (If you don’t see it, click the three-line menu icon at the top left to expand the sidebar.)
4. In the Devices page, click Typing in the right-hand panel.
5. Under the Typing section, you’ll see a toggle labeled Autocorrect misspelled words. Toggle it to On to enable autocorrect, or Off to disable it.
6. Right below that, you’ll also find Highlight misspelled words. This is not autocorrect—it just underlines errors in red. You can leave it on if you want to see mistakes without having them auto-corrected.

Turn Autocorrect Off or On in Windows 10

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Click Devices.
3. In the left menu, click Typing.
4. Under Hardware keyboard, you’ll see Autocorrect misspelled words and Highlight misspelled words. Toggle them as desired.
5. Note: In Windows 10, there’s also a separate section for Touch keyboard (when you use the on-screen keyboard). If you want autocorrect to behave differently when using the touch keyboard, adjust those toggles separately.

Turn Autocorrect Off for a Specific App (Windows 11)

Windows 11 lets you disable autocorrect for individual apps, which is helpful if you want it in most places but not in a particular program like a code editor or a chat app.

1. Follow steps 1–4 above to reach the Typing settings.
2. Scroll down to the Per-app typing section.
3. Click the toggle next to the app you want to change. The list shows apps that have been used recently. If you don’t see the app, use it once, then come back—it will appear.

Turn Off Autocorrect in Specific Apps (Alternative)

Some apps have their own autocorrect settings that override or add to Windows’ built-in one. For example:

• Microsoft Word: Go to File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options.
• Outlook: Same as Word—File > Options > Mail > Spelling and Autocorrect.
• Notepad: No built-in autocorrect, but it respects the Windows setting.
• Browsers (Chrome, Edge, Firefox): These have their own spell-check settings. Look in the browser’s settings under “Languagesâ€� or “Spell check.â€�

Common Mistakes

• Changing the wrong toggle: “Highlight misspelled wordsâ€� is not the same as autocorrect. Turning it off only removes the red squiggly lines—it does not stop automatic corrections.
• Forgetting the touch keyboard setting: If you use the on-screen keyboard, Windows 10 keeps separate autocorrect settings for it. You might turn off autocorrect for the hardware keyboard but still see it on the touch keyboard, and vice versa.
• Expecting it to affect all apps: Some apps (like older versions of Office, or third-party apps with their own spell-check) ignore the Windows setting. You may need to disable autocorrect within each app.
• Not restarting the app: After changing the setting, some apps may not pick up the change until you close and reopen them.

Tips

• If you only want to stop autocorrect from changing certain words, you can add them to the dictionary instead of turning off autocorrect entirely. Right-click a misspelled word in a text field and choose “Add to dictionary.â€�
• In Windows 11, the per-app settings let you fine-tune behavior. Use them if you want autocorrect in email but not in coding tools.
• If you turn off autocorrect but still want to catch typos, keep “Highlight misspelled wordsâ€� on. You’ll see the red underline but nothing will be changed automatically.
• You can also manage your dictionary: go to Settings > Devices > Typing > Advanced keyboard settings (or Settings > Time & Language > Language & region > Spelling, depending on your version) to view and edit the words Windows has learned.

Troubleshooting

The toggle doesn’t stay off

If you turn off autocorrect but it turns itself back on, try these steps:

1. Restart your PC. Sometimes the setting doesn’t fully apply until a reboot.
2. Check if you have a third-party keyboard app (like SwiftKey or a manufacturer’s keyboard utility) that might be forcing autocorrect. Uninstall or disable it temporarily to test.
3. Run the Windows “Settings� troubleshooter: Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > Windows Update, and run it. Then check again.

Autocorrect is still happening in a specific app

If the Windows setting is off but you still see words being corrected, it’s likely the app’s own autocorrect. Look for a spell-check or autocorrect option in that app’s settings. For example, in Microsoft Word, go to File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options.

I don’t see the Typing section in Settings

This can happen on very old Windows 10 builds. Update Windows to the latest version: Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates. After updating, the Typing section should appear.

Changes don’t apply to the on-screen keyboard

In Windows 10, the touch keyboard has its own toggles. Go to Settings > Devices > Typing and scroll down to “Touch keyboard.� Make sure you adjust both sections. In Windows 11, the touch keyboard uses the same toggles as the hardware keyboard, so this issue is less common.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does turning off autocorrect also disable spell-check?

No. Autocorrect automatically replaces words as you type. Spell-check (the red underline) is separate. You can turn off autocorrect and still have spell-check on, or turn both off.

Why does Windows autocorrect change words even when I type them correctly?

Autocorrect uses a dictionary and sometimes makes mistakes, especially with proper nouns or technical terms. You can add those words to your personal dictionary by right-clicking the word and selecting “Add to dictionary,� or turn off autocorrect entirely.

Can I turn off autocorrect only for the touch keyboard?

Yes, in Windows 10 you can. Go to Settings > Devices > Typing and look for the “Touch keyboard� section. Toggle “Autocorrect misspelled words� there. In Windows 11, there is no separate touch keyboard setting—it uses the same toggle as the hardware keyboard.

Will these settings sync across my devices?

If you use a Microsoft account and have sync enabled, your typing settings may sync across Windows devices. To check, go to Settings > Accounts > Windows backup > Remember my preferences, and make sure “Language preferences� is turned on. However, autocorrect settings themselves are not always synced—it depends on the version.

How do I remove a word I accidentally added to the dictionary?

Go to Settings > Devices > Typing > Advanced keyboard settings > Spelling (or Settings > Time & Language > Language & region > Spelling). You’ll see a list of words you’ve added. Click the X next to a word to remove it.

Does autocorrect work in all text fields?

No. It works in most Windows apps that use the standard text input system, but some apps (like games, custom text editors, or apps with their own input fields) may not use it. In those apps, you’ll need to rely on the app’s own autocorrect.

Related

• Install Windows on Mac: Options for Intel and Apple Silicon
• Block or Allow Apps From Anywhere in Windows 10
• iOS 18 Music Haptics Not Working? Fixes to Try