The correct spelling is customize with a z

Customize is spelled with a z in American English: C-U-S-T-O-M-I-Z-E. This is the standard spelling you will see in device settings, software menus, and technical documentation across Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. When you open your phone's settings or your computer's preferences panel, the word you encounter will use a z.

The British English spelling is customise with an s: C-U-S-T-O-M-I-S-E. Both are correct depending on your region, but American devices and software almost always use the z version. When you are searching for how to customize your device settings or looking at your phone's menu options, you will encounter the z spelling regardless of where you live, because most software companies use American English as their global standard.

The word comes from the noun "custom" — meaning a practice or preference — plus the suffix "-ize" (or "-ise" in British English), which means to make or cause something to be. So customize literally means to make something custom, or to adjust it to match your own preferences and needs.

Key Takeaways

  • Customize with a z is the American English spelling and appears in all major device operating systems and settings menus worldwide.
  • Customise with an s is the British English spelling and is equally correct in UK and Commonwealth contexts, though less common in software.
  • When searching for device settings guides or reading your phone or computer menus, expect to see the z spelling in nearly all cases.
  • The word means to adjust or modify something to match your own preferences, needs, or appearance.
  • Related words like customizable, customization, and customized follow the same z or s pattern depending on your English variant.

When you will encounter this word in device settings

You will see "customize" most often when you are adjusting how your device looks or behaves. On Windows, you customize your desktop background, taskbar, and notification settings through the Settings app. On Mac, you customize your dock, menu bar, and System Preferences through System Settings. On Android phones, you customize your home screen layout, app icons, and lock screen through the launcher or settings menu. On iPhones, you customize your home screen, control center, and focus modes through the Settings app and home screen editing mode.

The word also appears in software settings across all platforms. When you open a program and look for options to change colors, fonts, keyboard shortcuts, or toolbar buttons, you are usually in a "Customize" menu or dialog box. Email clients like Outlook and Gmail, web browsers like Chrome and Safari, and productivity apps like Microsoft Office all use this term to describe where you adjust the interface to your liking.

You may also see it in phrases like "customize your notifications," "customize your privacy settings," or "customize your display preferences." These phrases all point to the same concept: taking a default setting and changing it to match what you want.

Why the z spelling matters for searching

If you are searching for how to customize a specific feature on your device, using the z spelling will match the actual menu names and help articles. Searching "how to customize my Android home screen" will pull up results that use the same spelling you see on your phone. Searching with the s spelling may still work because search engines understand both, but you will get fewer exact matches to official documentation.

When you are reading technical documentation or following step-by-step guides, the z spelling is what you will see in screenshots and menu paths. This consistency makes it easier to follow along because the words on your screen will match the words in the guide. If a guide says "click the Customize button" and you see that exact button on your device, you know you are in the right place.

Related words with the same z or s pattern

Several related words follow the same American z and British s pattern. "Customizable" (American) or "customisable" (British) means capable of being customized. "Customization" (American) or "customisation" (British) is the noun form describing the act of customizing something. "Customized" (American) or "customised" (British) is the past tense — you have customized your settings.

Other common words follow this pattern too: organize/organise, optimize/optimise, realize/realise, and authorize/authorise. If you remember that American English typically uses z and British English typically uses s for these word endings, you can spell any of them correctly depending on which version you are writing in. This pattern applies to dozens of words, so learning it once helps you across many situations.

How to remember the correct spelling

A straightforward memory aid: American English uses z, and the word "America" contains a z. If you are writing for an American audience or using American devices and software, use the z spelling. If you are in the UK, Australia, Canada, or another Commonwealth country, the s spelling is standard in formal writing and official documents.

For device settings specifically, the z spelling is almost universal because most operating systems and software companies use American English as their default, even for users in other countries. Your iPhone, Android phone, Windows computer, or Mac will show "customize" with a z in the menus, regardless of where you live or which English variant you normally use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is customise with an s wrong?

No. Customise is the correct British English spelling. Both customize and customise are correct — it depends on which English variant you are using. However, device menus and most software use the American z spelling globally, so you will see that version more often in practice.

Why do American and British English spell this word differently?

The difference comes from how the two versions evolved over centuries. American English standardized on the z ending for words derived from Greek and Latin roots, while British English retained the s ending. Both are considered standard in their respective regions and neither is more correct than the other.

If I spell it wrong in a search, will I still find what I need?

Yes. Search engines understand both spellings and will return results for either one. However, searching with the z spelling will give you more exact matches because that is what appears in most device menus and help articles.

Do I need to use the exact spelling when searching for device settings help?

No. Search engines are flexible and will understand what you mean regardless of spelling. But using the z spelling matches what you will see on your actual device, which can make following instructions easier and faster.