Where to find autocorrect settings on each device
Autocorrect is the feature that changes words as you type them — it guesses what you meant and replaces what you wrote before you hit send. You can turn it off completely, turn it off for specific apps, or adjust how aggressive it is. The steps are different on every device, and the setting is usually buried in a menu you do not visit often.
On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > General > Keyboard. Toggle off "Auto-Correction". This disables it system-wide, so it stops working in Messages, Mail, Notes, and every other app that uses the keyboard. If you want autocorrect in some apps but not others, you cannot do that on Apple devices — it is all or nothing.
On Android, the path depends on your phone maker. On a Samsung, go to Settings > General Management > Samsung Keyboard > Smart Typing > Auto Correction, then toggle it off. On a Google Pixel, go to Settings > System > Languages and Input > On-screen Keyboard > Gboard > Text Correction > Auto Correction. Other Android makers put it in different places, so search your Settings for "keyboard" or "autocorrect" if those paths do not work.
On Windows, autocorrect lives in Settings > Devices > Typing. Toggle off "Autocorrect misspelled words" and "Highlight misspelled words". On Mac, go to System Settings > Keyboard > Text, then uncheck "Correct spelling automatically". Both of these disable it for most apps, but some programs like Microsoft Word have their own autocorrect settings you may need to turn off separately.
Key Takeaways
- iPhone and iPad autocorrect is an all-or-nothing setting in Settings > General > Keyboard, with no option to disable it per app.
- Android autocorrect location varies by phone maker — search your Settings for "keyboard" if the Samsung or Pixel paths do not match your device.
- Windows and Mac both have autocorrect in their typing settings, but Microsoft Word and other programs may have separate autocorrect you need to turn off in their own menus.
- If you turn off autocorrect but still see corrections happening, check whether the app itself has its own autocorrect setting that overrides the system setting.
Why you might want to turn it off
Autocorrect causes problems when you type words it does not recognize — technical terms, names, slang, or words in other languages. It replaces them with what it thinks you meant, and you do not always notice before you send. This is especially frustrating if you are typing code, using specialized vocabulary, or texting in a language your phone does not know well.
Some people turn it off because they type faster than autocorrect can keep up, and the corrections feel like the keyboard is fighting them. Others disable it because they want to catch their own mistakes rather than have the phone guess. If you are writing something where precision matters — a work email, a technical document, a message in another language — turning it off gives you more control.
Autocorrect in specific apps
Some apps have their own autocorrect that works even if you turn off the system setting. Microsoft Word on Windows and Mac has autocorrect in File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options (Windows) or Word > Settings > Autocorrect (Mac). Gmail in a web browser does not have autocorrect by default, but if you use Gmail on your phone, it uses your phone's keyboard autocorrect. Slack, Teams, and other messaging apps use your system keyboard, so turning off system autocorrect turns it off there too.
If you turn off autocorrect but one specific app still corrects your typing, that app has its own autocorrect setting. Check the app's settings or preferences menu — search for "autocorrect", "spelling", or "text correction". Some apps let you turn it off just for that app, while others force it on.
Turning autocorrect back on if you change your mind
If you disable autocorrect and realize you miss it, the steps to turn it back on are the same as turning it off — just toggle the setting in the opposite direction. Go back to the same menu (Settings > General > Keyboard on iPhone, Settings > Devices > Typing on Windows, and so on) and switch the toggle back on. Your phone or computer will start correcting again when ready.
You can also adjust autocorrect instead of turning it off completely. On iPhone, you cannot adjust the aggressiveness, but on Android and Windows you can sometimes find settings for "autocorrect sensitivity" or "suggestion speed" that let you make it less aggressive without disabling it entirely. Check your keyboard settings to see what options are available on your device.
What happens when autocorrect is off
When you disable autocorrect, your device stops changing words as you type. You will still see spelling suggestions — a list of words the keyboard thinks you might want — but it will not automatically replace what you typed. You have to tap or click the suggestion to accept it, or ignore it and keep your original word.
Some keyboards show a red underline under words they do not recognize, which is different from autocorrect. That underline is spell-check, and you can usually turn it off separately. On iPhone, spell-check is part of the autocorrect setting, so turning off autocorrect also removes the red underline. On Android and Windows, spell-check and autocorrect are sometimes separate, so you might see underlines even after you disable autocorrect.
Autocorrect on a computer keyboard
Desktop and laptop autocorrect works differently than phone autocorrect. On Windows and Mac, the system-level autocorrect is less aggressive — it mostly fixes obvious typos like "teh" to "the" rather than guessing at whole words. Most of the aggressive autocorrect on a computer happens inside specific programs like Word, Google Docs, or Slack.
If you are using a physical keyboard connected to a phone or tablet, autocorrect still works because it is a feature of the device itself, not the keyboard. Turning off autocorrect in your phone settings will disable it even when you use an external keyboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off autocorrect affect spell-check?
On iPhone, autocorrect and spell-check are linked, so turning off autocorrect also removes the red underline under misspelled words. On Android and Windows, they are usually separate, so you can turn off autocorrect but keep spell-check on. Check your keyboard or typing settings to see if you can control them independently.
Can I turn off autocorrect for just one app?
On iPhone, no — autocorrect is system-wide and affects all apps. On Android, you can sometimes disable autocorrect in the keyboard app itself, which affects all apps, but individual apps cannot override that. Some apps like Word have their own autocorrect that you can turn off separately in that app's settings.
Why does autocorrect still happen after I turned it off?
The app you are using may have its own autocorrect setting that overrides the system setting. Check the app's settings menu for autocorrect, spelling, or text correction options. Microsoft Word, Slack, and Gmail are common culprits. You may need to turn off autocorrect in both the system settings and the app itself.
Does turning off autocorrect slow down my typing?
No. Autocorrect does not make you type faster or slower — it just changes words after you type them. Some people feel like they type faster without it because the keyboard is not fighting them, but the actual typing speed is the same.