Where to find the auto correct setting
Auto Correct on iPhone is a feature that changes words as you type them — usually to fix misspellings, but sometimes to words you did not intend. You turn it off in the Settings app, which is the grey icon with gears on your home screen.
Open Settings, then scroll down and tap Keyboard. You will see a list of keyboard options. The one you want is called Auto-Correction, and it has a toggle switch next to it — the switch will be green if it is currently on.
Tap the toggle to turn it off. The switch will turn grey, and Auto Correct will stop working when ready. You do not need to restart your phone or close any apps.
Key Takeaways
- Auto Correct is turned on by default on all iPhones and changes words as you type them based on what Apple thinks you meant.
- You reach the setting by opening Settings, scrolling to Keyboard, and tapping the toggle next to Auto-Correction.
- Turning it off takes three taps and takes effect right away — you can turn it back on the same way if you change your mind.
- If you only want to turn off Auto Correct for one app, you may need to use that app's own settings instead, because the iPhone setting controls all apps at once.
Why your iPhone changes words you type
Auto Correct works by comparing each word you type against a dictionary stored on your phone. When it finds a word that is close to a common word but spelled differently, it assumes you made a typo and swaps in the correct spelling. The problem is that it sometimes swaps in a word you did not want — especially if you use slang, technical terms, or names that are not in Apple's dictionary.
Auto Correct also learns from words you use often. If you type a word multiple times, iPhone starts to recognize it and stops trying to change it. This is why Auto Correct may behave differently on your phone than on someone else's.
What happens when you turn Auto Correct off
When Auto Correct is off, your iPhone will no longer change words as you type them. Misspellings will stay as you typed them. You will still see the red underline that marks words the phone does not recognize, but it will not automatically fix them.
You can still fix typos manually by tapping a misspelled word and choosing a correction from the menu that appears. This gives you control over which changes to accept and which to ignore.
Turning Auto Correct back on if you change your mind
If you turn off Auto Correct and decide you want it back, go to Settings, tap Keyboard, and tap the Auto-Correction toggle again. It will turn green, and Auto Correct will be active again the next time you type.
You can switch it on and off as many times as you want. There is no limit to how often you can change this setting, and it does not affect anything else on your phone.
Controlling Auto Correct for specific apps
The Keyboard setting in Settings controls Auto Correct for your entire phone — all apps at once. Some apps, like Notes or Mail, have their own keyboard settings that may override the main setting, but this is rare.
If you want Auto Correct on for most apps but off for one specific app (like a messaging app where you use a lot of slang), check that app's own settings first. Look for a Keyboard or Typing section. If the app does not have its own setting, you will have to use the main iPhone setting for all apps.
Why Auto Correct keeps changing a word you use often
If Auto Correct keeps changing a word even though you type it the same way every time, it means the word is not in Apple's dictionary and is close enough to a real word that the phone thinks it is a typo. The solution is to add the word to your personal dictionary so iPhone recognizes it and stops trying to change it.
To do this, type the word, tap it when the red underline appears, and tap Add to Dictionary from the menu. After that, iPhone will recognize the word and will not try to change it. This works for names, slang, technical terms, or any word you use regularly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does turning off Auto Correct slow down my typing?
No. Auto Correct runs in the background and does not affect how fast you can type. Turning it off straightforward means the phone will not make changes to your words — it does not change the speed at which your keyboard responds.
Will I still see spelling suggestions if Auto Correct is off?
Yes. You will still see the red underline under misspelled words, and you can tap a word to see suggestions. Auto Correct being off just means the phone will not make the change automatically — you still have the option to accept a suggestion if you want to.
Can I turn off Auto Correct just for texting?
Not directly. The iPhone setting controls Auto Correct across all apps. Some messaging apps like iMessage have their own keyboard settings, so check the app's settings first. If it does not have its own option, you will need to turn off Auto Correct for the whole phone.
What is the difference between Auto Correct and spell check?
Auto Correct changes words automatically as you type. Spell check marks words it does not recognize with a red underline but does not change them unless you tell it to. On iPhone, both are controlled through the Keyboard settings.
If I add a word to my dictionary, will it appear on all my Apple devices?
Yes, if you are signed into the same iCloud account on multiple devices. Words you add to your dictionary on your iPhone will sync to your iPad and Mac automatically, so you will not have to add them again.