To turn auto-correction on or off on iPhone, open Settings, tap General, tap Keyboard, and use the Auto-Correction switch. The same screen, under All Keyboards, has the switches for Predictive Text and the other typing features, plus Text Replacement and your list of keyboards.
This guide covers the built-in onscreen keyboard on iPhone with the current iOS (iOS 27 at the time of writing). The steps follow Apple’s How to use Auto-Correction and predictive text article and its iPhone User Guide pages on typing with the onscreen keyboard and predictive text. You do not need anything except the iPhone itself, and every switch here can be flipped back at any time.
How to Turn Auto-Correction On or Off
Auto-Correction is the feature that changes a word after you type it. Apple says it uses your keyboard dictionary to spellcheck words as you type and that it is on by default.
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap General, then tap Keyboard.
- Scroll to the All Keyboards section.
- Turn Auto-Correction off (or on).
The change takes effect right away. There is no Save button, and you do not need to restart the iPhone. To undo it, come back to the same screen and flip the switch the other way.
There is also a shortcut that works from any app. While the keyboard is open, touch and hold the emoji key or the globe key, then tap Keyboard Settings. That opens the same Keyboard screen without leaving what you were writing.
With Auto-Correction off, the iPhone stops replacing misspelled words, so typos stay as you typed them until you fix them yourself.
Fix One Bad Correction Without Turning It Off
You may not need to turn anything off. Apple says that in iOS 17 and later, Auto-Correction temporarily underlines the words it corrects. Tap the underlined word and choose an option from the pop-up menu to put back what you meant.
Apple’s predictive text guide adds that you can reject a suggested correction by tapping the x next to it, and that if you reject the same suggestion a few times, iPhone stops suggesting it.
If one name or unusual word keeps getting changed, add it to iPhone Text Replacement with the Shortcut field left blank. The steps are in the Text Replacement section below.
How to Turn Predictive Text On or Off
Predictive Text does not change what you typed. It offers words, emoji, and information you might want next. Apple says the choices are based on your past conversations, writing style, and even websites you visit in Safari. Suggestions show up in two places: in a row above the keyboard, and inline, as gray text that completes the word or phrase you are typing.
- While typing, touch and hold the emoji key or the globe key.
- Tap Keyboard Settings.
- Turn Predictive Text off to stop seeing suggestions above the keyboard, or on to bring them back.
- To keep the suggestion row but hide the gray completions, leave Predictive Text on and turn off Show Predictions Inline.
Apple notes that turning off Predictive Text turns off both the suggestions and the inline predictions. You can also reach these switches through Settings > General > Keyboard.
When an inline prediction appears, tap the Space bar to accept it or keep typing to reject it. To use a suggestion above the keyboard, tap it. To ignore the suggestions, tap your original word (the option shown in quotation marks) or just continue typing.
What the Keyboard Screen Controls
Apple’s guide describes the switches below All Keyboards as special typing features that you can turn on or off. These are the settings Apple documents for iPhone:
| Setting | What it does | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-Correction | Corrects misspelled words as you type | Settings > General > Keyboard |
| Predictive Text | Shows suggested words, emoji, and information above the keyboard | Settings > General > Keyboard |
| Show Predictions Inline | Shows gray text that completes your word or phrase | Settings > General > Keyboard |
| Text Replacement | Turns a short shortcut into a longer phrase | Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement |
| Keyboards | Adds, removes, or reorders language keyboards | Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards |
| Enable Dictation | Shows or hides the microphone for voice typing | Settings > General > Keyboard |
| Keyboard Feedback | Turns typing sounds and haptic taps on or off | Settings > Sounds & Haptics |
| Show Lowercase Keys | Off shows only uppercase letters on the keys | Settings > Accessibility > Keyboards & Typing |
Your Keyboard screen may list more switches than this table. The exact list can vary with your iOS version and the keyboard languages you have added, so read each label before you change it. Every switch is a simple on or off, so you can try one and switch it back if you do not like the result.
How to Set Up Text Replacement Shortcuts
Text Replacement is a list of shortcuts that you create yourself. Apple’s example: type “GM” and “Good morning” replaces it. One shortcut, “omw” for “On my way!”, is already set up.
- Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement.
- Tap the Add button (the plus sign).
- Type the full text in the Phrase field.
- Type the short version in the Shortcut field.
- Tap Save.
To stop iPhone from replacing a word you use, Apple’s text replacement guide says to enter the word or phrase in the Phrase field and leave the Shortcut field blank.
To delete an entry, open Text Replacement, tap Edit, tap the Remove button next to the entry, tap Delete, then tap Done.
Caps Lock, Periods, Sounds, and One-Handed Typing
- Caps Lock: Double-tap the Shift key. Tap Shift again to turn it off. For one capital letter, tap Shift once, or touch Shift and slide to the letter.
- End a sentence fast: Double-tap the Space bar to add a period and a space.
- Keyboard sounds and haptics: Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Keyboard Feedback and turn Sound or Haptic on or off. A haptic is a small tap you feel when you press a key.
- One-handed typing: Touch and hold the emoji or globe key, then tap the left- or right-handed layout. Tap the left or right edge of the keyboard to center it again.
- Slide to type: Touch the first letter and slide to the next letters without lifting your finger. Apple calls this QuickPath and notes it is not available in every language.
- Accents and special characters: Touch and hold a letter, number, or symbol, then slide to the option you want. This is also how to type a degree symbol on iPhone.
- Uppercase-only keys: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboards & Typing and turn off Show Lowercase Keys.
- Voice typing: See how to turn Dictation on or off on iPhone.
Add, Remove, or Switch Keyboard Languages
Corrections and suggestions come from the keyboard language you are typing in, so a keyboard set to the wrong language can make correct words look like mistakes.
- Go to Settings > General > Keyboard.
- Tap Keyboards.
- Tap Add New Keyboard and choose a language, or swipe left on a keyboard and tap Delete to remove it.
To switch while typing, touch and hold the emoji or globe key, then tap the keyboard you want. Apple’s Add or change keyboards page also covers bilingual keyboards for select language pairs. This site has a walkthrough for the emoji keyboard too.
Settings for a Physical Keyboard
A Magic Keyboard or other external keyboard has its own switches. Apple’s typing assistance page for Magic Keyboard lists them under Settings > General > Keyboard > Hardware Keyboard: Auto-Capitalization, Auto-Correction, and the “.” Shortcut. These are separate from the onscreen keyboard switches, so turning off Auto-Correction in one place does not change the other.
If you would rather type on real keys, here is how to use an Apple wireless keyboard with your iPhone.
Troubleshooting Keyboard Settings
A switch or label is missing
Apple’s own article says the switch may read Predictive or Predictive Text depending on the version, and that predictive typing and inline predictions may not be supported in your language. If you do not see a setting, check that you are in the All Keyboards section, then install any pending iOS update in Settings > General > Software Update.
The setting changed but one app still corrects words
The switches in this guide control Apple’s onscreen keyboard. Keyboards from other apps, and apps with their own text editor, can have separate correction settings. Type the same word in Notes with the standard keyboard to check whether the iPhone setting is working.
Auto-Correction has learned bad habits
You can reset the keyboard dictionary. Warning: Apple says this deletes all custom words and shortcuts and returns the keyboard dictionary to its default state. Apple does not describe a way to undo it, so write down any text replacements you want to keep first.
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Reset. Do not choose Erase All Content and Settings, which removes everything on the iPhone.
- Tap Reset Keyboard Dictionary.
- Enter your passcode, then tap Reset Dictionary.
Apple’s reset settings page describes each option on that screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my iPhone keep changing a word I typed?
That is Auto-Correction. Tap the underlined word to pick what you meant, add the word to Text Replacement with the Shortcut left blank, or turn Auto-Correction off in Settings > General > Keyboard.
Does turning off Auto-Correction turn off Predictive Text?
No. They are separate switches on the same screen. You can turn off Auto-Correction and keep suggestions above the keyboard, or the other way around. Apple also notes that with Predictive Text off, you may continue to see corrections for misspelled words.
Do keyboard settings apply to every language?
The switches under All Keyboards apply to the keyboards you have added. Some features depend on the language, though. Apple notes that predictive text, inline predictions, and QuickPath are not available in every language.
Will changing keyboard settings delete anything?
Turning Auto-Correction, Predictive Text, or the other switches on or off does not delete your text or your text replacements. Only Reset Keyboard Dictionary removes custom words and shortcuts.
Can I sync text replacements to my other Apple devices?
Yes. Apple says you can use iCloud to keep your personal dictionary up to date on your other devices. Go to Settings, tap your name, tap iCloud, tap See All, tap iCloud Drive, then turn on Sync this iPhone.
More iPhone Guides
Start with the smallest change: fix the one word, then decide whether you still want Auto-Correction off. These guides cover related settings:
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read hundreds of millions of times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.