Disable Auto Correct and Spell Check in Windows 11

To disable auto-correct and spell check in Windows 11, open Settings > Time & language > Typing, and turn off both “Autocorrect misspelled words” and “Highlight misspelled words.” This stops Windows from automatically fixing your typing and from underlining errors in most built-in apps like Notepad, Mail, and the search box.

Where These Settings Live

Windows 11 manages typing corrections through a single settings page. You can reach it by pressing Windows key + I to open Settings, then navigating to Time & language > Typing. On that page you’ll find two independent toggles:

• Autocorrect misspelled words – automatically replaces what you type with a suggested word.
• Highlight misspelled words – draws a red squiggly line under words it thinks are wrong.

Turning off both gives you a clean typing experience with no automatic changes and no visual error markers. This applies system-wide to any app that uses the standard Windows text input framework, including the Start menu search, File Explorer’s rename field, and many UWP apps.

How Autocorrect Works in Windows 11

Windows 11’s autocorrect is not a full grammar checker like the one in Microsoft Word. It’s a lightweight feature that compares each word you type against a built-in dictionary. When it sees a word that isn’t in that dictionary, it either replaces it immediately (autocorrect) or underlines it (spell check). The feature is always on by default for new installations, and it applies to physical keyboards, touch keyboards, and even handwriting input.

Importantly, this is separate from the per-app spell checkers in Word, Outlook, or Edge. Those applications have their own dictionaries and settings, so disabling Windows’ system-wide option won’t affect them. If you’re seeing red squiggles in Word, you need to change Word’s own proofing settings (File > Options > Proofing), not the Windows Typing page.

Step-by-Step: Turn Off Both Toggles

1. Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
2. Select Time & language from the left sidebar.
3. Click Typing.
4. Under the “Typing” section, toggle Autocorrect misspelled words to Off.
5. Toggle Highlight misspelled words to Off as well.

That’s it. The changes take effect immediately—no restart required. If you later want to re-enable them, just flip the switches back on.

What This Does and Doesn’t Affect

Turning off these toggles affects every app that uses the standard Windows text input stack. That includes:

• Notepad and WordPad
• File Explorer (renaming files and folders)
• Start menu search and Settings search
• Mail and Calendar apps
• Many third-party apps that don’t implement their own spell checker

It does not affect:

• Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint – they use Office’s proofing tools
• Microsoft Edge – it has its own spell checker in Settings > Languages
• Google Chrome or Firefox – they have their own built-in spell checkers
• Any app with a custom text editor, like many code editors or email clients

If your goal is to stop autocorrect in a specific program, check that program’s own settings first. For example, in Edge, go to Settings > Languages and turn off “Use spell check” or “Enhance spell check.”

Common Problems and Fixes

Sometimes you turn off the toggles but still see corrections or underlines. Here are the usual culprits:

• You’re in an app with its own spell checker. As mentioned, Word and Edge override the system setting. Look for the app’s own proofing options.
• The language bar is adding a different keyboard. If you have multiple languages installed, each may have its own autocorrect settings. Go to Settings > Time & language > Language & region, click the “…” next to a language, and check its typing options.
• You’re using a touch keyboard. The touch keyboard has a separate setting called “Add a space after I choose a text suggestion” and “Show text suggestions as I type.” You can turn those off in the same Typing page under “Touch keyboard.”
• Autocorrect is still active in the search box. The search box on the taskbar uses the system setting, but if you have a third-party search tool or a pinned app, it might not. Try restarting Explorer.exe or the app itself.

If toggles seem stuck, sign out and sign back in, or restart your PC. That forces the system to re-read the settings.

Why You Might Want to Disable It

Autocorrect is designed for general use, but it can be annoying in specific contexts:

• Technical writing – code snippets, command-line arguments, or file paths often get “corrected” into nonsense.
• Names and jargon – uncommon names, brand names, or industry terms are frequently flagged as misspelled.
• Non-English text – if you type in multiple languages, the English-only dictionary will underline or change valid words.
• Privacy – some users prefer that Windows doesn’t process their keystrokes for suggestions.

Disabling both toggles gives you full control over what you type. The trade-off is that you lose the safety net for typos in casual writing, so you’ll need to proofread more carefully.

Alternatives to Full Disabling

If you don’t want to lose all help, consider these middle-ground options:

• Keep spell check but disable autocorrect. Turn off only “Autocorrect misspelled words” and leave “Highlight misspelled words” on. You’ll see red underlines but nothing will be changed automatically.
• Add words to the dictionary. Right-click an underlined word and select “Add to dictionary.” This prevents that word from being flagged in the future, without disabling the feature globally.
• Use a different keyboard layout. Some layouts, like US International, don’t trigger the same autocorrect behavior. You can switch layouts in Settings > Time & language > Typing > Advanced keyboard settings.
• Use a third-party text editor. If you’re writing code or prose that needs no interference, programs like Notepad++ or Visual Studio Code have their own spell checkers that you can configure—or turn off entirely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is autocorrect still on after I turned it off?

Most likely you’re in an app that has its own spell checker. Word, Edge, Chrome, and many other programs override the Windows setting. Check the app’s own settings—for example, in Word go to File > Options > Proofing and uncheck “Check spelling as you type.”

Does this setting affect the touch keyboard?

Partially. The touch keyboard has its own “Show text suggestions as I type” toggle on the same Typing page. Turning off the main autocorrect will stop automatic corrections, but text suggestions may still appear unless you turn that separate toggle off as well.

Can I disable autocorrect for only one language?

Yes, but it’s not straightforward. Windows applies the setting per user, not per language. However, if you have multiple keyboards, you can remove the ones you don’t want to use autocorrect with, or switch to a layout that doesn’t support it. There’s no per-language toggle in the standard Settings.

Will this stop red squiggles in Microsoft Word?

No. Word has its own proofing tools that are independent of Windows’ system spell check. To disable red squiggles in Word, go to File > Options > Proofing and uncheck “Check spelling as you type” (and optionally “Mark grammar errors as you type”).

Is there a way to turn off autocorrect via the registry?

Yes, for advanced users. The setting is stored in the registry under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Input\Locales but it’s not a simple value—it’s tied to the language profile. Editing it is risky and not recommended. The Settings app is the safe, supported method.

Does disabling spell check affect password fields?

No. Password fields never trigger spell check or autocorrect for security reasons. This setting only applies to normal text input fields.

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