iPhone Keyboard: Turn Off Auto-Correction & Adjust More
To turn off auto-correction on an iPhone, go to Settings > General > Keyboard and toggle off Auto-Correction. You can also adjust related settings like predictive text, smart punctuation, and the keyboard’s appearance from the same menu, giving you fuller control over how your iPhone types.
Where the Keyboard Settings Live
All iPhone keyboard settings are centralized in one place: Settings > General > Keyboard. This screen controls everything from basic typing aids to the behavior of third-party keyboards. If you have multiple keyboards installed (like Gboard or SwiftKey), you’ll see an additional Keyboards section at the top where you can add, remove, or reorder them. The settings you change here apply globally across all apps—Messages, Mail, Notes, Safari, and any other text field.
How to Turn Off Auto-Correction (Step by Step)
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap General.
- Scroll down and tap Keyboard.
- Find the All Keyboards section.
- Toggle off Auto-Correction.
That’s it. The change takes effect immediately. You’ll notice that misspelled words no longer get replaced with what Apple thinks you meant. However, you’ll still see a red underline under words the system considers wrong, and you can tap the word to see suggestions. If you want to remove that underline too, you can turn off Check Spelling in the same menu.
Other Typing Adjustments You Can Make
The Keyboard settings screen offers several toggles that affect how your iPhone handles text. Here’s what each one does:
- Predictive: Shows suggested words above the keyboard as you type. Turning this off removes the suggestion bar but doesn’t disable auto-correction.
- Smart Punctuation: Automatically turns straight quotes into curly quotes and double spaces into periods. Some users find this annoying, so turning it off gives you literal characters.
- Check Spelling: Underlines misspelled words in red. Disabling it removes the visual indicator but doesn’t stop auto-correction.
- Enable Caps Lock: Allows you to double-tap the Shift key to lock caps. Off means you have to hold Shift for each capital letter.
- “.� Shortcut: Double-tapping the space bar inserts a period followed by a space. Many people turn this off if they type in multiple languages or use spaces intentionally.
These toggles are independent, so you can mix and match. For example, you might keep auto-correction on but turn off smart punctuation if you write code or use special characters.
How to Reset the Keyboard Dictionary
If auto-correction keeps “fixingâ€� words you’ve deliberately taught it, or if it starts suggesting bizarre replacements, you can reset the keyboard dictionary. This clears all the custom words and learned typing habits. To do it:
- Go to Settings > General > Reset.
- Tap Reset Keyboard Dictionary.
- Enter your passcode if prompted, then confirm.
This does not delete your contacts, messages, or any other data—it only wipes the list of words you’ve added by tapping “Add to Dictionaryâ€� or by choosing a suggestion repeatedly. After a reset, auto-correction starts fresh with Apple’s default vocabulary.
Why Auto-Correction Still Happens After You Turn It Off
Sometimes you turn off auto-correction but words still get changed. Here are the most common reasons:
- Third-party keyboards: If you’re using a keyboard like Gboard or SwiftKey, that app has its own auto-correct setting. You need to open the keyboard’s own settings app (not Apple’s) to disable it.
- QuickType bar suggestions: Even with auto-correction off, tapping a suggestion in the predictive bar will replace the word you typed. That’s not auto-correction—it’s you choosing a suggestion.
- Text replacement shortcuts: If you’ve set a text replacement (like “omwâ€� to expand to “on my wayâ€�), that will still trigger even with auto-correction off. You can find these in Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement.
- Smart Punctuation: This can change quotes and apostrophes even when auto-correction is off. Disable it if you want literal characters.
Adjusting Keyboard Appearance and Size
Beyond typing behavior, you can also change how the keyboard looks. On iPhones with 3D Touch (iPhone 6s through XS), pressing firmly on the keyboard lets you move the cursor. On all models, you can:
- Change keyboard height: In any app, pinch inward on the keyboard to make it smaller, or pinch outward to make it taller again. This is a system-wide setting that persists across apps.
- Switch to one-handed mode: Tap and hold the globe or emoji icon, then choose the left, right, or center layout. This is handy for larger phones.
- Add a keyboard: Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard to add a language or a third-party keyboard. You can reorder them by tapping Edit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off auto-correction affect my other Apple devices?
No. Auto-correction settings are per-device. If you turn it off on your iPhone, your iPad and Mac will still have their own settings. However, if you use iCloud Keychain, your text replacements (shortcuts) sync across devices, but the auto-correction toggle itself does not.
How do I stop my iPhone from changing “im� to “I’m�?
That’s auto-correction. Turn off Auto-Correction in Settings > General > Keyboard. If you want to keep auto-correction on but stop this specific change, you can add a text replacement: go to Text Replacement, tap the +, type “imâ€� in the Phrase field and “imâ€� in the Shortcut field. This tells iOS to leave it as-is.
Why does my iPhone keep capitalizing “i� even with auto-correction off?
Auto-capitalization is a separate setting. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard and toggle off Auto-Capitalization. This stops the keyboard from automatically capitalizing the first letter after a period or at the start of a new sentence.
Can I turn off auto-correction for just one app?
No, iOS doesn’t allow per-app keyboard settings. The toggle in Settings applies globally. However, some apps have their own text fields that override the system keyboard, but that’s rare. If you use a third-party keyboard, you might be able to set different behavior per app within that keyboard’s own settings, but Apple’s built-in keyboard is all-or-nothing.
What’s the difference between auto-correction and predictive text?
Auto-correction actively replaces what you type with a suggested word. Predictive text shows suggestions above the keyboard that you can tap to accept. You can have predictive text on while auto-correction is off, which gives you suggestions without forcing replacements. Many people prefer this combination because it lets you choose but doesn’t override your typing.
Does turning off auto-correction improve battery life?
No, the effect is negligible. Auto-correction runs locally on the device and uses minimal processing. If you’re looking to save battery, you’d be better off reducing screen brightness or disabling background app refresh.
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