Where to find autocorrect settings on Samsung devices

Autocorrect on Samsung phones and tablets lives in the keyboard settings, not in a general phone menu. The exact path depends on which Samsung keyboard you use — most devices come with Samsung Keyboard by default, though some use Google Keyboard or Gboard instead. Open Settings, then General management, then Keyboard list and default. This shows you which keyboard is active. From there, tap the settings icon next to your active keyboard to reach the autocorrect controls.

If you use Samsung Keyboard, you will see an option called Predictive text or Auto correction — the exact name varies by Android version and device model. Turning this toggle off stops the keyboard from changing your words as you type. If you use Gboard instead, the setting is called Spell check and sits under Advanced in Gboard settings.

Key Takeaways

  • Samsung Keyboard autocorrect is turned off through Settings > General management > Keyboard list and default, then the settings icon next to your active keyboard.
  • The toggle you need is called Predictive text or Auto correction, depending on your Android version and device model.
  • If you use Gboard instead of Samsung Keyboard, the setting is Spell check under Advanced in Gboard settings.
  • Turning off autocorrect does not affect voice typing, predictive word suggestions, or other keyboard features unless you disable them separately.

Step-by-step for Samsung Keyboard

Start at the home screen and open Settings. Scroll down and tap General management. Look for Keyboard list and default — on some devices this appears under a submenu called Text input. Tap it to see which keyboards are installed and which one is set as default.

Find Samsung Keyboard in the list. Tap the gear or settings icon next to it — do not tap the keyboard name itself, as that will only switch to it. A menu will open with options like Predictive text, Auto correction, Spell check, or Smart typing. Toggle off the one that says Auto correction or Predictive text. The toggle will turn gray when it is off. Go back and test by opening any text field — the keyboard should no longer change your words.

Step-by-step for Gboard

If your device uses Gboard (Google's keyboard), the path is slightly different. Open Settings and search for "Gboard" using the search bar at the top. Tap Gboard when it appears. You will land on the main Gboard settings page.

Scroll down and tap Advanced. Look for Spell check and toggle it off. You may also see Auto-correction as a separate toggle — turn that off as well if you want to disable both. Some versions of Gboard also have a Correction level slider that you can drag all the way to the left to disable corrections entirely. Save your changes and test in any text field.

What happens when you turn autocorrect off

Turning off autocorrect stops the keyboard from automatically changing words you type. If you type "teh" instead of "the", it will stay as "teh" unless you manually fix it. The keyboard will still show you a row of suggested words above the keys — you can ignore these or tap one if you want. This is different from autocorrect, which changes words without asking.

Voice typing and dictation are separate features and will not be affected by turning off autocorrect. If you use voice-to-text, it will still work the same way. You can also turn off word suggestions separately if you find them distracting — this setting is usually called Show suggestions or Predictive text and sits in the same menu as autocorrect.

How to turn autocorrect back on

If you change your mind, the process is the same in reverse. Go back to Settings > General management > Keyboard list and default, tap the settings icon next to Samsung Keyboard, and toggle Auto correction back on. For Gboard, go to Settings, search for Gboard, tap Advanced, and toggle Spell check back on.

You can also turn autocorrect on and off for specific languages if your device is set up for multiple languages. In Samsung Keyboard settings, look for Languages and tap the one you want to adjust. This lets you keep autocorrect on for one language and off for another — useful if you type in multiple languages and autocorrect works better for some than others.

Troubleshooting if the setting does not appear

If you cannot find the autocorrect toggle, your device may be using a different keyboard than you think. Go to Settings > General management > Keyboard list and default and check which keyboard has a checkmark next to it. That is your active keyboard. If it is not Samsung Keyboard or Gboard, you may be using a third-party keyboard like SwiftKey or Microsoft Keyboard — these have their own settings apps in your app drawer.

Another reason the setting might not appear is if your Android version is very old or very new. Samsung changes the location and name of keyboard settings between versions. If you are running Android 11 or older, the path might be Settings > Language and input > On-screen keyboard instead. Try searching for "autocorrect" in the Settings search bar — this usually finds the right menu regardless of Android version.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off autocorrect affect my text messages?

Yes. Autocorrect works in any text field on your phone — text messages, email, social media apps, search bars, and notes. When you turn it off in keyboard settings, it turns off everywhere at once. If you want autocorrect only in certain apps, you would need to use a third-party keyboard that lets you toggle it per app, which most Samsung and Google keyboards do not support.

Can I disable autocorrect for just one language?

Yes, if your device is set up for multiple languages. In Samsung Keyboard settings, tap Languages, then tap the language you want to adjust. You can toggle autocorrect on or off for each language separately. This is useful if autocorrect works well in English but causes problems in another language you type in.

What is the difference between autocorrect and word suggestions?

Autocorrect changes your words automatically without asking. Word suggestions show you a row of options above the keyboard that you can tap if you want. You can turn off autocorrect but keep suggestions, or turn off both. They are separate toggles in the keyboard settings menu.

Does turning off autocorrect make typing faster?

For some people, yes. If autocorrect keeps changing words you intentionally typed, turning it off removes that friction. For others, autocorrect saves time by fixing typos automatically. The best choice depends on how often you type quickly or use slang and abbreviations that autocorrect does not recognize.

Why does my autocorrect setting keep turning back on?

This usually happens after a system update. Samsung sometimes resets keyboard settings to defaults when you install a major Android update. If this happens, turn it off again and it should stay off until the next update. If it keeps turning on without an update, try clearing the cache for your keyboard app: go to Settings > Apps, find your keyboard, tap Storage, and tap Clear cache.