Where to find autocorrect on your iPhone
Autocorrect lives in Settings under Keyboard, not in a separate app. Open Settings, tap General, then Keyboard. You will see a toggle for Autocorrect about halfway down the list. From here you can turn it off entirely, or keep reading to learn which specific autocorrect features you can adjust separately.
The Keyboard menu also shows you other text-correction tools that work alongside autocorrect — predictive text, spell check, and caps lock — so you can fine-tune exactly how your iPhone handles what you type. Each one can be turned on or off independently.
Key Takeaways
- Autocorrect is in Settings > General > Keyboard, where you toggle it on or off with a single switch.
- You can turn off autocorrect entirely while keeping spell check and predictive text on, or disable all three separately.
- If autocorrect keeps changing a word you use often, add it to your personal dictionary so your iPhone stops correcting it.
- Restarting your iPhone clears temporary glitches that sometimes make autocorrect behave unpredictably.
- Autocorrect settings sync across all your Apple devices if you use the same iCloud account on each one.
Turn autocorrect on or off
Open Settings, go to General, then tap Keyboard. Look for the toggle next to "Autocorrect" — it will be green and switched to the right if it is on. Tap the toggle once to turn it off. The toggle will turn gray and move to the left. Tap it again anytime to turn autocorrect back on.
When you turn off autocorrect, your iPhone stops suggesting corrections as you type. You will still see spell check (the red underline under misspelled words), but your phone will not automatically change what you wrote. This is useful if autocorrect keeps changing words you use intentionally, or if you type in multiple languages and the corrections are getting in your way.
Add words to your personal dictionary
If autocorrect keeps changing a word you use on purpose — a nickname, a brand name, or slang — you can teach your iPhone to stop correcting it. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement. Tap the plus sign in the top right corner.
In the Phrase field, type the word exactly as you want it to appear. In the Shortcut field, type what you want to type to trigger it. For example, you could set Phrase to "iPhone" and Shortcut to "iphone" so that whenever you type "iphone" in lowercase, your phone changes it to "iPhone" with the capital I. You can also use this feature to create abbreviations — set Phrase to "See you later" and Shortcut to "cul" so you can type "cul" and have it expand automatically.
Once you save the entry, autocorrect will no longer change that word. If you add a word and then change your mind, go back to Text Replacement, swipe left on the entry, and tap Delete.
Manage spell check and predictive text separately
Spell check (the red underline under words your iPhone does not recognize) and predictive text (the suggestions that appear above your keyboard) are separate from autocorrect. You can turn off autocorrect but keep spell check on, or turn off predictive text while autocorrect still works.
In Settings > General > Keyboard, you will see toggles for "Check Spelling" and "Predictive" below the Autocorrect toggle. Turn either one off if it is slowing you down or getting in your way. Many people turn off predictive text on smaller iPhones where the suggestions take up screen space, but keep it on larger models where there is room.
Restart your iPhone if autocorrect is behaving strangely
Sometimes autocorrect starts making odd suggestions or stops working altogether. A restart often fixes temporary glitches. Press and hold the side button and one of the volume buttons until the power-off slider appears. Drag the slider to turn off your phone, wait 10 seconds, then press and hold the side button again until the Apple logo appears.
After your iPhone restarts, test autocorrect by typing a few sentences. If it is still behaving strangely, check that you have the latest iOS version by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Autocorrect bugs are sometimes fixed in iOS updates.
Autocorrect settings sync across your devices
If you use an iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch with the same iCloud account as your iPhone, your autocorrect settings and personal dictionary sync automatically across all of them. This means if you add a word to your dictionary on your iPhone, it will stop being corrected on your iPad too.
If you do not want settings to sync, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and turn off Keychain. This will stop syncing passwords and saved text replacements across devices, though other iCloud features like Photos and Mail will continue to sync.
Autocorrect in different languages and keyboards
If you type in more than one language, you can set up separate keyboards for each one. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, then tap Add New Keyboard and choose the language you want. Each keyboard can have its own autocorrect settings.
When you are typing, press and hold the space bar or the globe icon to switch between keyboards. Your iPhone will use the autocorrect dictionary for whichever keyboard is active. If autocorrect keeps changing words in your second language, add those words to your personal dictionary — they will be saved for that keyboard specifically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does autocorrect keep changing a word I use all the time?
Your iPhone is using its built-in dictionary, which does not include every word or slang term. Add the word to your personal dictionary through Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement. Once you do, autocorrect will stop changing it.
Can I turn off autocorrect for just one app?
No, autocorrect is a system-wide setting that applies to all apps on your iPhone. If you want to turn it off only sometimes, you can toggle it on and off in Settings > General > Keyboard whenever you need to. Some apps like Notes and Mail have their own spell-check options you can adjust separately.
What is the difference between autocorrect and spell check?
Autocorrect automatically changes what you typed without asking. Spell check underlines words in red so you can see them but does not change them unless you tap the suggestion. You can turn off autocorrect while keeping spell check on if you want to catch mistakes without automatic changes.
Will turning off autocorrect make typing slower?
No, turning off autocorrect will not slow down typing. You will type at the same speed, but your iPhone will not suggest corrections. Predictive text (the word suggestions above the keyboard) is separate and can speed up typing if you use it, but you can turn that off independently.
Do I have to restart my iPhone to change autocorrect settings?
No, changes to autocorrect take effect when ready. You only need to restart if autocorrect is behaving strangely or not working at all. For normal changes like turning it on or off, just toggle the setting and start typing.