Where to Find Autocorrect Settings on Android

Autocorrect lives in your keyboard settings, not in a general Android menu. The exact path depends on which keyboard you use — most Android phones come with Gboard (Google's keyboard), but some have Samsung Keyboard, Microsoft SwiftKey, or another third-party option. Open any text field (like composing an email or text message), long-press the space bar or look for the keyboard icon in the bottom right corner, then tap the settings gear icon. This takes you directly to that keyboard's autocorrect controls.

If you cannot find the settings icon on your keyboard, go to Settings > Languages and input (or System > Languages and input on some phones) and look for your keyboard name in the list. Tap it, then select Preferences or Settings. From there you can turn autocorrect on or off, adjust how aggressive it is, or change which words it recognizes.

Key Takeaways

  • Autocorrect settings are in your keyboard app's preferences, not in your phone's main Settings menu.
  • You can turn autocorrect completely off, or keep it on but adjust how sensitive it is to typos.
  • Most keyboards let you add words to a personal dictionary so autocorrect stops changing them.
  • If you switch keyboards, each one has its own separate autocorrect settings that do not carry over.

Turn Autocorrect Off Completely on Gboard

Open any text field and tap the keyboard icon in the bottom right, then tap the gear icon. Scroll down to Text correction and tap it. You will see a toggle for Autocorrect — tap it to turn it off. The toggle will turn gray, and autocorrect will stop working when ready.

If you want to keep autocorrect but make it less aggressive, stay in the Text correction menu. Look for Autocorrect and tap the word itself (not the toggle). A menu will appear with three options: Off, Modest, and Aggressive. Choose Modest if you want autocorrect to catch only obvious typos, or Off to disable it entirely.

Adjust Autocorrect on Samsung Keyboard

If your phone uses Samsung Keyboard, open a text field and long-press the space bar, then tap Settings. Tap Smart typing, then Autocorrect. You will see a toggle — tap it to turn autocorrect off, or tap the setting name itself to choose between Off, On, and Block offensive words. Some Samsung phones also show an Autocorrect sensitivity slider that lets you dial the feature up or down without turning it completely off.

Samsung Keyboard also has a separate Predictive text setting that suggests words as you type. This is different from autocorrect — autocorrect changes what you already typed, while predictive text offers suggestions. You can turn one off and leave the other on if you prefer.

Add Words to Your Personal Dictionary

Autocorrect often changes words that are spelled correctly but uncommon — names, slang, technical terms, or words in other languages. Instead of turning autocorrect off entirely, you can teach your keyboard to recognize these words. In Gboard, open any text field, tap the gear icon, then tap Dictionary. Tap the plus sign and type the word you want to add. The keyboard will stop changing it from that point on.

On Samsung Keyboard, open a text field, long-press the space bar, tap Settings, then Smart typing > Personal dictionary. Tap the plus sign and add the word. You can also long-press a word that autocorrect just changed, tap Add to dictionary, and it will be saved when ready without opening the settings menu.

Turn Off Autocorrect for Specific Languages

If you type in multiple languages, you may want autocorrect on for one language but off for another. In Gboard, open a text field and tap the gear icon, then tap Languages. You will see a list of languages your keyboard knows. Tap the language you want to adjust, then toggle Autocorrect on or off for just that language. This way you can have autocorrect active for English but disabled for Spanish, for example.

This setting is useful if you code or write in a language that Gboard does not recognize well. You can disable autocorrect for that language while keeping it on for everyday typing in your primary language.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The most common mistake is looking for autocorrect in your phone's main Settings app instead of in your keyboard's own settings. Autocorrect is a keyboard feature, not a phone feature, so it will not appear in Settings > Display or Accessibility. Always start by opening a text field and accessing your keyboard's preferences directly.

Another mistake is confusing autocorrect with predictive text or word suggestions. Autocorrect changes words you have already typed; predictive text suggests words as you type. If you turn off autocorrect but suggestions still appear, you have turned off the wrong setting. Check your keyboard's menu again and look for Predictive text, Word suggestions, or Next-word suggestions as a separate toggle.

If you switch keyboards (from Gboard to SwiftKey, for example), your autocorrect settings do not move with you. Each keyboard stores its own settings and personal dictionary separately. You will need to adjust the new keyboard's autocorrect the same way you adjusted the old one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off autocorrect affect spell-check?

No. Spell-check and autocorrect are separate features. Spell-check underlines misspelled words with a red squiggle so you can fix them yourself. Autocorrect changes them automatically without asking. You can turn off autocorrect and keep spell-check on, or vice versa. Look for Spell check in your keyboard settings if you want to control them separately.

Can I turn off autocorrect for just one app?

Not directly. Autocorrect is a keyboard-wide setting, so it applies to every app you type in. However, some apps (like Gmail or Notes) have their own spell-check or correction settings that you can adjust separately. Check the app's own settings menu to see if it has text correction options.

Why does autocorrect keep changing a word I use all the time?

The word is either not in your keyboard's dictionary or it is being treated as a misspelling. Add it to your personal dictionary by long-pressing the word after autocorrect changes it and selecting Add to dictionary, or by going to your keyboard settings and manually adding it to the dictionary. After you add it, autocorrect will stop changing it.

How do I reset autocorrect to its default settings?

In Gboard, open your keyboard settings, tap Advanced, then look for Reset to default or Clear personal data. This will erase your personal dictionary and custom settings. On Samsung Keyboard, go to Settings > Reset. Be aware that resetting will also clear any words you added to your dictionary.

Does autocorrect work the same way on all Android phones?

No. Each keyboard app has its own autocorrect system. Gboard, Samsung Keyboard, SwiftKey, and others all work slightly differently and have different settings menus. If you switch phones or keyboards, you may need to adjust your autocorrect settings again. The basic steps are the same — find your keyboard's settings and look for text correction options — but the exact menu names and toggles will vary.