Where to find autocorrect settings on Samsung devices

Samsung devices store autocorrect controls in the keyboard settings, not in a single system menu. The exact path depends on which keyboard you use — most Samsung phones come with Samsung Keyboard as the default, though some users have Google Keyboard or SwiftKey installed instead. You need to open the keyboard's own settings, not the phone's general settings, to turn autocorrect off.

The fastest way is to open any text field (like a message or email), hold down the space bar on the keyboard, and tap the settings icon that appears. This takes you directly to that keyboard's settings menu. If that doesn't work on your device, you can also go through Settings > General Management > Language and Input > On-screen Keyboard, then select your keyboard and tap Settings.

Key Takeaways

  • Autocorrect lives in your keyboard's settings, not your phone's main settings menu, so you must access it through the keyboard itself.
  • Samsung Keyboard, Google Keyboard, and SwiftKey each have their own autocorrect toggle in different locations within their settings.
  • Holding the space bar while typing opens a quick settings menu that links directly to your keyboard's full settings.
  • Turning off autocorrect does not affect spell-check or other typing features unless you disable those separately.

Disabling autocorrect in Samsung Keyboard

If you use Samsung Keyboard (the default on most Samsung phones), open any text field and hold the space bar until a small menu appears. Tap the gear icon to enter Samsung Keyboard settings. Look for the section labeled "Smart Typing" or "Text Correction" — the exact name varies by Android version and device model.

Inside that section, find the toggle for "Autocorrect" or "Auto-correction" and turn it off. You may also see options for "Predictive text" and "Spell check" nearby. Autocorrect and predictive text are separate features: autocorrect changes words it thinks you misspelled, while predictive text suggests words as you type. You can disable one without disabling the other.

Disabling autocorrect in Google Keyboard (Gboard)

If you have Google Keyboard installed, the process is slightly different. Open any text field, tap the gear icon on the keyboard itself (usually in the top row), and select "Text Correction." You will see toggles for "Autocorrect," "Block Offensive Words," and other options. Turn off the Autocorrect toggle.

Gboard also offers a "Delete custom dictionary" option in the same menu if you want to clear words you have taught the keyboard in the past. This is useful if the keyboard has learned misspellings or slang you no longer want it to remember.

Disabling autocorrect in SwiftKey

SwiftKey users should open any text field, tap the SwiftKey icon (usually a blue "S"), and select Settings. Go to Typing > Corrections and find the "Autocorrect" toggle. Turn it off. SwiftKey also lets you adjust the "Correction Level" slider if you want to keep autocorrect but make it less aggressive — moving the slider left reduces how often it changes your words.

SwiftKey syncs your settings across devices if you sign into your Microsoft account, so disabling autocorrect on one device may affect others you use with the same account.

What happens when you turn autocorrect off

Disabling autocorrect means the keyboard will no longer change words it thinks you misspelled. You will still see spelling suggestions appear as you type (that is predictive text), but the keyboard will not automatically swap your words unless you tap one of those suggestions. Spell-check — the red underline that marks misspelled words — remains active even after you turn autocorrect off, because it is a separate feature.

If you turn autocorrect back on later, the keyboard will not remember custom words you added while it was off. Those words may be flagged as misspelled again until you teach the keyboard to accept them a second time.

Turning autocorrect back on

To re-enable autocorrect, follow the same steps you used to turn it off: open your keyboard settings, find the Autocorrect toggle, and turn it back on. The process is identical whether you use Samsung Keyboard, Gboard, or SwiftKey. You can also adjust autocorrect sensitivity in most keyboards — look for options like "Correction Level" or "Aggressiveness" if you want autocorrect active but less intrusive.

Some users find it helpful to turn autocorrect off temporarily while typing in a specific language or using technical terms, then turn it back on afterward. This prevents the keyboard from learning incorrect spellings during those sessions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off autocorrect affect my spell-check?

No. Autocorrect and spell-check are separate features. Spell-check marks misspelled words with a red underline but does not change them automatically. You can have spell-check on and autocorrect off, or vice versa. Both are controlled in the same keyboard settings menu.

Can I turn off autocorrect for just one app?

No. Autocorrect settings explore to the entire keyboard across all apps. If you need autocorrect off in one app but on in another, you would have to toggle it manually each time you switch apps. Some keyboards offer app-specific settings, but most Samsung devices do not.

Why does my autocorrect setting keep turning back on?

If you have multiple keyboards installed, you may have disabled autocorrect in one but not the others. Check which keyboard is currently active by opening a text field and looking at the keyboard icon in the bottom right. Then open that specific keyboard's settings and confirm autocorrect is off there.

Is there a way to keep autocorrect but make it less aggressive?

Yes. Most Samsung keyboards have a "Correction Level" or "Aggressiveness" slider that lets you reduce how often autocorrect changes your words without turning it off completely. This setting is usually in the same menu as the autocorrect toggle.