How to Turn Off Auto-Correct On Your Apple iPhone

The Auto-Correct feature on an Apple iPhone will automatically correct any perceived spelling errors that the device recognizes as you type. While this feature can be great for some, it can also lead to hilarious and even embarrassing word choices if you’re not careful. To prevent Auto-Correct-induced mistakes from happening, you can simply disable the feature at any time by taking a quick trip through your iPhone’s “Settings” application. While this won’t improve your spelling, it will help prevent sending a message that you didn’t mean to send.

Step 1

Close the app that you’re currently using (if application) and open your iPhone’s “Settings” utility. Much like entering the menu system and selecting “Settings” or “Preferences” on a regular cell phone, the “Settings” application on your iPhone allows you to drastically alter the way your device operates.

Step 2

Scroll to the very top of the third section of options on screen and select “General.” Scroll all the way to the bottom of the window that opens and select “Keyboard” to view a list of keyboard-related iPhone options that you can adjust to better meet your individual preferences.

Step 3

Look for the option reading “Auto-Correction.” This option controls whether or not your iPhone’s Auto-Correct feature is enabled. Under default settings, this option will be listed as “On” from the moment you turn on your phone for the first time. 

Step 4

Tap the word “On” one time to change it to read “Off.” The change indicates that the Auto-Correct feature of your iPhone is now off.

Step 5

Test out your iPhone by composing a new e-mail message or SMS text message. You don’t actually have to send a new message – any blank text box will do. Type a word that you know is misspelled. Because the Auto-Correct feature is now off, your iPhone should make no attempt to correct the misspelled word.