How to use Auto-Correction and predictive text on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch

Find out how to use Auto-Correction and predictive text. Set up text shortcuts to automatically become longer words or phrases.

Use Auto-Correction and edit Auto-Correction suggestions

Auto-Correction uses your keyboard dictionary to spellcheck words while you’re typing, correcting misspelt words for you automatically. To use it, just type in a text field.

In iOS 17 and later, Auto-Correction temporarily underlines the words it corrects. To quickly edit an auto-correction, tap the underlined word and choose an option from the pop-up menu.

Turn Auto-Correction on or off

Open the Settings app.
Tap General > Keyboard.
Turn Auto-Correction on or off

By default, Auto-Correction is turned on.

Use predictive text

With predictive text, you can write and complete entire sentences with just a few taps.

As you type a word in Messages on your iPhone, predictive text options will appear above your keyboard.

While typing, you’ll see choices for words and phrases you’re likely to type next, based on your past conversations, writing style and even websites you’ve visited in Safari.

To change your predictive text settings, open up the Keyboard Settings menu.

To turn predictive text off or on:

Touch and hold the smile emoji or the globe icon.
Tap Keyboard Settings, then turn Predictive or Predictive Text on or off.

Or go to Settings > General > Keyboard and turn Predictive or Predictive Text on or off. In iOS 18, you can also turn inline predictive text recommendations on or off.

See a full list of languages that support predictive text.

Set up shortcuts for words or phrases

With text replacement, you can set shortcuts to automatically become longer phrases or words. When you enter the shortcut in a text field, your chosen word or phrase replaces it automatically. For example, you could type “GM” and “Good morning” would replace it automatically.

To manage your text replacements, tap Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement.