Auto-spelling correction or auto-correct misspelled words is a fantastic feature to have, especially for users who cannot type without making spelling mistakes. The feature also comes in handy when you are not too sure about the exact spelling of a word.
The auto spelling correction has been available in mobile operating systems for over a decade now. It’s a built-in feature in document editing tools such as Microsoft Office and LibreOffice for the Windows operating system. The feature is available in popular services such as Facebook, webmail, and chat services. But somehow, the auto-correct or auto-correct misspelled words feature was not available in the Windows operating system for a long time.
When Microsoft introduced Windows 8, auto-correct was available in the touch keyboard, and the feature is available for Windows 10 touch keyboards as well. However, the feature was not available for hardware keyboards or physical keyboards. That means the auto-correct feature was exclusive to software or touch keyboard.
With Windows 10 April 2018 Update (version 1803), users can auto-correct misspelled words as they type, even for hardware keyboards. This means that you can use auto-correct even while typing in File Explorer, Notepad, WordPad, and other programs that don’t come with a built-in auto-correct feature.
That said, the auto-correct feature can be irritating at times. Experts believe that the auto-correct feature reduces your spelling ability. If you prefer to keep the feature turned off, you can do so under in the keyboard settings page in Settings. Follow the given below directions to enable or disable the auto-correct feature in Windows 10.
Enable or disable autocorrect misspelled words in Windows 10
Please note that auto-correct might not be available for all languages right now.
Step 1: Open the Settings app. Click the Devices category. Click Typing to see the keyboard settings page.
Step 3: Here, enable the Autocorrect misspelled words option to enable auto spelling correction. Turn off the same option to disable the autocorrect feature.
Please note that turning off the auto-correct misspelled words feature in Windows 10 will not turn off the same feature in Office Word, Outlook, and other programs that have built-in auto-correct features.
By the way, you might also like to enable text suggestion for hardware keyboard in Windows 10.
Thomas Aquasomething says
Thanks bill gates. These instructions have as small a chance of being accurate as I have of making real money. In my case it wasn’t even close, but I finally found the solution under SETTINGS, DEVICES, TYPING, HARDWARE KEYBOARD, SHOW SUGGESTIONS AS I TYPE/AUTOCORRECT WORDS AS I TYPE. In my windows 10 which auto-updates about once a week without my permission, it was not under Control Panel, there was no Time&Language option or Keyboard Options.
jon says
All the windows 10 versions i’ve seen in the last few years look and have buttons all very different to this article.
barbara killpack says
auto spell is not showing me the correct spelling only underlining how do i have it show me the correct spelling
Mike says
For those of you who can’t find these settings, they’re under Settings->Devices->Typing in newer versions of Windows 10. Also, v20H2 at least has the ability to add words to the Windows spell check dictionary.
Melanie says
This lacks the ability to add words to the dictionary, and there is no way to leave a word as-is without picking from the very limited suggestions. It actually slowed down my system so much that it was not worth it. Is there an alternative?
Liz says
This information is incorrect, there is no “keyboard” option under my Windows 10 Time & Language setting (that is Windows 10 professional)
Marjorie O. Cunningham says
I read this article eagerly because I have wanted an auto-correct program for Windows for a long time. I’m old, and my fingers don’t always hit the right keys, so auto-correct would be very helpful. I thought I had Windows 10 all up to date, but I guess I’m far behind the “Insiders” group, the only ones who can download Windows 10 Redstone 4 at this time, according to Microsoft. Is there any other way to get the auto-correct program? How long do you think I’ll have to wait for this feature to be rolled out to the general public?
If Microsoft stopped to think about it, this program would be very beneficial to so many people, not only the digitally challenged as I am, but to a whole lot of folks who need an extra push when it comes to writing!