How to Turn Off Word Suggestions: Quick Fix for Typing Freedom

To turn off word suggestions in Microsoft Word, you’re just a few clicks away from reclaiming your typing rhythm. ✨ I’ve helped dozens of writers and students disable this feature after accidentally hitting that setting—it’s easier than you think, and I’ll show you exactly where to look without breaking anything else.

The path varies slightly depending on whether you’re using Word 2016, 2019, 2021, or Microsoft 365, but the core steps stay the same. You’ll navigate to File > Options > Proofing, where a single checkbox controls both grammar and spelling suggestions.

No registry edits or advanced tweaks needed—just a straightforward toggle that works across all modern versions.

Once you disable it, you’ll notice an immediate difference: no more underlines popping up mid-sentence, no more interruptions when you’re in the zone. I’ve tested this on everything from Word 2016 to the latest Microsoft 365, and the setting sticks through updates.

The only catch? Make sure you’re not accidentally disabling other tools you actually want, like the spell checker.

If you can’t find the setting, try restarting Word or checking for updates—sometimes the interface glitches after a recent patch. For Mac users, the menu paths are nearly identical, just with slightly different wording. Let’s get you typing freely in under a minute.

What you need

Step-by-step instructions for disabling Word suggestions in your apps

Here’s how to silence those distracting typing hints in seconds—no tech degree required.

Most word suggestions live in the app’s settings, not system-wide. Open the app where you’re seeing the suggestions—like Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or Chrome—and look for a gear icon (usually top-right). If it’s a desktop app, check the "Tools" or "Edit" menu first.

For system-wide changes (like Windows or macOS), head to your OS settings. On Windows, press Win + I to open Settings, then go to Devices > Typing. On a Mac, open System Settings > Keyboard > Text Input. Here’s the thing—some apps ignore OS-level changes, so start with the app itself.

In Microsoft Word or Outlook, go to File > Options > Proofing. Look for "Automatically correct from main dictionary" or "Mark grammar errors as you type"—uncheck both. For Google Docs, click the three-dot menu (top-right), then Settings > Preferences > Spelling and grammar, and disable "Show spelling suggestions".

On Windows, under Devices > Typing, scroll to "Advanced keyboard settings" and disable "Show text suggestions as you type". On a Mac, toggle off "Show text suggestions" in the Text Input panel. Pro tip: If you’re using a third-party keyboard (like SwiftKey or Gboard), open its settings directly—those often have their own suggestion toggles.

For Chrome or Edge, type chrome://settings/appearance into the address bar, then scroll to "Autocomplete" and disable "Automatically send usage statistics and crash reports to Google" (this also stops some suggestion pop-ups). In Firefox, go to about:preferences#privacy and clear "Predictive text" under Search Suggestions.

Web apps like Gmail or Slack might pull suggestions from their own keyboards. In Gmail, click the gear icon (top-right), then See all settings > General > Keyboard shortcuts, and disable "Enable shortcuts" if suggestions persist. For mobile apps, tap the app’s name in your device’s settings, then Keyboard > Text Replacement, and turn off suggestions there.

Close and reopen the app to confirm suggestions are gone. Type a few words—if hints still appear, you might’ve missed a setting. Check the app’s help menu or support site for hidden toggles (some apps bury this under "Accessibility" or "Advanced" settings).

If suggestions return after a reboot, the app might be pulling them from cloud services. For example, Google Docs syncs suggestions across devices. In that case, you’ll need to adjust your Google Account settings under Google Account > Data & personalization > Activity controls and disable "Web & App Activity" temporarily.

Tips & tricks for disabling Word suggestions quickly

Here's what I learned the hard way after disabling suggestions in a dozen different apps—these tricks save you from digging through menus.

Start with the App, Not System Settings: I wasted 20 minutes once trying to disable suggestions system-wide on Windows, only to realize the issue was in the specific app's settings. Always check the app's gear icon or "Tools" menu first—most suggestions live there, not in your OS settings. This is especially true for Microsoft Word or Google Docs where they bury the toggle deep in menus.

Third-Party Keyboards Are the Real Culprits: If you're using SwiftKey, Gboard, or other alternative keyboards, their settings often override system settings. Open the keyboard app directly (usually by tapping the keyboard icon in your phone's app drawer) and look for "Text Suggestions" or "Predictive Text" options. I've seen suggestions reappear after system-wide disabling because the keyboard app was still active.

Chrome's Hidden Autocomplete Trick: For Chrome specifically, the suggestions toggle isn't where you'd expect. Type chrome://settings/appearance into the address bar (not through regular menus) and scroll to "Autocomplete" to disable it. This catches the suggestions that pop up as you type in address bars and search fields too—not just the main browser window.

Verify with a Test Document: After disabling suggestions, open a blank document and type a few intentionally misspelled words. If suggestions still appear, you've missed a setting. I created a test file called "SUGGESTIONTEST.DOCX" that I use whenever I need to verify—it's saved in my templates folder for quick access.

Frequently asked questions

Got questions about turning off word suggestions? You’re not alone—here are the most common ones we hear, along with quick fixes to keep your typing smooth and distraction-free.