How to Enable or Disable AutoComplete in MS Word

AutoComplete can be turned off in the AutoCorrect menu

What to Know

  • Go to File > Options. In the Word Options dialog box, select Proofing.
  • In the AutoCorrect options section, select AutoCorrect Options.
  • In the AutoCorrect dialog box, select the AutoCorrect tab and clear the check boxes for the items you want to disable.

If the Microsoft Word AutoCorrect feature becomes a nuisance, turn it off in these easy steps. Instructions in this article apply to Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2019, Word 2016, Word 2013, and Word 2010.

Turn the Word AutoCorrect Feature On and Off

To toggle AutoComplete on and off:

  1. Go to the File tab, then select Options.

  2. In the Word Options dialog box, select Proofing.

    Microsoft Word options with the Proofing heading highlighted
  3. In the AutoCorrect options section, select the AutoCorrect Options button.

  4. In the AutoCorrect dialog box, select the AutoCorrect tab.

    Word options with the AutoCorrect tab highlighted
  5. Clear the check box for the function you want to disable:

    • Correct TWo INitial CApitals
    • Capitalize first letter of sentences
    • Capitalize first letter of table cells (Not in Excel or OneNote)
    • Capitalize names of days
    • Correct accidental use of cAPS LOCK key
    Word Autocorrect options with choices highlighted
  6. Clear the Replace Text as You Type check box to turn AutoComplete off or select the Replace Text as You Type check box to turn AutoComplete on.

    Word autocomplete options with the Replace text as you type box highlighted

Add, Change, or Remove an Entry from the AutoCorrect List

Word contains a list of commonly misspelled words, and you can add custom words, change existing entries, or delete entries from the AutoCorrect list. When you add words to the AutoComplete tab, Word suggests the words as you begin to type.

  1. Go to the File tab, then select Options.

  2. In the Word Options dialog box, select Proofing.

    Microsoft Word options with the Proofing heading highlighted
  3. In the AutoCorrect options section, select the AutoCorrect Options button.

  4. In the AutoCorrect dialog box, go to the AutoCorrect tab.

    Word options with the AutoCorrect tab highlighted
  5. In the Replace text box, type a word or phrase that you often mistype or misspell.

    Autocorrect options in Word with the Replace box highlighted
  6. In the With text box, type the correct spelling of the word.

    Word autocorrect options with the With field highlighted
  7. Select Add. Word automatically corrects the spelling if you misspell or mistype the word as entered.

    Autocorrect options in Word with the Add button highlighted
  8. Select an entry you want to change in the list and type a new entry in the With box. Select Replace to make the change.

    Replace button in Word autocorrect settings
  9. Select Yes to confirm that you want to change the entry.

    Changing an autocorrect option in Word with the Yes button highlighted
  10. Select an entry you want to remove in the list, then select Delete to remove the entry.

    Autocomplete options in Word with the Delete option highlighted
  11. Select OK when you're done to close the AutoCorrect dialog box.

    Word autocorrect options with the OK button highlighted
  12. Select OK to close the Word Options dialog box.

    Options screen in Microsoft Word with the OK button highlighted
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