How to Turn Off Word Suggestions in Windows 11: Step-by-Step Guide

If you type a lot on your Windows 11 PC, you’ve probably noticed little text bubbles suggesting words as you type. This feature, called word suggestions (or predictive typing), is designed to speed up your writing. But sometimes it can be distracting, repetitive, or just unnecessary.

In this guide, we’ll walk you step by step through how to turn off word suggestions in Windows 11. We’ll cover different methods, including system settings, the touch keyboard, registry tweaks, and group policy. By the end, you’ll have complete control over typing suggestions on your device.

Table of Contents

📝 Quick Summary (Key Takeaways)

Go to Settings > Time & language > Typing to disable text suggestions.
Turn off both Show text suggestions and Autocorrect misspelled words.
If you use the touch keyboard, disable its word prediction separately.
Advanced users can disable suggestions via Registry Editor or Group Policy.
You can still keep spell check enabled while turning off word predictions.

Why Does Windows 11 Show Word Suggestions?

Think of word suggestions like an “auto-complete” helper. As you type, Windows 11 tries to predict your next word based on common usage.

Benefits of Word Suggestions:

Faster typing speed.
Fewer spelling mistakes.
Helpful on touchscreen devices or 2-in-1 laptops.

Downsides of Word Suggestions:

Can feel distracting or intrusive.
Not always accurate.
Slows you down if you prefer typing without interruptions.

If you’re in the second camp, let’s dive into how to disable them.

How to Turn Off Word Suggestions in Windows 11 (Step-by-Step)

Here’s the easiest way to disable word suggestions using the Settings app.

Step 1: Open Windows Settings

Press Win + I to quickly open Settings.
Alternatively, click the Start menu and select Settings.

Step 2: Navigate to Typing Settings

Go to Time & language in the left sidebar.
Click Typing from the right panel.

Step 3: Turn Off Word Suggestions

Under Typing, toggle off:
- Show text suggestions when typing on the physical keyboard
- Autocorrect misspelled words

That’s it! Word predictions will stop appearing when you type.

How to Disable Word Suggestions on the Touch Keyboard

If you use a touchscreen laptop or tablet, the touch keyboard also shows predictions.

Open Settings.
Go to Time & language > Typing > Touch keyboard.
Turn off:
- Show text suggestions
- Multilingual text suggestions

Now your touch keyboard will no longer show predictive words.

How to Turn Off Multilingual Text Suggestions

Windows 11 can suggest words from multiple languages if you type in more than one. To disable:

Go to Settings > Time & language > Typing.
Scroll down and toggle off Multilingual text suggestions.

This keeps Windows from mixing languages in predictions.

How to Turn Off Word Suggestions in Specific Apps

Sometimes, suggestions are app-specific. Here’s how to control them:

Microsoft Word / Office

Open Word.
Go to File > Options > Proofing.
Uncheck Show text predictions while typing.

Outlook (Email)

In Outlook, go to File > Options > Mail.
Under Compose messages, uncheck Show text predictions while typing.

Advanced Methods to Disable Word Suggestions

If you want more control, you can use Registry Editor or Group Policy Editor.

Method 1: Using Registry Editor (For Advanced Users)

Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
Navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Input\Settings
Look for entries like EnableTextPrediction.
Set the value to 0 to disable.

⚠️ Warning: Editing the registry incorrectly can cause system issues. Create a backup first.

Method 2: Using Group Policy Editor (Windows 11 Pro/Enterprise)

Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
Navigate to:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Regional and Language Options
Find Turn off text prediction.
Set it to Enabled.

This ensures no user on your PC gets word suggestions.

How to Keep Spell Check but Disable Word Suggestions

Good news: You don’t have to choose one or the other.

In Settings > Time & language > Typing,
- Turn off word suggestions.
- Keep Highlight misspelled words enabled.

That way, Windows still corrects typos without suggesting words.

Troubleshooting: Word Suggestions Still Appear?

If you’ve disabled them but still see suggestions:

Restart your PC (changes sometimes need a reboot).
Check third-party apps like Grammarly — they may override Windows settings.
Make sure you changed settings for both physical and touch keyboards.

Pros and Cons of Turning Off Word Suggestions

Pros	Cons
Distraction-free typing	Slightly slower typing speed
More control over text	More typos if spell check is off
Cleaner typing experience	No predictive help on touchscreens

Pro Tips

If you switch between typing styles, consider creating two Windows user profiles — one with word suggestions enabled, one without.
Use third-party typing assistants (like Grammarly) if you still want smart suggestions in specific apps.
Keep your keyboard drivers updated for best typing performance.

Conclusion: Take Control of Your Typing in Windows 11

Turning off word suggestions in Windows 11 is easy once you know where to look. Whether you want fewer distractions, a cleaner workspace, or just more control over your typing, disabling predictive text only takes a few clicks.

You can:

Use Settings > Time & language > Typing to toggle off predictions.
Adjust touch keyboard and multilingual options separately.
Dive into Registry or Group Policy for advanced control.

Now your typing experience can be as minimal — or as assisted — as you want.

FAQs: How to Turn Off Word Suggestions in Windows 11

1. Where are typing settings in Windows 11?
Go to Settings > Time & language > Typing.

2. Can I disable text suggestions but keep spell check?
Yes. Turn off word suggestions but leave Highlight misspelled words enabled.

3. Why do word suggestions keep coming back?
Some apps (like Microsoft Word or Outlook) have their own predictive text settings. Disable them separately.

4. Does turning off word suggestions affect autocorrect?
No. You can disable suggestions while keeping autocorrect active, or vice versa.

5. Can I disable suggestions only for one language?
Yes. Turn off Multilingual text suggestions to restrict predictions to your primary language.