To fix autocorrect not working on your iPhone, first check that the Auto-Correction toggle is turned on in Settings > General > Keyboard. This is the most common cause and the fastest way to resolve the issue.
Fix autocorrect not working on iPhone: Check the main setting
The immediate fix is ensuring the Auto-Correction toggle is enabled. Open Settings, tap General, then Keyboard, and confirm the Auto-Correction switch is green. If it is already on, toggle it off, wait a few seconds, then toggle it back on. This refreshes the feature and often restores functionality without further steps.
How to tell if autocorrect is working in iOS 17
In iOS 17 and later, Apple changed how autocorrect shows its work. When a word is corrected, it appears with a temporary underline. You can tap the underlined word to see a pop-up menu with other options, letting you revert the change or pick a different suggestion. If you see these underlines, autocorrect is active and functioning as designed. In iOS 17 and later, corrected words are temporarily underlined so you can tap the underlined word and choose another option from the pop-up menu.
Reset your iPhone's keyboard dictionary
If autocorrect has learned a bad correction or keeps changing words incorrectly, resetting the keyboard dictionary clears all custom learned words and starts fresh. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Keyboard Dictionary. Enter your device passcode, then tap Reset Dictionary. After the reset, autocorrect will use the default dictionary and relearn your typing patterns over time.
Update your iPhone's software
Apple’s documented autocorrect behavior is current for iOS 17 and later. If your iPhone is running an older version, the feature may behave differently or have bugs that have since been fixed. Check for updates by going to Settings > General > Software Update. If an update is available, download and install it. Keeping your software up to date ensures you have the latest autocorrect improvements and fixes. Apple’s autocorrect support page is current for iOS 17 and later, and the underlined-correction behavior is documented for that version range.
Check app-specific settings (like Pages)
Some apps, such as Pages on iPhone, have their own autocorrect and spell-check controls. In Pages, spelling is checked according to the language of the keyboard you are using, not the language of the document. To adjust this, open Pages, tap the More button, then tap Settings, and look for Auto-Correction controls for Check Spelling. If autocorrect works in Messages but not in Pages, the issue is likely app-specific, not a device-wide problem. In Pages on iPhone, spelling is checked according to the language of the keyboard you’re using, not the language of the document. Pages can use its own Settings > Auto-Correction controls for Check Spelling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does autocorrect change words incorrectly?
Autocorrect uses your keyboard dictionary to guess the word you intended. If it has learned a misspelling or an unusual word from your typing history, it may apply that correction.
How do I disable autocorrect entirely?
Open Settings > General > Keyboard and toggle off Auto-Correction. Once disabled, your iPhone will no longer automatically correct typos, though you may still see suggestions if Predictive is on.
Does autocorrect work on every app?
Autocorrect works in most text fields across iPhone apps, but some apps like Pages have their own spelling controls that can override or supplement the system setting. If autocorrect stops in a specific app, check that app’s settings for its own Auto-Correction option.
How do I keep my personal dictionary synced across devices?
Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > See All > iCloud Drive, then turn on Sync this iPhone. This keeps your keyboard dictionary synced through iCloud so custom words and corrections appear on all your Apple devices.
Where is autocorrect on Android?
On Android, autocorrect settings depend on the keyboard app you use. For Gboard, go to Gboard Settings > Text correction > Auto-correction. For Samsung Keyboard, go to Settings > General management > Samsung Keyboard settings > Auto replace. The phone’s system settings do not control autocorrect; the keyboard app does. For Gboard, the documented control is Gboard Settings > Text correction > Auto-correction. For Samsung Keyboard, the documented control is Settings > General management > Samsung Keyboard settings > Auto replace.
For the wider topic, see display and home screen settings.
