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How to Disable Predictive Text Suggestions in Microsoft Outlook

Key Takeaways

  • Microsoft Outlook includes a predictive text feature that suggests words or phrases as you type emails or documents
  • While intended to improve productivity, some users find this feature distracting or annoying
  • You can easily turn off predictive text suggestions in Outlook through the Options or Settings menu

Microsoft Outlook’s predictive text feature is designed to help users compose emails and documents more efficiently by suggesting words or phrases as they type. However, not everyone finds this feature helpful – some users consider it a distraction that interrupts their workflow. If you fall into this camp, you’ll be glad to know that it’s easy to disable predictive text suggestions in Outlook.

Understanding Predictive Text in Outlook

Predictive text, also known as text predictions or intelligent writing assistance, uses machine learning to analyze your writing patterns and suggest words or phrases that you might want to use next based on what you’ve already typed. 1

The idea is that by accepting some of these suggestions with a simple keystroke, you can write faster and more fluidly without interrupting your train of thought. Microsoft also claims the feature can help reduce spelling and grammar errors. [3]

However, the suggestions don’t always hit the mark, and some users find the constant appearance of gray predicted text distracting, especially if the suggestions are wildly off-base. This can disrupt concentration and potentially slow you down rather than speeding up your workflow.

How to Disable Text Predictions in Outlook Desktop App

If you’re using the Outlook desktop application as part of an Office 365 subscription, you can turn off text predictions through the Options menu:

  1. With Outlook open, click on File in the top-left corner
  2. Select Options from the bottom of the left-hand menu
  3. In the Outlook Options window, click on Mail in the left pane
  4. Uncheck the box next to “Show text predictions while typing” under the “Send messages” section
  5. Click OK to save your changes and close the window

After following these steps, Outlook will no longer suggest words or phrases as you compose new emails or documents. You can repeat the process to re-enable predictions if you change your mind later.

Disabling Predictions in Outlook Web App

The process is slightly different if you use the Outlook Web App (OWA) through a web browser:

  1. Log into your Outlook account at https://outlook.office.com
  2. Click the Settings gear icon in the top-right
  3. Select View all Outlook settings at the bottom of the menu
  4. Choose Mail > Compose and reply from the left pane
  5. Under the “Text predictions” section, uncheck “Suggest words or phrases as I type“
  6. Click Save at the top of the screen

Your changes will take effect immediately in the current browser session. Text predictions will no longer appear as you draft new messages or documents in Outlook on the Web.

Outlook Mobile Apps

The steps are similar but slightly different for the Outlook mobile apps on iOS and Android:

iOS

  1. Open the Outlook app and tap the Settings icon (gear shape)
  2. Tap Mail
  3. Turn off the “Text Predictions” toggle switch

Android

  1. Open Outlook and tap the Menu icon (3 horizontal lines)
  2. Select Settings > Mail
  3. Uncheck the “Text Predictions” option

With predictive text disabled on your mobile device, you can type out emails and documents without any suggested words or phrases appearing.

When to Keep Predictions Enabled

While predictive text isn’t for everyone, it can genuinely boost productivity for some users, especially those who frequently use industry jargon, technical terms, or long phrases that would otherwise be tedious to type out in full. [9]

The feature is also designed to become more accurate over time as it learns your unique writing style and vocabulary. So even if the suggestions seem off-base initially, they may improve with continued use.

If you do decide to give text predictions a try, be sure to provide feedback when prompted so Microsoft can keep refining and improving the machine learning models that power the feature. You can do this by right-clicking on any suggestion and selecting “Text Predictions > Feedback for Text Predictions.”[9]

Ultimately, whether to use Outlook’s predictive text capabilities is a matter of personal preference. The option to disable or re-enable them gives you full control over your writing experience in Microsoft’s email and productivity apps.

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