Turning off word suggestions in Windows 11 isn’t exactly a big drama, but since Windows tends to make things a bit more complicated than they need to be, the process isn’t super obvious straight away. If those little popup prompts keep distracting you while you’re typing, here’s how to knock them off without tearing your hair out.
How to Turn Off Word Suggestions in Windows 11
Basically, switching off these suggestions involves tweaking a couple of settings. Good if they’re annoying you or just getting in the way when you’re trying to focus. Here’s the run-down—might seem straightforward, but on some setups, you’ve gotta make sure you’re in the right spot, especially after updates and all that.
Step 1: Open Settings
First up, click the Start button or hit Windows key, then select Settings. Or just type “Settings” and hit Enter — quicker that way. The Settings app is your go-to for tweaking Windows. The icon’s a little gear, usually at the bottom-left corner.
Step 2: Go to Devices
In Settings, click on Devices. That’s the one. It’s where all the hardware stuff lives—mouse, keyboard, printers, and so on. If you don’t spot it straight away, just scroll a bit or use the search in Settings to find “Devices”.
Step 3: Click on Typing
Next, on the left sidebar, find and click Typing. Sometimes it’s buried under more advanced menus, but most of the time it’s right there. This is all about how Windows handles your text input. It’s also where you’ll find spellcheck options if you want to fiddle with those later.
Step 4: Turn Off Text Suggestions
Look for the toggle labeled Show text suggestions as I type. Just switch that off. On some machines, it’s a slider or a checkbox—either way, toggle it to off. This stops Windows’ little helper suggestions from popping up under your cursor.
Honestly, not sure why turning it off is so tricky, but here we are. Once you switch it off, the suggestions should disappear, at least for the time being. Sometimes, you might need to restart the app or log out and back in, but usually it’s instant after toggling.
Step 5: Close Settings
Just close the Settings window — your change should take effect straight away. No need to restart the PC. If suggestions keep coming up later, double-check you turned off the right option, because Windows updates can shuffle things around a bit.
Doing this should make your typing way smoother, with fewer interruptions and less auto-suggestion stress. Keep in mind, this only disables the suggestions, not autocorrect or spellcheck, which are separate settings.
Tips for Turning Off Word Suggestions in Windows 11
- Make sure your Windows 11 is fully up to date — sometimes, settings act funny on older builds.
- If there are multiple users on your PC, consider if someone else might want the suggestions turned on and weigh that up.
- Have a look at other text-related settings in the Typing menu — maybe you’re into auto-correct but hate the prompts, or the other way around.
- Disabling suggestions won’t turn off spellcheck or autocorrect unless you tweak those separately, so check the Spelling & Typing settings if needed.
- If you change your mind later, just follow these steps again and toggle everything back on — dead easy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why would I want to turn off word suggestions?
Honestly, some folks find those little prompts a bit distracting or annoying when they’re trying to smash out some quick typing or stay focused. Turning them off keeps things tidy and simple.
Will this affect other typing aids like spellcheck?
Nah, turning off suggestions doesn’t mess with auto-correct or spellcheck unless you dive into those settings separately. They’re all controlled independently.
Can I change this setting back if I don’t like it?
Absolutely. Just do the same steps and switch everything back on whenever you decide you want the suggestions. Windows makes it easy peasy.
Does this feature turn off across all apps?
Yep, because it’s a system-wide setting, it affects everything—whether you’re typing in Notepad, Word, or even a browser.
Is there a way to disable this for just some apps?
Unfortunately, not at the moment. Windows doesn’t support turning off suggestions per app. So if you want them in your email but not in your coding app, you’re out of luck for now.
Summary
- Open Settings
- Go to Devices
- Select Typing
- Switch off text suggestions
- Close Settings
Hopefully this makes things a bit easier for someone. Once you know where to look, it’s a straightforward job, and it’s nice to have a bit more space to breathe while you’re typing. Just a heads up — Windows sometimes likes to hide these options after updates, so if it’s not working, double-check you didn’t miss a toggle. Cheers and good luck!