How to turn off autocorrect on a Mac

2 min read · 5 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

Autocorrect changes words while you type. That helps with typing mistakes, but it gets in the way with names, technical terms or a second language.

These steps are for recent versions of macOS, where the settings app is called System Settings. The pictures are our own screenshots from macOS Tahoe 26 on a MacBook Pro.

Step by step

1. 

   Open System Settings and click Keyboard

   Click the Apple menu, then System Settings. Keyboard is near the bottom of the sidebar, so scroll down.

   Done

2. 

   Click Edit in the Text Input section

   It is the Edit button next to Input Sources.

   Done

3. Switch off Correct spelling automatically

   The Mac stops replacing words by itself.

   Done

4. Decide about the other switches

   In the same window, Capitalise words automatically controls capital letters at the start of a sentence, and Show inline predictive text controls the grey word suggestions that appear as you type.

   Done

5. Click Done

   The change applies at once.

   Done

Good to know

To switch it off in one app only, open that app and choose Edit, Spelling and Grammar, Correct Spelling Automatically. No tick means off.

To undo a single correction, Control-click the word and choose Change Back. A corrected word is briefly marked with an underline.

If you only want certain words left alone, a text replacement can also help.

In short: System Settings, Keyboard, Text Input, Edit, Correct spelling automatically off.