How to turn off swipe typing on an iPhone
2 min read · 4 steps · Updated 4 October 2026
Open Settings, tap General, then Keyboard, scroll down and switch off Slide to Type. The keyboard then only takes single taps, and sliding from letter to letter no longer types a word.
- Device
- iPhone
- Shown on
- iOS 26.5 (iPhone 17)
- App
- Settings
- Path
- Settings › General › Keyboard
- Real screenshots
- 4 of 4 steps
- Checked
- October 2026
- Sources
- 1 official, linked below
The iPhone keyboard lets you type a word by sliding from one letter to the next without lifting your finger. If you never type that way, you can switch it off. The feature is on at first and has its own switch.
The screenshots show iOS 26.5 on an iPhone 17. On older versions the rows have the same names, with a slightly different look.
Step by step
Open Settings and tap General
General is the first row of the first group in the main Settings list.
Tap Keyboard
It is in the second group of the General page, below Fonts.
Scroll down and switch off Slide to Type
It is in the list of switches under All Keyboards. In the picture it is on.
Or keep it and look at the switch below
Delete Slide-to-Type by Word is the next row and is on at first. It only matters while Slide to Type is on.
Good to know
Apple notes that sliding to type is not available for all languages.
With the feature on, you can mix both ways of typing, even in the middle of a sentence.
In short: Settings, General, Keyboard, Slide to Type off.
Links checked on 3 October 2026. Rules and prices change. Check the official source before you act.