Before You Start
Text predictions suggest words and phrases as you compose emails, helping you type faster. As of July 2025, this feature is off by default in Outlook on the web and New Outlook for Windows.
You may want to:
- Enable text predictions to speed up email composition
- Disable text predictions if you prefer to type without suggestions
Enable or Disable Text Predictions
- Click the Settings gear icon (upper right of the toolbar).
- Do one of the following:
- In the Search Outlook settings box, type Smart suggestions
- Click View all Outlook settings > Mail > Smart suggestions
- Under Text predictions, do one of the following:
- To enable: Check Suggest words or phrases as I type
- To disable: Uncheck Suggest words or phrases as I type
- Click Save.
- Close the settings pane.
New Outlook Desktop [Windows]
- Click the Settings gear icon (upper right of the toolbar).
- Click Mail > Smart suggestions.
- Under Text predictions, do one of the following:
- To enable: Check Suggest words or phrases as I type
- To disable: Uncheck Suggest words or phrases as I type
- Close the settings pane. Changes save automatically.
Classic Outlook Desktop [Windows]
- Click File > Options.
- Select Mail.
- Under Compose messages, do one of the following:
- To enable: Check Show text predictions while typing
- To disable: Uncheck Show text predictions while typing
- Click OK.
Outlook Desktop [macOS]
- Open a new email composition window.
- In the menu bar, click Edit > Spelling and Grammar > Show Text Predictions.
- Do one of the following:
- To enable: Ensure Show Text Predictions is checked
- To disable: Uncheck Show Text Predictions
Using Text Predictions
When text predictions is enabled:
- Suggested text appears in gray as you type
- Press [Tab] or the right arrow key to accept a suggestion (on Windows/Web)
- Press [Enter] to accept a suggestion (on macOS)
- Keep typing to ignore a suggestion
More Help
Need additional help? Contact the HWS IT Services Help Desk.