Get Text Suggestions and Autocorrection

Over the years, like it or not, mobile phones have changed the way many people type. Our mobile devices introduced us to both Text Suggestions and Autocorrect. If you have ever wished to have these features on your desktop PC, with Windows 10 now you can.

Turning both on is quick and simple. Follow these few steps:

1. Click on the Start button in the bottom left corner. Windows displays the Start screen.
2. Click on the Settings button (it looks like a small gear). Windows displays the Settings dialog box.
3. Click on the Devices link. Windows displays the devices window of the Settings dialog box.
4. Click on Typing in the left list of options. Windows displays the Typing options of the Settings dialog box.
5. Under Hardware Keyboard, turn on the Show Text Suggestions As I Type option. When you turn this on Windows allows you to turn on the Autocorrect Misspelled Words I Type option. (Go ahead and turn it on.) (See Figure 1.)



Figure 1. The Typing Section of the Settings Dialog.

6. Close the Settings dialog box. Your settings take effect immediately.

Now as you type Windows provides three text suggestions in a small box above the words you're typing. As you continue to type, the suggested words in the box update to words related to what you're typing. For example, if you want to type the word "suggestions," as you type the choice of words continues to modify. When you type "sug" the box might suggest signature, sign, and sugar. However, typing "sugge" changes the options to suggest, suggested, and suggestions. You can then click the desired suggestion. You can also press the Up arrow key to "enter" the box, then use the Right and Left arrow keys to highlight the desired word. Pressing Enter results in your selection being inserted in what you are typing. (See Figure 2.)

Figure 2. The Text Suggestion choices shown as you type.

With Autocorrect, if you accidently type the word "yuou" it will automatically (and immediately) correct the word to "you." If you do not want the Autocorrected word and need the original spelling, you can press ctrl+Z to undo the correction.

Using Text Suggestions and Autocorrect can help you with your typing. One thing to note is that as of writing this article while you can turn Text Suggestions on without Autocorrect being turned on, you cannot turn Autocorrect on without having Text Suggestions turned on.

 This tip (13545) applies to Windows 10.