Outlook on MacOS - Disabled autocorrect keeps functioning

Question

Outlook on MacOS - Disabled autocorrect keeps functioning

Joost Damen 10

Hi, as the title states - There seems to be an issue which is causing the autocorrect functionality to keep functioning even though I turned it off.

I switched off the settings I can find in Outlook -> Settings -> Spelling & Typing.

We frequently go back and forth between English and Dutch spelling, sometimes even mid-sentence when it comes to names and things. Auto-correct is simply not a useful tool in this context, so I would appreciate being able to actually turn it off. It gives an unprofessional impression when emails arrive with sneakily removed letters from words I typed correctly.

We are using Macbooks and are using the latest software version as supplied by our IT provider.

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Joost Damen 10 Reputation points

2026-05-04T08:39:33.31+00:00

I cannot access the "Editor Settings" anywhere. Where can I access this functionality?

I would like to turn the entire thing off, because I am relatively capable of composing a message without assistance.
Daniele Perilli 5 Reputation points

2026-07-18T10:28:49.48+00:00

In Outlook for Mac 16.111 the above workaround doesn't work. I have disabled all Spelling & Typing settings on Outlook and all the system-wide settings, but it continues to change my words when writing in emails in Italian. Please note that my system language is English.
This is very annoying.
Hornblower409 11,955 Reputation points

2026-07-18T11:29:25.36+00:00

@Daniele Perilli said

In Outlook for Mac 16.111 the above workaround doesn't work.

Just to be sure - You disabled "Check Spelling and Grammar as I Type" as explained in the Answer by chuddytf on Jul 16, 2026?
Edoardo Rotolone 0 Reputation points

2026-07-21T14:00:03.1366667+00:00

@Hornblower409 I have the same problem of @Daniele Perilli ..

I attach below all the options I changed, but I anticipate that is not a MacOS related problem, It does not happens outside Outlook.... Anyway:

Then, from inside an empty new email, I also disabled everything from Edit > Spelling and Grammar ....

but if I write "necessari" it's still overwriting it with "necessary" or "dedicata" with "dedicate"....
If I use Outlook web, the problem does not occur...

My Macbook language is set in English, so maybe this is the problem. But every correction setting is disabled, so it should not correct anything by itself...
Hornblower409 11,955 Reputation points

2026-07-21T14:34:52.1733333+00:00

@Edoardo Rotolone said

But every correction setting is disabled, so it should not correct anything by itself...

There is another thread from a user who also found that disabling everything still doesn't stop the autocorrect
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5952841/outlook-on-macos-disabled-autocorrect-workaround-n

But no solutions reported (yet). You might want to use the [Follow] button on that thread so you are notified if anything new is reported.
Rasmus Plauborg 5 Reputation points

2026-08-06T07:56:27.8666667+00:00

It is clearly a bug in Outlook on Mac, I have all settings disabled on the OS level but still encounter this. Workarounds dont work permanently for me unfortunately.

2 answers

Your answer

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Joost Damen 10 Reputation points

2026-05-04T08:39:33.31+00:00

I cannot access the "Editor Settings" anywhere. Where can I access this functionality?

I would like to turn the entire thing off, because I am relatively capable of composing a message without assistance.
Daniele Perilli 5 Reputation points

2026-07-18T10:28:49.48+00:00

In Outlook for Mac 16.111 the above workaround doesn't work. I have disabled all Spelling & Typing settings on Outlook and all the system-wide settings, but it continues to change my words when writing in emails in Italian. Please note that my system language is English.
This is very annoying.
Hornblower409 11,955 Reputation points

2026-07-18T11:29:25.36+00:00

@Daniele Perilli said

In Outlook for Mac 16.111 the above workaround doesn't work.

Just to be sure - You disabled "Check Spelling and Grammar as I Type" as explained in the Answer by chuddytf on Jul 16, 2026?
Edoardo Rotolone 0 Reputation points

2026-07-21T14:00:03.1366667+00:00

@Hornblower409 I have the same problem of @Daniele Perilli ..

I attach below all the options I changed, but I anticipate that is not a MacOS related problem, It does not happens outside Outlook.... Anyway:

Then, from inside an empty new email, I also disabled everything from Edit > Spelling and Grammar ....

but if I write "necessari" it's still overwriting it with "necessary" or "dedicata" with "dedicate"....
If I use Outlook web, the problem does not occur...

My Macbook language is set in English, so maybe this is the problem. But every correction setting is disabled, so it should not correct anything by itself...
Hornblower409 11,955 Reputation points

2026-07-21T14:34:52.1733333+00:00

@Edoardo Rotolone said

But every correction setting is disabled, so it should not correct anything by itself...

There is another thread from a user who also found that disabling everything still doesn't stop the autocorrect
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5952841/outlook-on-macos-disabled-autocorrect-workaround-n

But no solutions reported (yet). You might want to use the [Follow] button on that thread so you are notified if anything new is reported.
Rasmus Plauborg 5 Reputation points

2026-08-06T07:56:27.8666667+00:00

It is clearly a bug in Outlook on Mac, I have all settings disabled on the OS level but still encounter this. Workarounds dont work permanently for me unfortunately.

Answer 1

Michelle-N 20,645 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi @Joost Damen

Based on your description, I understand that despite disabling the autocorrect settings within Outlook's "Spelling & Typing" menu, the application continues to automatically modify your text, which is causing unprofessional errors in your outgoing communications.

Since Outlook for Mac often leverages the underlying macOS system settings for text input, disabling it in the app might not be enough. Please try the following steps to ensure it is completely deactivated:

First, double-check that all relevant toggles are off in Outlook > Settings > Spelling & Typing. Specifically, look for "Correct spelling automatically."

On a Mac, the system-wide autocorrect often overrides individual app settings.

Open System Settings on your MacBook > Navigate to Keyboard > Find the Text Input section and click the Edit button (next to Input Sources) > Please turn it off similar to my environment as below:

User's image

Restart Outlook to see if the changes take effect.

In my environment, once these system-wide settings are disabled, Outlook stops modifying text even when switching mid-sentence between different languages.

After applying these changes, try drafting a test email with Dutch and English names. If the issue continues, it would be very helpful to know:

Your current Outlook version (Outlook > About Outlook).
Whether this happens in both the New Outlook and the Legacy Outlook version.

Please let me know if these steps resolve the issue or if the behavior persists!

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Joost Damen 10 Reputation points

2026-05-04T11:26:51.6266667+00:00

Hi Michelle, thanks.

I tried both of these suggestions.

Just now, Outlook still insisted that the Dutch word probleem should be spelled as problem, and there seems to be nothing I can do except copy a full text from outside of Outlook.

My version is: 16.108.2 (26042616)
I cannot find the old Outlook anymore. Not sure if my organisation still offers it.
It is a new-ish issue however, I cannot remember this being a problem last year.
Michelle-N 20,645 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-05-04T12:01:41.5766667+00:00

Hi @Joost Damen

Thanks for your update.

My environment is also on version 16.108.2. After testing the word “probleem” and a few other words that were previously flagged incorrectly, Outlook does not automatically change them to “problem”.

So as a first step, could you please try uninstalling and reinstalling Outlook using this document?
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/officeupdates/update-history-office-for-mac
DANIEL DAMRAU 5 Reputation points

2026-05-05T10:03:15.3933333+00:00

Outlook for mac is bugged. That is it.

You can disable "Correct Spelling Automatically" in settings and it does nothing. Outlook still corrects spelling automatically. When you disable "Check spelling as i type", it will stop to automatically correct words, but that means no suggestions also, if you really mistyped a word.

I cannot review the source code, but I am very sure the option "correct spelling automatically" does nothing. Instead the check option does both, which is not what the options should do according to the naming. Checking means to make a suggestions about a typo and offer the option to correct it. No automatic correction.
Michelle-N 20,645 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-05-05T13:50:14.5066667+00:00

Hi @Joost Damen

Is there any update from you?

If yes, please feel free to let me know.
Joost Damen 10 Reputation points

2026-05-06T06:17:07.7266667+00:00

Hi @Michelle-N not yet, I had a holiday.

I am now trying to work with all spell-checking disabled as an above user indicates is an option.

Luckily I am quite decent at preventing spelling mistakes and all that, so it's not a particularly important feature for me. If toggling everything off under Detection & Spelling indeed helps I will simply work like that.

Thanks for your assistance so far.
Michelle-N 20,645 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-05-07T13:55:25.55+00:00

Hi @Joost Damen

Thanks for your update. Please let me know whether toggling everything off under Detection & Spelling actually helps.
Tijmen 5 Reputation points

2026-05-18T14:34:37.6733333+00:00
I have the same issues with Outlook for Mac (also when writing Dutch, it's attempting to auto-correct for English words)

I'm using:

Outlook Version 16.109 (26051019)

MacOS Version 26.4.1 (25E253)

It doesn't happen when using Legacy Outlook, but it does when using New Outlook.

Here's the relevant setting in New Outlook:

And here's the settings in the System Settings:
Tijmen 5 Reputation points

2026-05-18T14:38:42.56+00:00

For me disabling the "Check Spelling and Grammar as I Type" feature disabled the autocorrect, so that helped.
Naina 25 Reputation points

2026-07-20T07:25:20.2266667+00:00

Hi @Michelle-N

I am having the same issue.

I still have all options in the outlook "Spelling & Typing" settings turned off, and my MacBook system settings are the same as yours.

Until a week or two ago, this workaround has worked for me, but now, Outlook is insisting on correcting my Swiss German spelling again (direkt always turns into direct).

I am working with New Outlook, Version 16.111 (26071325).
The automatic correction does not happen in Legacy Outlook.

Thank you for your help.
Hornblower409 11,955 Reputation points

2026-07-21T02:01:46.1733333+00:00

@Naina said

Until a week or two ago, this workaround has worked for me, but now, Outlook is insisting on correcting my Swiss German spelling again

You probably need to:

Start a new thread using the "Ask a question" button at the top of this page to create a new Question and include the details for your specific problem and that the workaround is no longer stopping autocorrect. You can put the link for this page in your new Question for reference.

Bring in Microsoft Support so they can look at your Outlook setup.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/contact-support-within-outlook-for-mac-d0410177-8e65-4487-93f7-206a3a3d71a8
Naina 25 Reputation points

2026-07-21T07:49:19.5266667+00:00

Thank you for the heads-up, @Hornblower409 I have created a new question here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5952841/outlook-on-macos-disabled-autocorrect-workaround-n

Answer 2

chuddytf 5

EDIT: After posting this, I noticed the comments on the answer from Michelle-N that other users have come to the same conclusion as me. I am leaving this response because it contains some more detail on the specific steps to take to resolve the autocorrect issue.

First off, let me say that all the claims that the autocorrect is a Mac OS issue are just a distraction from the real issue which is a bug in the Outlook program. I went through all the recommended steps for disabling various settings in Outlook and the Mac OS, and nothing worked, except for one thing:

Go to Outlook > Settings > Spelling & Typing

User's image

The setting called "Correct Spelling Automatically". doesn't do anything. If you want the autocorrect to be turned off, you have to uncheck "Check Spelling and Grammar as I Type". It looks like that is the setting that actually applies autocorrect. Don't forget to restart Outlook after making the change.

This works for me on Microsoft Outlook for Mac Version 16.110.3 (26070318)

Hornblower409 11,955 Reputation points

2026-07-17T04:08:31.3666667+00:00

@chuddytf said

The setting called "Correct Spelling Automatically". doesn't do anything. If you want the autocorrect to be turned off, you have to uncheck "Check Spelling and Grammar as I Type"

This workaround has been previously suggested by @DANIEL DAMRAU in his comment of May 5, 2026. Thank you for confirming and expanding on his suggestion.
MAITRALLAIN Gregory OBS/CTIO 10 Reputation points

2026-07-22T15:11:28.77+00:00
I had (still have?) the exact same issue. Not MacOS related of course since I disabled the OS level correction, spell checking and correction disabled from Outlook, but it still corrected (very, very badly) my text.

To fix the issue, based on this answer, I have:

Enabled again spell correction (both options)

Restarted Outlook

Disabled again spell correction (and every other spell option, for what they're worth...)

Restarted Outlook

For now I don't have issues anymore. Crossing fingers...
Stefan 5 Reputation points

2026-08-06T08:14:40.03+00:00

Hi @Michelle-N and all,

I have the same problem. Tried all suggestions, updated to latest version (16.111.3, aug 2026) but spelling cannot be disabled and leave red wiggle artifacts. I did a screen recording, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJya76_8epM

This is clearly an outlook bug and I wonder how it could not be noticed by internal QA before release.
Rasmus Plauborg 5 Reputation points

2026-08-06T08:24:29.0766667+00:00

I too am struggling with the bug, even with attempts to workaround. All Mac settings disabled and all Outlook settings disabled.