Outlook on MacOS - Disabled autocorrect keeps functioning

Question

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.

Answer 1

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.

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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

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)

Answer 2

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:

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!

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Answer 3

I work in 2 languages and the problem surfaced in Outlook, autocorrect despite all auto-correction and grammar options ticked off. I resolved the problem by disabling auto-correction in Word.

If this can help anyone, I'll be happy. This is a frustrating issue.