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How to train your autocorrect to actually work

Apple.com, © Tero Vesalainen | Dreamstime.com

I bet you’re frustrated with how often autocorrect is auto-wrong. Even with new AI features included in many platforms’ latest updates, autocorrect remains annoying. Let’s fix that for iOS and Android.

🍗 Go cold turkey

Yes, you can just turn it off — no more bad guesses or awkward corrections. Just type what you mean letter by letter, like in the early days. (Note: Depending on your Android make, model and OS, your steps may differ. There are just too many variations for me to cover all of them.)

On iOS: Tap Settings > General > Keyboard, then toggle Auto-Correction to Off. Follow the same steps to turn it back on later, if you need it.
On Android: Go to Settings > System > Languages and input > On-screen keyboard > Gboard > Text correction. Here, you can turn off Auto-correction and Show suggestion strip, which displays predictive text.

Team Apple: In iOS, misspellings are underlined. To turn that off, head to Settings > General > Keyboard again and turn off Check Spelling.

Team Android: Under your keyboard settings, flip the switches next to “Predictive Text” and “Show Predictions Inline.”

🗣️ Add your own slang

If you’re feeling ambitious, tell your phone to replace a phrase with your shorthand. Think turning “brt” into “be right there” or “1234” into “Four Score and Seven Years Ago.” Pretty slick!

On iOS: Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement. Tap the + (plus sign), then add your word or phrase to the Phrase field (i.e., “On my way”). In the Shortcut field, type your slang of choice (i.e., “OMW”).
On Android: Go to Settings > System > Languages and input > On-screen keyboard > Gboard > Dictionary > Personal dictionary > English and tap the + (plus sign) in the top right to add a custom word. Put your slang or abbreviation in the Shortcut box to trigger that custom word.

Pro tip: In iOS and Android, if you leave the Shortcut field blank, autocorrect will stop bugging you with alternate spellings.

Those are the big ones, but I’ve got a few extra tips for iOS and Android on my site!

🤭 I used to be a programmer for autocorrect. They fried me for no raisin. (I saw you smile!)

Cleanup crew

Keep a pocket-sized phone screen cleaner (20% off) handy. It’s got a cloth built into the bottle.
Put down that gas station squeegee. Pick up a windshield cleaner with a swivel head (25% off).
Did water marks ruin your wooden coffee table? This remover cloth under $8 will make it look new.
While you’re at it, snag a set of eight coasters (10% off) for any hot or cold drink.
Oh this is so handy. Stop your glasses from slipping off your face with a silicone sleeve ($7).

🍨 Oh my. Did you see Ninja has a new ice cream maker that makes soft serve, too? Help, I just gained 10 pounds typing that!

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

📺 Wait, what was I watching? Roku has you covered. Go to the Home Screen, hit What to Watch and scroll to Continue Watching. Your shows are waiting to pick up where you left off.

Are we getting a new iPhone?

Open/download audio

Goodbye home button, tiny screen, and Lightning cable. Apple is set to unveil a brand-new iPhone SE with USB-C and a more powerful processor.

Offline Nights: The hot new thing with 20 and 30-somethings addicted to their tech. Pay for a ticket, drop your phone in a deposit box and spend a few hours talking to real people, not staring at a screen. What will they think of next?!

$16 per month

Gets you access to Snapchat Platinum, including its new AI video Lenses. Think of it as a filter where you can see yourself cuddling up with cute virtual animals on screen. So far, there’s a raccoon and fox, plus spring flowers. People need to cool it with the age filter. It’s getting old.

💻 Barrels of fun: Got a Chromebook? Press and hold down Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Refresh (circular arrow key) all at once, your screen does a barrel roll. Give it a try when you need a little break but don’t … flip out.

⌨️ Shrink the keyboard on iPad Notes: The on-screen keyboard takes up half the screen, which gets frustrating when you need to scroll. Sure, you can hide it, but then you can’t type. Instead, pinch inward on the keyboard to shrink it into a small, floating version. It’s way easier to work with.

$2,000 and up

The hefty price tag of Apple’s foldable iPhone in 2027. It’s rumored to open like a book like the Galaxy Z Fold. You’ll see a 7.8-inch screen without any creases and a 5.5-inch outer screen. Touch ID is making a comeback on the side button since Face ID might not fit.

Tech-free zones: A friend of mine started making “screen-free areas” in their house, like the kitchen and dining table. Genius. The kids get a break from screens, their eyes get a rest, and family time actually feels like family time again.

Want better photo composition? Turn on the grid. It splits your screen into nine parts. Line up subjects where the lines meet for more balanced, pro-looking shots. iPhones: Go to Settings > Camera > Grid (toggle it on). For Android: Open Camera > Settings > Grid (or Grid Lines).

📖 Make your Kindle feel like a real book: Love this little change. Go to Settings > Screen and brightness > Show covers on lock screen.

🔋 Make your laptop battery last longer: Windows 11 has a Dynamic Refresh Rate option that adjusts how often your screen updates for simple tasks. Go to Settings > System > Display > Advanced Display > Choose a refresh rate > Dynamic.

40%

Of parents judge other families based on their screen-time rules. About a third stop their kids from hanging out with friends who have different rules. Why? No one wants to be labeled as the parent of an “iPad kid” or blamed for causing “brain rot.”

📱 Less clutter, more focus: Too many apps on your home screen make it way too easy to get distracted. Clear them out! On iPhone: Press and hold the app > Remove App > Remove from Home Screen. On Android: Long-press the app > Remove. You can find them later in your App Menu or Library.

2 years old

When 40% of kiddos have their own tablet. Nearly 1 in 4 have a cellphone by the time they turn 8. Average screen time? Too much at 2.5 hours a day.

👀 All the better to see you with: Your iPhone uses the camera to detect if you’re looking at it. That’s why your notifications are quieter, your phone auto-unlocks and your brightness doesn’t dim when you’re looking at the screen. Don’t like it? Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Turn off Attention Aware Features.

🐌 Sloooow down: On your Mac, adjust how fast your cursor whips around the screen. Hit the Apple menu > System Settings > Mouse or Trackpad Select Click Point & Click, then drag the Tracking speed slider to your liking.

This is important: Global myopia rates have tripled since 1990, increasing the risk of cataracts, glaucoma, and blindness (paywall link). The culprit? Too much screen time. Reminder: Every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds to protect your eyes. I like puns about eyes, the cornea the better.

I own a real green screen: The YouTube Shorts AI, Veo 2, whips up clips with just a few words. Like OpenAI’s Sora, type what you want and the AI does the rest. You can specify a style, lens or cinematic effect. Want to try it yourself? Open YouTube, go to Shorts camera > Green Screen > and type your prompt.