Office Settings & Configuration

How to Disable Spell Check in OneNote on an iPad

Partner Editor Oct 9, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user wants to disable the automatic spell-checking feature in the OneNote application on an iPad.

How to Disable Spell Check in OneNote on an iPad

Product: Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS: iPadOS
Scenario: Writing or editing notes in OneNote on an iPad where red squiggly lines or auto-corrections are distracting or unhelpful.
Observed behavior: There is no built-in, in-app setting within OneNote for iPad to turn off spell checking, unlike the desktop versions for Mac and Windows.

Before you start

Since OneNote for iPad does not include a dedicated in-app toggle for spell check, you will need to adjust your system-wide iPadOS keyboard settings to achieve this.

Solution 1Recommended

Turn Off Spell Check via iPadOS System Settings

Because OneNote relies on the system keyboard for text input and proofing, turning off the iPad's global spell check will disable the feature inside OneNote.

The iPad app for OneNote delegates proofing tools to the operating system. Adjusting your general keyboard settings is currently the only way to stop the app from highlighting suspected spelling errors.

Open Settings

Go to your iPad's home screen and open the native Settings app.

Navigate to Keyboard Settings

Tap on 'General' in the left-hand menu, then scroll down on the right side and select 'Keyboard'.

Disable Check Spelling

Locate the 'Check Spelling' toggle under the 'All Keyboards' section and switch it to the OFF position.

Verify in OneNote

Return to the OneNote app and begin typing to verify that the spell check underlines no longer appear.

Turn Off Spell Check via iPadOS System Settings

System-wide Impact: Keep in mind that disabling this setting will turn off spell check for all apps on your iPad that use the default system keyboard, not just OneNote.

Solution 2

Submit a Feature Request via OneNote Feedback

If you prefer having an in-app toggle so you don't have to disable system-wide spell check, you can vote for the feature on Microsoft's official feedback portal.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't OneNote for iPad have a dedicated spell check toggle?

The mobile and tablet versions of Microsoft OneNote are streamlined and rely heavily on the device's native operating system (iPadOS) keyboard settings for proofing features, rather than including a separate in-app dictionary or toggle like the desktop versions do.

Can I disable spell check in OneNote for iPad without affecting other apps?

Currently, no. Because you must use the iPadOS system settings (Settings > General > Keyboard) to turn off spell check, this change will apply globally to all applications on your iPad that utilize the standard system keyboard.

Will Microsoft add an in-app spell check setting to the iPad app in the future?

While Microsoft has not provided a specific timeline, many users have requested this feature. You can track its progress or add your vote on the official Microsoft Feedback portal for OneNote to encourage its development.

How do I turn off Auto-Correction on the iPad keyboard?

If Auto-Correction is changing your words and causing more issues than the spell check underlines, you can disable it by navigating to Settings > General > Keyboard on your iPad, and toggling 'Auto-Correction' to the off position.

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