Office Settings & Configuration

How to Disable Text Predictions, AutoText, and Quick Parts in Word

Algirdas Jasaitis Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to stop Microsoft Word from displaying intrusive text predictions, AutoText, and Quick Parts that interrupt their typing workflow.

How to Disable Text Predictions, AutoText, and Quick Parts in Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Typing a document where unwanted autocomplete suggestions keep appearing as gray text with a Tab prompt.
Observed behavior: Word continuously suggests unwanted words (e.g., suggesting "download" when typing "downtown") using gray text. Additionally, the settings to disable these predictions sometimes re-enable themselves automatically.

Before you start

Ensure you have saved your current document, as you will need to restart Microsoft Word for some advanced settings changes to fully take effect.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable Text Predictions and Autocomplete in Word Options

Turn off the primary settings responsible for showing autocomplete suggestions and text predictions while you type.

Text predictions in Word use AI to guess your next words, displaying them in gray text. You can turn this off entirely through the Advanced Options menu.

Open Word Options

Click on the 'File' tab in the top-left corner of the Microsoft Word ribbon, then select 'Options' at the bottom of the left-hand menu.

Navigate to Advanced Settings

In the Word Options dialog box, click on 'Advanced' in the left pane.

Disable Autocomplete Suggestions

Scroll to the 'Editing options' section. Uncheck the box labeled 'Show autocomplete suggestions' (or 'Show text predictions while typing', depending on your Word version).

Save and Restart

Click 'OK' to save your changes, then completely close and restart Microsoft Word.

Disable Text Predictions and Autocomplete in Word Options

Settings Reverting: If the autocomplete setting re-enables itself after you clear it, try unchecking it again and confirming with OK. If it persists, this may be caused by your organization's IT policies overriding local settings or a bug in a recent Office update.

Solution 2

Manage or Delete Unwanted Quick Parts and AutoText

Quick Parts and AutoText are Building Blocks features that must be managed independently from text predictions.

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If Microsoft Word's text predictions keep re-enabling themselves despite your settings, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a clean, highly customizable, and distraction-free writing environment without intrusive pop-ups.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free desktop application for your operating system.
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3. Customize Your Settings: Navigate to Options to easily customize your spell check and auto-complete preferences to suit your writing style.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my Word text prediction settings keep turning back on?

This is a known issue where Word settings may revert due to automatic Office updates, syncing issues with your Microsoft account, or organizational Group Policies enforced by an IT department. Clearing the setting again and restarting Word often resolves temporary glitches.

Can I completely disable the Quick Parts feature in Word?

No, Quick Parts and AutoText are core Building Blocks features in Microsoft Word and cannot be completely disabled. However, you can prevent them from appearing by deleting the specific entries from the Building Blocks Organizer.

How do I stop Word from suggesting words in gray text with a Tab prompt?

To stop these specific suggestions, you need to turn off text predictions. Go to File > Options > Advanced, and uncheck 'Show text predictions while typing' or 'Show autocomplete suggestions', then click OK.

What is the difference between AutoText and Text Predictions?

AutoText is a manual feature that stores reusable blocks of text, inserting them when you type a specific trigger word. Text Predictions use AI to actively guess your next word or phrase in real-time as you type, displaying the guess in gray text.

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