How to Fix AutoCorrect Smart Button Won't Turn Off in Word for Mac
Question details
The user is unable to permanently hide or turn off the AutoCorrect smart button in Microsoft Word for Mac because the application fails to save the preference.
- Product
- Microsoft Word for Mac
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- Attempting to disable the AutoCorrect smart button display in the application's preference settings.
- Observed behavior
- Clearing the 'Show AutoCorrect smart button' option does not persist. The button continues to appear after the setting is changed because the interface fails to retain the user's choice.
Verify your exact current version of Microsoft Word for Mac and your macOS version, as having this information handy will be required when submitting a bug report to the developer.
Report the Bug Directly to Microsoft Support
Since this is a known interface limitation in Word for Mac that cannot currently be fixed via the UI, reporting it directly to the product team is the recommended action.
Microsoft Word for Mac occasionally experiences user interface bugs where certain preference checkboxes fail to write to the application's configuration files. The AutoCorrect smart button issue is a documented behavior.
Because no local workaround permanently solves this, the most effective path forward is to alert the Microsoft product and design team so they can issue a patch in an upcoming update.
Launch Microsoft Word on your Mac and open any existing document or create a new blank document to access the main menu.
Look at the top macOS menu bar and click on the 'Help' tab.
Click on 'Feedback' (or 'Report a Problem' in some versions) from the drop-down menu to open the feedback submission window.
Explain that clearing the 'Show AutoCorrect smart button' setting does not persist. Include your exact Word for Mac version number and steps to reproduce the behavior, then click submit.
Try WPS Office for a Seamless Mac Word Processing Experience
If recurring interface bugs in Microsoft Word for Mac are slowing down your productivity, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative with a familiar interface, ensuring your document preferences save correctly without the hassle.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Get the free Mac version of WPS Office from the official website and install it.
- 2. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing .docx files directly without losing any formatting.
- 3. Customize Settings Reliably: Access WPS settings to adjust AutoCorrect and formatting preferences, which will save reliably for future sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the AutoCorrect smart button in Word for Mac?
The AutoCorrect smart button is a small floating icon that appears automatically after Word corrects a misspelled word or applies formatting. It allows you to quickly undo the correction or adjust your AutoCorrect options directly from your cursor position.
Why won't my AutoCorrect preferences save in Word for Mac?
This is typically caused by a known software bug in certain versions of Microsoft Word for Mac. The user interface fails to properly write the preference change to the application's permanent settings file, causing the default behavior to revert when restarted.
Can I disable AutoCorrect entirely in Word for Mac?
Yes. You can disable AutoCorrect by going to the 'Word' menu, selecting 'Preferences', clicking on 'AutoCorrect', and unchecking the boxes for 'Replace text as you type' and other automatic formatting options.
