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iOS 17.2: How to Disable iPhone Inline Predictive Text

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Apple in iOS 17 added inline predictive text for iPhones, but did not include a way to turn it off independently of predictive suggestions above the keyboard. In the latest iOS 17.2 update, that's changed.

inline predictive text
Apple has improved its machine learning technology on iPhones in an effort to make iOS a lot more helpful, and one of the features in which this tech has been deployed is inline predictive text.

Predictive text does just what it says - it predicts what you're going to type next, and offers to autocomplete it. As you type, the predicted text appears ahead of the cursor. If it has accurately predicted what you intend to type, all you need to do is tap the spacebar and iOS fills it in for you.

In previous versions of iOS 17, you could only disable inline predictive text by turning off predictive text wholesale – which meant you would also lose the predicted words that appear above the keyboard as you type. Fortunately, in iOS 17.2 you can now toggle off inline predictive text separately without disabling the predictive suggestions.

Turning Off Inline Predictive Text

  1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Under "All Keyboards," toggle off the switch next to Show Predictions Inline.

settings

That's all there is to it. The new option is likely to be welcomed by those who prefer a more manual typing experience or find inline predictive text suggestions distracting. Of course, if you find yourself missing the help that inline predictive text can provide, simply use the above steps to re-instate the feature.

Top Rated Comments

M
msackey
36 months ago
I find predictive text very interruptive to thought flow.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
eicca Avatar
eicca
36 months ago
“Predictive” text and “autocorrect” have gotten even worse despite all the hype. Autocorrect is barely even worth having turned on anymore.

I guess that’s to be expected with Apple these days.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mockletoy Avatar
Mockletoy
36 months ago

I find predictive text very interruptive to thought flow.
Yeah, it was super distracting to me. You can turn it off on the Mac, too.

System Settings -> Keyboard -> Input Sources -> Edit -> All Input Sources -> Show inline predictive text

I don't know how anyone can stand it. It's like a bunch of flies buzzing around my cursor while I'm trying to write.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
C
citysnaps
36 months ago
Works great for me - it's a real time saver. The prediction aspect works well, especially anticipating likely multi-word phrases, and is usually what I would be needing to type one character at a time.

I realize I'll not be earning any forum cred stating the above. So, how about... Apple likes profits! Ooooooh...
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
carlsson Avatar
carlsson
36 months ago
I think it works quite well.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
C
citysnaps
36 months ago

I can see utility in text prediction when texting and other situations in which you're communicating in short spurts. But it is not useable, to me, for writing anything long. The mechanics of it interrupting thought is like this: every time a prediction comes up, you have to switch brain activity to evaluating whether what it is that it is indicating is accurate. This interrupts one's flow of thought for long things.

Even then, many of my texts with friends are long because we're engaged in long conversations. In that situation I don't find text prediction helpful.
Sorry it's not for you. It's very fluid and natural for me.

If I'm going to write something long, I generally use a device with a standard full-size mechanical QWERTY keyboard; a laptop or desktop computer.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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