The iOS predictive keyboard is highly adaptive; it constantly learns from your typing habits to suggest the words you use most frequently. While this generally improves typing speed, it can also lead to frustrating auto-correct errors if you accidentally misspell a word several times, causing the iPhone to “learn” the misspelling and suggest it indefinitely. If your keyboard is stubbornly changing correct words to incorrect ones based on your past typos, the most effective solution is to completely erase its custom dictionary.
How to Reset the Keyboard Dictionary
Resetting the dictionary deletes all the custom words, names, and slang terms your iPhone has learned from your typing history, returning the auto-correct engine to its factory-fresh state.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap on General.
- Scroll all the way down to the very bottom of the General menu and tap on Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap the Reset button at the bottom of the screen.
- A pop-up menu will appear with several different reset options. Tap Reset Keyboard Dictionary.
- You will be prompted to enter your iPhone’s lock screen passcode to authorize the action.
- A final confirmation box will appear, warning you that this will delete all custom words you have typed. Tap the red Reset Dictionary button to confirm.
What Happens Next?
The reset is instantaneous and requires no reboot. The next time you open Messages or an email to type, the keyboard will rely entirely on the official standard iOS dictionary. It will no longer suggest those annoying, repeated misspellings.
As you continue to type, the keyboard will immediately begin building a new, clean custom dictionary based on your fresh typing habits. (Note: This reset does not delete your custom Text Replacement shortcuts found in Settings > General > Keyboard; it only clears the predictive learning engine).