How to Turn Off Inline Predictive Text Suggestions on iPad in iPadOS

In modern versions of iPadOS, Apple enhanced the system keyboard with a machine learning feature that displays grey inline predictive text completions directly ahead of your cursor as you type. Rather than restricting suggestions to the traditional three-box candidate bar above the software keyboard, iPadOS continuously anticipates upcoming words and entire clauses directly within the text field. Pressing the spacebar automatically inserts the suggested ghost text. While many users find this feature speeds up repetitive writing, others find the flashing inline predictions distracting, intrusive, or disruptive to rapid touch-typing on physical keyboards like the Magic Keyboard. iPadOS allows you to disable inline predictions independently from standard autocorrection.

Differences Between Inline Predictions, Predictive Bar, and Auto-Correction

To customise your typing experience accurately, it helps to distinguish the three separate typing assistance engines operating in iPadOS:

• Show Predictions Inline: Renders translucent grey suggested words or entire phrases directly in line with your text cursor inside apps such as Notes, Mail, Pages, and Safari. Hitting the Space key automatically accepts and commits the inline completion.
• Predictive Text Bar: Displays three alternative candidate words in a dedicated horizontal bar located immediately above the software keyboard. Suggestions are chosen manually by tapping the screen.
• Auto-Correction: Automatically replaces misspelled words or typographical errors with dictionary-corrected spellings immediately after tapping the Spacebar or a punctuation mark.

Disabling Inline Predictive Text on iPad

If you prefer typing without ghost text completions appearing directly inside your active sentence, turn off the inline toggle in Settings:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
2. In the left-hand navigation column, tap General.
3. In the right-hand panel, select Keyboard.
4. Scroll down to the All Keyboards configuration section.
5. Locate the option labelled Show Predictions Inline.
6. Toggle the switch to the Off position (grey).

Once disabled, iPadOS ceases displaying translucent predictive completions directly inside your document or text input fields. You can continue typing seamlessly without accidental completions triggered by pressing the spacebar.

Managing the Traditional Predictive Candidate Bar

Disabling inline predictions leaves the classic three-word candidate bar above the on-screen software keyboard active. If you also wish to eliminate this candidate strip to reclaim vertical screen space:

1. Return to Settings > General > Keyboard.
2. Locate the Predictive toggle in the All Keyboards section.
3. Toggle Predictive to the Off position.

Alternatively, on the software keyboard itself, tap and hold the keyboard dismiss button or emoji/globe icon in the bottom-left corner and toggle Predictive off directly from the pop-up context menu.

Hardware Keyboard Considerations (Magic Keyboard and Smart Folio)

When an iPad is connected to an external Bluetooth keyboard, Apple Magic Keyboard, or Smart Keyboard Folio, inline predictive suggestions can be especially disruptive because power typists habitually tap the spacebar quickly between thoughts. Toggling off Show Predictions Inline under Settings > General > Keyboard applies system-wide across both on-screen virtual typing and external hardware keyboards simultaneously, eliminating unexpected sentence insertions while preserving your manual typing rhythm.