When composing an email in the Outlook mobile app, you may see suggested words or phrases appear above the keyboard. These smart suggestions are designed to speed up typing by predicting the next word based on your writing style and previous messages. However, some users find these suggestions distracting or prefer to type without assistance. This article explains how to turn off smart suggestions in the Outlook compose window on both iPhone and Android devices.
The smart suggestions feature is part of Microsoft Editor integration in Outlook mobile. It uses artificial intelligence to offer context-aware word predictions as you type. While the feature can save time for frequent email writers, it may interfere with manual typing or cause accidental inserts. The toggle to disable this setting is located in the Outlook app settings, not in the operating system keyboard settings.
This guide covers the exact steps to disable smart suggestions on iOS and Android. It also explains what happens after you turn off the feature and how it differs from the device keyboard predictions. By the end, you will know how to control this setting on your mobile device.
Key Takeaways: How to Turn Off Smart Suggestions in Outlook Mobile
- Outlook Settings > Mail > Compose and Reply > Smart Suggestions: Toggle off to disable word predictions in the compose window.
- iOS and Android toggle location is identical: Both platforms use the same path within the Outlook app settings.
- Disabling smart suggestions does not affect device keyboard autocorrect: The phone keyboard predictions remain active unless turned off separately.
What Are Smart Suggestions in Outlook Mobile?
Smart suggestions are inline word predictions that appear as gray text above the keyboard when you are composing a new email or replying to a message. The feature is powered by Microsoft Editor and analyzes the context of your sentence to suggest the next word. For example, if you type “I will send the”, the app might suggest “document” or “report” as the next word. Tapping the suggestion inserts it into the email body.
This feature is separate from the predictive text or autocorrect built into the iOS or Android keyboard. The Outlook app adds its own layer of predictions that work only within the compose window. Smart suggestions do not appear in the reading pane, calendar, or other areas of the app. They are designed to help you write faster by reducing the number of keystrokes needed per message.
The feature is enabled by default in Outlook mobile. It requires no setup or configuration. However, users who type in multiple languages or who prefer to write without assistance may want to disable it. The toggle is easy to find once you know where to look.
Steps to Disable Smart Suggestions in Outlook Mobile
The following steps apply to both iPhone and Android devices running Outlook mobile version 4.2310 or later. The menu path is identical on both platforms.
- Open the Outlook mobile app
Launch Outlook on your iPhone or Android device. Make sure you are signed in to your email account. - Tap your profile picture or initials
In the top left corner of the main screen, tap the circle icon showing your photo or initials. This opens the account and settings menu. - Tap the gear icon for Settings
At the bottom of the account menu, tap the gear icon labeled Settings. This opens the full Settings page. - Tap Mail
Under the Settings list, tap the Mail option. Do not tap Calendar or People. - Tap Compose and Reply
Scroll down the Mail settings page until you see the section Compose and Reply. Tap it to open the compose settings. - Toggle off Smart Suggestions
In the Compose and Reply settings, find the Smart Suggestions toggle switch. It is labeled “Smart Suggestions” with a short description below. Tap the toggle to turn it off. The switch changes from blue to gray when disabled.
After you disable the toggle, close the Settings page and open a new compose window. The gray predictive text will no longer appear above the keyboard. The change takes effect immediately. You do not need to restart the app or sign out of your account.
If You Cannot Find the Smart Suggestions Toggle
On some older versions of Outlook mobile, the Smart Suggestions toggle may be located under Mail > Compose and Reply > Smart Suggestions. If you do not see it, update the app to the latest version from the App Store or Google Play Store. After the update, the toggle appears in the same location described above.
What Happens After You Disable Smart Suggestions
Once you turn off smart suggestions, the Outlook app stops analyzing your typing in real time. The gray word predictions no longer appear. This change applies to all accounts configured in the app. You cannot disable smart suggestions for one account while leaving it enabled for another.
Disabling smart suggestions does not affect any other Outlook features. Spell check, autocorrect, and the standard keyboard predictions from your device remain active. If you want to remove all predictive text from the compose window, you must also disable the keyboard predictions in your phone settings.
Common Issues Related to Smart Suggestions
Smart Suggestions Still Appear After Toggling Off
If the predictive text continues to show after you toggle off Smart Suggestions, restart the Outlook app. Close the app completely by swiping it away from the recent apps list. Open Outlook again and verify the toggle is still set to off. If the problem persists, check that your app is updated to the latest version. An outdated app may not respect the toggle correctly.
Device Keyboard Predictions vs Outlook Smart Suggestions
Some users confuse the Outlook smart suggestions with the keyboard predictions from iOS or Android. The keyboard predictions appear in a bar directly above the keyboard keys, not as floating gray text. To disable keyboard predictions on iOS, go to Settings > General > Keyboard and toggle off Predictive. On Android, the path varies by manufacturer. Typically, go to Settings > System > Languages and input > On-screen keyboard > Gboard > Text correction and turn off Show suggestion strip.
Smart Suggestions Not Available in Some Languages
Microsoft Editor smart suggestions support only English at this time. If you compose emails in a language other than English, the feature does not appear. The toggle remains visible but has no effect. This is a known limitation of the current Outlook mobile version.
Smart Suggestions vs Keyboard Predictions: Key Differences
| Item | Smart Suggestions (Outlook) | Device Keyboard Predictions |
|---|---|---|
| Where it appears | Gray text above the keyboard only in Outlook compose window | Bar above keyboard keys in all apps |
| How to disable | Outlook Settings > Mail > Compose and Reply > Smart Suggestions toggle | Device system settings for keyboard |
| Language support | English only | Multiple languages depending on keyboard |
| Impact on other apps | None | Affects all apps that use the keyboard |
The table above shows that the two features are independent. You can disable one without affecting the other. If you want a clean typing experience in Outlook mobile, disable both features.
You can now control the smart suggestions feature in the Outlook mobile compose window. The toggle is located under Mail > Compose and Reply in the app settings. If you later decide to re-enable it, follow the same path and toggle the switch back on. For users who type in English and want to speed up email composition, smart suggestions remain a useful tool when enabled.