New Outlook vs Classic Outlook AutoCorrect and Auto Capitalization: Where to Find It

If you rely on AutoCorrect and auto capitalization to fix typos and format text as you type, switching between New Outlook and Classic Outlook can be confusing because these settings are located in different places. In Classic Outlook, AutoCorrect options are part of the Microsoft Office shared proofing tools, while New Outlook uses a separate, simplified settings panel. This article explains exactly where to find AutoCorrect and auto capitalization settings in both versions, how to enable or disable specific corrections, and what features differ between the two interfaces.

How AutoCorrect and Auto Capitalization Work in Outlook

AutoCorrect automatically replaces common misspellings and typos as you type. For example, typing “teh” becomes “the” and “coudl” becomes “could.” Auto capitalization corrects the first letter of sentences, days of the week, and other words that should start with a capital letter. Both features are part of the Microsoft Editor proofing engine, which is shared across Office apps in Classic Outlook but handled separately in New Outlook.

In Classic Outlook, AutoCorrect settings are stored in the same location as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. This means changes you make in Outlook affect other Office applications. New Outlook, built on a web-based platform, uses its own settings that do not sync with the desktop Office suite. You must configure AutoCorrect and auto capitalization independently in each version.

Prerequisites for both versions: You need a Microsoft 365 subscription or a supported email account (Outlook.com, Exchange, or IMAP). AutoCorrect and auto capitalization are enabled by default but can be turned off or customized.

Where to Find AutoCorrect and Auto Capitalization in Classic Outlook

Classic Outlook provides two entry points for these settings. The first path is through the Mail options and is simpler, focusing on email composition. The second path opens the full AutoCorrect dialog with advanced options.

Method 1: Via File > Options > Mail

1. Open Outlook Options
   Click File in the top-left corner, then select Options from the left sidebar.
2. Go to Mail settings
   In the Outlook Options dialog, click Mail in the left pane.
3. Open Spelling and AutoCorrect
   Under the Compose Messages section, click the button labeled Spelling and AutoCorrect.
4. Adjust AutoCorrect and auto capitalization
   In the Editor Options dialog that opens, click Proofing on the left. Under AutoCorrect options, click AutoCorrect Options. The AutoCorrect dialog appears with multiple tabs:
   – AutoCorrect: Turn on/off AutoCorrect, manage replacement entries, and enable/disable auto capitalization of first letter of sentences, first letter of table cells, names of days, and correct accidental use of Caps Lock key.
   – AutoFormat As You Type: Control automatic formatting like straight quotes to smart quotes, fractions, and ordinal numbers.
   – Actions: Enable or disable additional smart tags (deprecated in recent versions).
5. Save changes
   Click OK in each dialog to apply your settings.

Method 2: Via File > Options > Proofing

1. Open Outlook Options
   Click File > Options.
2. Go to Proofing
   In the Outlook Options dialog, click Proofing in the left pane.
3. Open AutoCorrect Options
   Under AutoCorrect options, click the AutoCorrect Options button. This opens the same AutoCorrect dialog as Method 1, giving you direct access to all tabs without going through Mail settings.
4. Modify settings
   Adjust the checkboxes and entries as needed. Click OK to save.

Where to Find AutoCorrect and Auto Capitalization in New Outlook

New Outlook uses a streamlined settings interface that is not connected to the classic Office proofing tools. Follow these steps to locate and modify AutoCorrect and auto capitalization options.

1. Open Outlook Settings
   Click the gear icon in the top-right corner of the New Outlook window. A settings pane opens on the right side.
2. Navigate to Mail settings
   In the settings pane, click Mail from the list of categories.
3. Select Compose and Reply
   Under the Mail section, click Compose and Reply.
4. Find Spelling and Autocorrect
   Scroll down to the Spelling and Autocorrect section. You see three toggle switches:
   – Autocorrect misspelled words: Turn this on to enable AutoCorrect.
   – Automatically capitalize words: Turn this on to enable auto capitalization of the first letter of sentences and other automatic capitalization rules.
   – Show text predictions while typing: This is a separate feature for predictive text, not AutoCorrect.
5. Manage exceptions
   Below the toggles, click Manage autocorrect exceptions. This opens a small dialog where you can add words that should not be automatically corrected or capitalized. Type the word and click Add.
6. Save changes
   Close the settings pane. Changes are saved automatically.

Common Issues and Limitations

AutoCorrect changes do not apply to already typed text

AutoCorrect and auto capitalization only affect text as you type. If you paste text or open a draft, existing errors are not corrected. To apply corrections after the fact, use the Spelling button (F7) in Classic Outlook or the Editor pane in New Outlook.

New Outlook does not support custom AutoCorrect entries

In Classic Outlook, you can add custom replacement pairs (for example, replace “myadd” with “myaddress@example.com”). New Outlook only offers a limited exception list for words to ignore. There is no way to create your own AutoCorrect replacements in New Outlook as of the current version. If you need custom replacements, use Classic Outlook or a third-party text expander.

Settings do not sync between Classic and New Outlook

Because Classic Outlook uses the shared Office proofing engine and New Outlook uses its own web-based settings, any changes you make in one version do not appear in the other. You must configure AutoCorrect and auto capitalization separately if you switch between versions.

Auto capitalization of days of the week is not configurable in New Outlook

Classic Outlook lets you disable auto capitalization for specific cases such as names of days or first letter of table cells. New Outlook provides a single toggle for “Automatically capitalize words” that covers all automatic capitalization rules. There is no granular control in New Outlook.

Classic Outlook vs New Outlook: AutoCorrect and Auto Capitalization Feature Comparison

Feature	Classic Outlook	New Outlook
AutoCorrect on/off toggle	Yes, via AutoCorrect Options dialog	Yes, via Settings > Mail > Compose and Reply
Custom replacement entries	Yes, add, edit, delete any word pair	No, only exception list available
Auto capitalization of sentence start	Yes, toggle in AutoCorrect dialog	Yes, single toggle covers all auto capitalization
Auto capitalization of days of week	Yes, separate toggle	Not configurable individually
AutoFormat As You Type (smart quotes, fractions)	Yes, separate tab in AutoCorrect dialog	No, not available
Exception list for corrections	Yes, accessible from AutoCorrect dialog	Yes, via Manage autocorrect exceptions link
Settings sync with other Office apps	Yes, shared proofing engine	No, isolated settings
Access via keyboard shortcut	No direct shortcut; Alt+F, T, P, A	No direct shortcut

Classic Outlook offers more granular control over AutoCorrect and auto capitalization, including custom replacement entries and separate toggles for different capitalization rules. New Outlook provides a simpler interface with basic on/off toggles and an exception list, but lacks advanced features like custom replacements and AutoFormat as you type.

Now you can locate and configure AutoCorrect and auto capitalization in both Classic and New Outlook without confusion. If you rely heavily on custom AutoCorrect entries for repetitive text, consider staying with Classic Outlook or using a text expander tool like PhraseExpress or AutoHotkey. For most users, the basic toggles in New Outlook are sufficient for everyday typing corrections.