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How to use predictive text on iPad

You can use predictive text on iPad to complete words and phrases as you type. You can accept or reject inline text predictions, accept or reject suggested text and information, and turn suggestions and inline text predictions off or on. You can also accept and reject a correction.

Using predictive text, you can write and complete entire sentences with just a few taps. As you type on the iPad keyboard, you see choices for words, emoji, and information that you’d probably type. In Messages, for example, when you type something like:

  • “I’m at” followed by a space, your current location appears as an option
  • “My number is” followed by a space, your phone number appears as an option

Predictions that complete your word or phrase appear inline as you’re typing.

Note: Predictive typing and inline predictions may not be supported in your language.

Accept or reject inline text predictions

While you type, inline predictions in gray text complete the word or phrase you’re typing, and you can do one of the following:

  • Accept the prediction: Tap the Space bar.
  • Reject the prediction: Keep typing.
  • Change a prediction you accepted: Tap the Delete key, then tap the word you were in the process of typing.

Accept or reject suggested text and information

Suggested words, emoji, and information show up above the onscreen keyboard as you type, and you can do one of the following:

  • Accept a suggestion: Tap a suggestion to apply it.
  • Reject the suggestions: Tap your original word (shown as the option in quotation marks), or just continue to type.

The onscreen keyboard is open in the Notes app. Text is entered in the text field and above the keyboard are predictive text suggestions for the next word.

Turn suggestions and inline text predictions off or on

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap General, then tap Keyboard.
  3. Do any of the following:

    • Stop (or start) seeing suggestions above the keyboard: Turn Predictive Text off (or on).

      Note: Turning off the Predictive Text setting turns off both predictive text and inline text predictions.

    • Stop (or start) seeing predicted text inline: Turn Show Predictions Inline off (or on).

Quick tip: Touch and hold the Emoji button or the Switch Keyboard key for quick access to Keyboard Settings while you use the onscreen keyboard.

Accept and reject a correction

If you turn off Predictive Text, you might still see corrections for misspelled words; just do one of the following:

  • Accept a correction: Enter a space or punctuation, or tap Return.
  • Reject a correction: Tap the “x.”

Reject the same suggestion a few times, and iPad stops suggesting it.

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