How to Turn On Spell Check in iOS 9 for Better Typing

If you’re using an iPhone or iPad running iOS 9, enabling spell check can significantly improve your typing accuracy by catching typos and misspelled words automatically. Whether you’re composing messages, emails, or notes, turning on spell check helps ensure your text is polished and professional. This guide walks you through the simple steps to activate spell check on your device, so you can enjoy a smoother, error-free typing experience.

What You’ll Need

• An iOS 9 device (iPhone or iPad)
• Access to the device’s Settings app

Step-by-Step

1. Unlock your iOS device and open the Settings app from the home screen.
2. Scroll down and tap on General.
3. Within the General menu, locate and tap on Keyboard.
4. In the Keyboard settings, find the toggle labeled Auto-Correction and turn it on. This feature automatically corrects common typos as you type.
5. Next, locate the Check Spelling option. Tap on it to activate spell checking.
6. Ensure the toggle next to Check Spelling is turned on (green). When enabled, your device will underline misspelled words in red as you type.
7. Exit the Settings app. Open any app where you can type, such as Messages or Notes, and test the spell check feature by typing a misspelled word.
8. If misspelled words are underlined in red, the spell check is successfully enabled. You can now correct errors quickly by tapping on the underlined word for suggestions.

Common Mistakes

• Not enabling Check Spelling in the Keyboard settings — only turning on Auto-Correction won’t activate spell check.
• Forgetting to toggle the Check Spelling switch to green, which is necessary for spell check to function.
• Ignoring the red-underlined words; tapping on them provides correction options that can improve your message quality.
• Attempting to turn on spell check in the wrong menu; always ensure you’re in Keyboard settings under General.
• Using an outdated iOS version without updates, which might affect available features. Keep your device updated if possible.

Tips

• Combine Auto-Correction and Check Spelling for optimal error prevention.
• Customize your keyboard settings further by adding third-party keyboards that may offer enhanced spell checking capabilities.
• If you prefer manual control, you can disable auto-correction and rely solely on spell check underlined errors.
• Use the predictive text feature in conjunction with spell check to improve typing speed and accuracy.
• Regularly update your device to ensure all features, including spell check, work smoothly and with the latest improvements.

Troubleshooting

If spell check isn’t working as expected in iOS 9, try these steps:

1. Verify that Check Spelling is enabled in Settings > General > Keyboard.
2. Ensure you have turned on Auto-Correction as some devices require both features active for optimal spell checking.
3. Restart your device to refresh system settings and resolve minor glitches.
4. Update your iOS to the latest version available for your device, as updates often fix bugs related to keyboard features.
5. Reset keyboard dictionary by navigating to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Keyboard Dictionary. This can resolve issues caused by corrupted data.
6. If problems persist, consider restoring your device via iTunes or contacting Apple Support for further assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I turn off spell check if I don’t like it?

Yes, simply go to Settings > General > Keyboard and toggle off Check Spelling.

2. Does enabling spell check affect other keyboard features?

Enabling spell check mainly underlines misspelled words; it doesn’t interfere with autocorrect or predictive text features unless those are also enabled.

3. Will spell check work in all apps?

Most apps that support text input, including Messages, Mail, and Notes, will utilize the spell check feature. However, some third-party apps may have their own settings.

4. How do I customize the spell check suggestions?

While iOS 9 doesn’t allow detailed customization of spell check suggestions, you can add words to the dictionary by tapping ‘Learn Spelling’ when correcting a word, which helps improve suggestions over time.

5. Is spell check available in languages other than English?

Yes, you can enable spell check for other languages by adding the language keyboard in Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, then switching languages while typing.

6. Can I use third-party spell check apps instead of the built-in feature?

Yes, you can download third-party keyboard apps from the App Store that offer enhanced spell checking and grammar correction features.

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