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Turning off the Custom inking and typing word list switch in Windows 11 clears the custom word list that Windows has built from the words you type or write. That is the documented effect. Microsoft does not describe it as disabling keyboard input, handwriting input, or every spelling and suggestion feature. What you lose is the personalization those features draw on, so suggestions and recognition that depend on your own vocabulary may feel less tailored.
Two similarly named controls
Windows 11 has two settings that sound alike but do different jobs. Mixing them up is the most common reason people think they have turned off more than they did, or less.
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| Control | Purpose | Location | Documented effect when off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom inking and typing word list | Keeps a personalized word list that improves inking and typing accuracy | Settings > Privacy & security > Inking & typing personalization | Clears the custom word list |
| Improve inking and typing | Allows samples of typing and handwriting to be used to improve typing and writing services for all customers | Settings > Privacy & security > Diagnostics & feedback | Stops that improvement contribution |
Turning one off does not switch the other off. Treat them as two separate decisions.
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What the custom word list does
Microsoft says Windows 11 builds the custom word list from words you type or handwrite, with the goal of improving inking and typing accuracy. Microsoft’s connected-experience documentation describes the related Custom Dictionary as using typing and handwriting information to create a custom spelling dictionary for better text suggestions.
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Microsoft also says the list is associated with your Microsoft account and can be used across Microsoft products. That means the list is not just a local cache on one PC; it follows the account.
What breaks when you turn the word list off
The documented consequence is narrow: the custom word list is cleared, and Windows stops using that personalized vocabulary to improve inking and typing. In practice, words you have typed repeatedly and words Windows learned from your handwriting will no longer be available as personalized input.
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Microsoft’s material does not provide a per-app breakdown of this effect. It does not say that every app will change its suggestions, that spellchecking stops, or that handwriting recognition stops working. If a specific app behaves differently after the change, the published documentation does not explain that app’s behavior, so you should compare its suggestions before and after rather than assume a particular result.
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- Possibly less accurate: recognition and suggestions for unusual names, jargon, or words you use often.
- Not documented as lost: basic keyboard input, basic handwriting input, or all spelling correction and autocomplete.
What stays unchanged
Several related features are governed by other settings and are not affected by the word-list switch.
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- Improve inking and typing is controlled separately under Diagnostics & feedback. The word-list switch does not change it.
- Windows voice typing is a separate speech feature. Microsoft says it uses online speech recognition and has its own controls, including an optional setting to contribute voice clips. Turning off inking and typing personalization does not turn off voice typing.
- Personalized offers: Microsoft states that typing and inking input is not used to personalize offers. That exclusion is separate from the improvement program.
How to turn off the custom word list
- Open Start and select Settings.
- Select Privacy & security.
- Select Inking & typing personalization.
- Turn off Custom inking and typing word list. Windows clears the custom word list when this is switched off.
Labels can vary with the Windows release and display language. If the exact wording differs, look for the custom word-list control on that same page.
How to turn off Improve inking and typing
- Open Start and select Settings.
- Select Privacy & security.
- Select Diagnostics & feedback.
- Turn off Improve inking and typing.
On a device managed by an employer or school, these options may be hidden or controlled by policy, in which case the organization’s settings decide what is available.
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What the improvement setting covers
When Improve inking and typing is on, Microsoft says samples of what users type or write can be collected to improve handwriting recognition, autocompletion, next-word prediction, and spelling correction. Microsoft says those samples are processed to remove unique identifiers, sequencing information, and details such as email addresses and numeric values that could help reconstruct the content or link it to a person. It also says this data is not used for Tailored experiences.
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Account data, sync, and deletion
Switching off the word list does not map neatly onto every copy of data associated with your account. Several related controls work separately:
- Clearing the custom dictionary: Microsoft’s account documentation lists a separate control for clearing the custom dictionary.
- Preference sync: Windows Backup controls whether preferences are synced across devices.
- Diagnostic data: deleting device diagnostic data does not stop diagnostic data from being sent, and it does not delete diagnostic data associated with your Microsoft account. For account-associated diagnostic data, Microsoft points users to the Microsoft privacy dashboard.
If your goal is to remove what Windows has learned about your typing and handwriting from your account, you need to use these controls in addition to the word-list switch.
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