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How do I turn off autocorrect without also disabling checking spelling?

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  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by cor-el

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Firefox is forever (incorrectly) changing what I type into gibberish (it just changed "type" into "try"). How do I stop this without also stopping it giving hints about words that are actually wrong?

Firefox is forever (incorrectly) changing what I type into gibberish (it just changed "type" into "try"). How do I stop this without also stopping it giving hints about words that are actually wrong?

All Replies (8)

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That sounds like an add-on. Check that out.

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I have no add-ons to do with spelling.

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Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web link} by holding down the <Shift> (Mac=Options) key, and then starting Firefox.

A small dialog should appear. Click Start In Safe Mode (not Refresh). Is the problem still there?


Type about:support in the address bar and press Enter. Under the main banner, press the button; Copy Text To Clipboard.. Now in the Reply Box on the forum page, do a right-click in the box and select Paste.

This will show us your system details. No Personal Information Is Collected.

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Firefox doesn't automatically change what you have typed. Firefox only opens a context menu when you right-click on a word that is underlined and flagged as misspelled.

Do you have a dictionary installed and selected?

You can see which dictionary is selected if you right-click in a text area and open the Languages sub menu. At least one dictionary should be installed and have a check mark to indicate that it is selected.

  • open the "Add Dictionaries" link to install a dictionary if you do not have one.

The spelling checker is enabled if [X] "Check Spelling" in the right-click context menu has a checkmark.

You can enable or disable spell checking globally:

  • Options/Preferences -> General: Browsing: "Check my spelling as I type"

You can look here for dictionaries:

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You say it isn't Firefox and I'm also informed that, for example, Facebook isn't responsible. The fact remains that something is changing what I type.

I sense a buck passing around rapidly.

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FredMcD said

. . . . . . . This will show us your system details.
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PeterRobertson said

You say it isn't Firefox and I'm also informed that, for example, Facebook isn't responsible. The fact remains that something is changing what I type. I sense a buck passing around rapidly.

Have you checked the keyboard settings in Windows Settings  ?

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Note that some website disable the builtin Firefox spelling checker and use their own spelling dictionary. Such websites might include auto-correction in addition of their dictionary. You might be able to disable their native spelling checker, but to enable the Firefox spelling dictionary you would have to remove the spellcheck="false" attribute or change its value to true by using a JavaScript bookmarklet or by editing this attribute. You can usually find this attribute if you right-click in the text editor area and open the Firefox Inspector.