Microsoft has announced a significant change coming to its Outlook platform: starting July 1, 2025, predictive text suggestions will be disabled by default across several versions of the application, including Outlook on the web, the new Outlook for Windows, as well as Outlook for iOS and Android. The feature, officially known as Text Predictions, has been available for some time, offering users real-time suggestions as they compose emails. Now, users will need to manually enable it if they want to continue using it.
This move is part of a broader update to Microsoft 365 that reflects evolving attitudes toward AI-based productivity tools and user privacy preferences.
What Is Text Prediction?
Text Predictions in Microsoft Outlook work similarly to the autocomplete features found in Google’s Gmail and Microsoft Word. As users type an email, Outlook offers gray-text suggestions that can be accepted by pressing the Tab key or swiping right (on mobile). The idea is to save time and reduce typing errors by allowing the AI to suggest commonly used phrases and sentence completions.
First introduced in 2020, the feature has been widely adopted across platforms and praised for helping users speed up email writing—especially for those in business and customer service roles.
Why Microsoft Is Making the Change
According to Microsoft’s official documentation and announcements, the change is being introduced to “give users more control over their content and data usage.” While Text Predictions can be helpful, Microsoft has received feedback from users and administrators who prefer to opt in to AI features, rather than have them enabled automatically.
Another reason behind the update is Microsoft’s ongoing effort to simplify its user interface and make its services more transparent in how AI features are applied.
From a privacy and compliance standpoint, having such features off by default gives organizations—especially those in regulated industries—more confidence that sensitive content will not be unintentionally processed by cloud-based AI models.
The change applies to the following platforms:
- Outlook on the web
- New Outlook for Windows (based on the web experience)
- Outlook for iOS
- Outlook for Android
Notably, this does not affect the classic Outlook desktop app for Windows (Outlook 2016/2019/Office 365), where Text Predictions are either not available or configured differently.
Enterprise IT administrators will also see the default settings change in Microsoft 365 Admin Center. Group Policy or configuration profiles can be used to re-enable the feature across an organization if desired.
How to Re-Enable Text Predictions
For users who rely on the feature, re-enabling it is straightforward:
- On Web and Windows:
- Open Outlook settings;
- Navigate to “Compose and reply”;
- Toggle on “Suggest words or phrases as I type”.
- On Mobile (iOS or Android):
- Go to app Settings;
- Tap on your account;
- Look for the “Text Predictions” toggle under the “Compose” section and turn it on.
Users can enable or disable the feature at any time, and changes take effect immediately.
Industry Trends Toward Opt-In AI
This shift from opt-out to opt-in reflects a broader trend in the tech industry, where companies are being more cautious with default AI settings. As generative AI tools become increasingly powerful, so do the privacy and transparency concerns surrounding them.
Google, for example, has implemented similar control mechanisms in its Workspace suite, giving users the option to disable Smart Compose or Smart Reply. Apple and Samsung have also introduced toggles for AI-powered autocorrect and suggestions in their messaging apps.
User Reactions and Concerns
Initial user reactions have been mixed. While some praise the move as a win for privacy and customization, others are concerned about losing efficiency. Many users—especially those who write repetitive emails or rely on AI for productivity—find Text Predictions to be a time-saving feature.
On tech forums and social media, some users expressed frustration at having to re-enable a feature they consider essential. Others welcomed the change, noting that Text Predictions often misinterpreted tone or context and occasionally led to mistakes when accepted without proofreading.
What’s Next for Outlook and AI
This change doesn’t mark the end of AI in Outlook. On the contrary, Microsoft is doubling down on integrating AI responsibly into its products. The company is heavily invested in Copilot for Microsoft 365, a suite of AI-powered tools that generate summaries, suggest action items, and help users manage tasks and meetings.
The key difference is control. Rather than enabling everything automatically, Microsoft appears to be pivoting toward a model where users and administrators have greater say in how AI tools operate.
The July 1 update is part of a broader July release cycle that includes changes to Teams, OneDrive, and other Microsoft 365 apps, many of which also include improved customization and AI oversight features.
For most users, the change to Outlook’s default settings may be a small adjustment. However, it signals a larger shift in how tech companies approach AI and user choice. In a world where AI is everywhere—from our email apps to our phones to our cars—features that were once automatically enabled are now becoming optional. That may not seem like a big deal, but it’s a clear message: the future of productivity tech is not just smart—it’s user-controlled.
If you depend on Text Predictions, be sure to check your Outlook settings after July 1. And if you prefer a cleaner, less automated email experience, the default just got a little more in your favor.
