On Windows 10, you’ve been able to get text suggestions as you type for a long time, but it was only available using the on-screen keyboard. However, starting with Windows 10 version 1803, it’s now possible to get text suggestions when using a hardware keyboard.
This is an opt-in feature, and Microsoft is aiming this feature for user learning English, education, and accessibility. Once enabled, as you type with a hardware keyboard, you’ll see a new caret with text candidate that you can select using the mouse or keyboard.
In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to enable text suggestion as you type using a hardware keyboard on Windows 10.
How to enable text suggestions for hardware keyboard using Settings
If you want to get word and emoji suggestions as you type anywhere on Windows 10 using a hardware keyboard, then use the following steps:
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Open Settings.
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Click on Devices.
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Click on Typing.
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Under the “Hardware keyboard” section, turn off the Show text suggestions as I type toggle switch.
Enable text suggestions for hardware keyboard on Windows 10
After completing the steps, as you type anywhere using the hardware keyboard, you’ll get three text suggestions, including a suggestion of emoji if it’s relevant.
As you type, you can select the suggestions with mouse, or using the up arrow to jump to suggestions, then use the left and right arrows to pick the word, and press Enter to insert.
In addition to the option to show text suggestions, you can also enable the Autocorrect misspelled words I type toggle switch to add autocorrection for hardware keyboard.
Update June 28, 2019: This guide was originally published in November 2017, and it’s been revised for the latest version of Windows 10.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].