Word’s AutoCorrect likes to help by capitalizing the first letter of every sentence, table cell, and day of the week. That’s useful most of the time, but frustrating when you’re typing code, lowercase brand names, lists, or poetry. You can turn off each capitalization rule separately, undo it just once, or add exceptions so Word leaves certain words alone. This guide shows all three on Windows and Mac.
Quick answer
Go to File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options. On the AutoCorrect tab, uncheck Capitalize first letter of sentences (and any other capitalization options you don’t want), then click OK.
Turn off automatic capitalization on Windows
- Click File, then Options at the bottom left.
- Select Proofing.
- Click AutoCorrect Options.
- On the AutoCorrect tab, uncheck the options you want to stop:
- Capitalize first letter of sentences
- Capitalize first letter of table cells
- Capitalize names of days
- Correct TWo INitial CApitals
- Correct accidental usage of cAPS LOCK key
- Click OK twice.
The change applies to all documents in Word on that computer. Other Office apps, like Outlook and PowerPoint, have their own AutoCorrect settings.
Turn off automatic capitalization on a Mac
- Click Word in the menu bar and choose Preferences (or Settings).
- Click AutoCorrect.
- Uncheck Capitalize first letter of sentences and any related options.
- Close the window.
Undo it just once
If you only want to keep a single word lowercase, press Ctrl + Z (Command + Z on a Mac) immediately after Word capitalizes it. The letter changes back and Word doesn’t try again for that word.
You can also hover over the corrected word until a small blue bar appears under it, click the AutoCorrect Options button (a lightning bolt), and choose Undo Automatic Capitalization. The same menu offers Stop Auto-capitalizing First Letter of Sentences, which turns the setting off without visiting Options.
Add exceptions instead of turning it off
If you like automatic capitalization but want certain words left alone, such as abbreviations followed by a period (like “approx.” or “fig.”), add them as exceptions:
- Open AutoCorrect Options as above.
- Click Exceptions.
- On the First Letter tab, type the abbreviation and click Add. Word won’t capitalize the next word after it.
- On the INitial CAps tab, add words that are supposed to start with two capitals, like “IDs” or product names.
- Click OK.
Turn it off in Outlook and PowerPoint too
Each Office app keeps its own AutoCorrect rules, so turning off capitalization in Word doesn’t change Outlook or PowerPoint.
- Outlook: Go to File > Options > Mail > Editor Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options, and uncheck the capitalization boxes.
- PowerPoint: Go to File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options, and uncheck the same boxes.
- Excel: Use the same path as PowerPoint. Excel’s list includes options for sentences and days of the week.
When to keep it on
Automatic capitalization saves time when you write ordinary prose, such as letters, essays, and reports. Instead of turning it off completely, many people turn off only Capitalize first letter of table cells, which is the most common annoyance in tables and checklists, and leave sentence capitalization on.
If text is still showing in capitals
If everything you type appears in capital letters even with AutoCorrect off, check these:
- Caps Lock: Make sure the Caps Lock key isn’t on.
- All Caps formatting: Select the text and press Ctrl + Shift + A to toggle the All Caps font effect, or open the Font dialog and uncheck All caps.
- Styles: Some heading styles use capital letters. Modify the style or apply Normal.
To change existing text, select it and press Shift + F3 to cycle between lowercase, UPPERCASE, and Capitalize Each Word. For the reverse problem, see how to capitalize all letters in Word.
On iPhone, iPad, and Android
When you type in the Word mobile app, your phone’s keyboard may capitalize letters before Word even sees them. On iPhone and iPad, go to Settings > General > Keyboard and turn off Auto-Capitalization. On Android, look for a similar option in your keyboard app’s text correction settings. Related: how to turn off autocorrect on iPhone.
Related: How to stop Google Docs from auto-capitalizing.
Related: Change the author in Word.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Word capitalize after abbreviations?
Word sees the period as the end of a sentence. Add the abbreviation to the First Letter exceptions list.
Will turning this off affect spell check?
No. Spelling and grammar checks keep working. Only automatic capitalization stops.
Does this setting sync to my other computers?
No. AutoCorrect settings are saved on each computer, so repeat the steps on any other PC or Mac where you use Word.
Can I turn it back on later?
Yes. Return to AutoCorrect Options and check the boxes again.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.