Google Docs has an auto capitalization feature that automatically capitalizes the first letter of sentences and proper nouns as you type. This can be helpful for some users, but others may find it annoying or unnecessary. Fortunately, Google Docs allows you to easily turn off auto capitalization.
Why You Might Want to Turn Off Auto Capitalization
Here are some reasons you may want to disable auto capitalization in Google Docs:
- You find it distracting or annoying when typing
- You want to intentionally type in all lowercase letters for creative purposes
- You regularly type brand names or acronyms that should not be auto-capitalized
- You want full manual control over your capitalization
Whatever your reasons, it only takes a few clicks to deactivate this feature.
How to Turn Off Auto Capitalization on Desktop
Turning off auto capitalization in the desktop version of Google Docs is simple:
Step 1: Open Google Docs Preferences
- Open a document in Google Docs
- Click Tools > Preferences in the top menu
Step 2: Uncheck the Auto Capitalization Box
- In the Preferences window, locate the General tab
- Uncheck the box next to Automatically capitalize words
Step 3: Click OK to Save Changes
- Click OK at the bottom of the Preferences window
- The auto capitalization feature is now disabled
Once you uncheck that box and save changes, Google Docs will stop auto-capitalizing on that device. You can return to the Preferences at any time to re-enable it if desired.
How to Turn Off Auto Capitalization on Mobile
The Google Docs mobile app does not have an independent setting to control auto capitalization. Instead, you’ll need to change the text correction settings for your entire iOS or Android device.
For iOS Devices
To disable auto capitalization on an iPhone or iPad:
- Open Settings
- Tap General then Keyboard
- Under All Keyboards, turn off the switch for Auto-Capitalization
This will turn off auto capitalization device-wide, including within the Google Docs app.
For Android Devices
To turn off auto-capitalization on an Android phone or tablet:
- Open Settings
- Tap System > Languages & input
- Tap On-screen keyboard > Gboard
- Tap Text correction
- Turn off the switch for Auto-capitalization
Again, this turns off auto capitalization everywhere, not just in Google Docs.
Re-Enabling Auto Capitalization
If you change your mind later, you can return to the same settings to turn auto capitalization back on in Google Docs.
On desktop, just re-check the box in Docs’ Preferences menu. On mobile, flip the appropriate switch back on in your device’s keyboard settings.
Why Google Docs Uses Auto Capitalization
Google applies auto capitalization and other “smart” text corrections in G Suite products like Docs in an effort to save users time and hassle. The thinking is that automatically fixing these tiny grammar errors allows users to focus on their content instead of text formatting. However, not all users like or want these automated changes.
That’s why Google allows auto capitalization and similar “autocorrect” features to be disabled. It gives users more control over the writing experience in Google Docs.
Other Google Docs Settings You Can Customize
Along with auto capitalization, Google Docs gives you options to personalize several other aspects of the program:
- Fonts and line spacing: Change the default font style and size, adjust line height, and set spacing before or after paragraphs
- Autocorrect substitutions: Add or remove certain automatic corrections like replacing “adn” with “and”
- Spell check options: Choose when you want misspellings underlined and adjust the dictionary language
- Accessibility: Activate tools like screen readers for visually impaired users
Take a look at the full range of settings in Tools > Preferences to see what else you can tweak.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about disabling auto capitalization in Google Docs:
Does turning off auto capitalization in Docs also turn it off in other Google Workspace apps?
No. The auto capitalization setting in Docs only applies to documents edited in Google Docs. Other apps like Gmail have their own settings.
What if I already turned off auto capitalization on my mobile device? Will that also disable it in the Google Docs app?
Yes. The Google Docs mobile app relies on your keyboard’s overall auto capitalization setting. If you already disabled it device-wide, then Docs inherits that change.
Can I set Google Docs to auto capitalize some things but not others?
Unfortunately no. It’s an all-or-nothing setting. You can’t customize it to auto capitalize only certain words or phrases.
What about automatically capitalizing proper nouns like people’s names? Does disabling auto caps affect that too?
Yes, turning off auto capitalization disables all automatic capitalization, including proper nouns. You’ll have to manually capitalize names and places when typing.
What if I use Google Docs offline without an internet connection? Does my auto capitalization setting sync across devices?
No. The setting is saved individually on each device and computer. If you turn off auto caps on your desktop, it won’t turn them off on your mobile device too.
Key Takeaways
- You can easily disable auto capitalization in Google Docs via the Preferences menu (desktop) or keyboard settings (mobile)
- This gives you full manual control over capitalization as you type
- If you want to reactivate auto caps later, simply re-enable the setting in the same place
- Customizing options like auto capitalization allows you to tailor Google Docs to your personal preferences
Hopefully now you know exactly how to turn off those pesky auto capitalized letters when needed. Happy writing!
