Overview
- Microsoft announced on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, that inline text‑prediction suggestions will be disabled by default in Word and Outlook and must be turned on in app settings.
- The change covers Word (Windows, web, Android, iOS) and classic Outlook for Windows plus Outlook for Mac and takes effect when specific new builds reach users, including Word for Windows 2609 and classic Outlook 2608.
- Web versions of Word and Outlook have already begun receiving the new default, while desktop and mobile apps will switch as the listed version and build numbers reach devices in phased waves.
- Users who prefer suggestions can re‑enable inline predictions in each app’s settings, and Microsoft notes some Outlook mobile variants already had predictions defaulted off so those will not change.
- Microsoft says the move responds to customer feedback that gray inline suggestions can interrupt writing flow; admins will get timing details through the Microsoft 365 Admin Center and release notes.