Android · Accounts & Family
Manage custom words the keyboard learns and suggests
The Personal Dictionary stores custom words, names, and abbreviations you've added or that the keyboard has learned, so they are recognized instead of flagged as typos and are suggested during predictive typing.
How to open Personal Dictionary
- Open Settings
- Tap System, then Languages & input
- Select Personal dictionary
- Choose a language, then tap the add button to enter a new word
What you should know
- Words can be added manually or learned automatically as you type
- Supports per-language dictionaries when multiple keyboard languages are enabled
- Entries can be edited or deleted individually
- Synced dictionary entries can carry over to other devices signed into the same Google Account, depending on the keyboard app
Why it matters
Names, slang, technical terms, and abbreviations that aren't in a standard dictionary get flagged or autocorrected incorrectly, which is a persistent annoyance for anyone typing industry jargon, unusual names, or a second language regularly. Maintaining the personal dictionary directly fixes recurring autocorrect frustrations rather than repeatedly overriding the same correction every time it happens.
Best practices
- Manually add frequently used names or terms rather than waiting for the keyboard to learn them over time
- Periodically clean up accidentally learned typos that got added by mistake
- Set up a dictionary entry per language if you type in more than one regularly
- Back up important custom entries manually if switching to a different keyboard app
Common problems and fixes
- A word keeps autocorrecting despite being added
- Confirm the word was added under the correct language dictionary that matches your active keyboard layout
- Dictionary entries disappeared after switching keyboard apps
- Personal dictionaries are often app-specific; check the new keyboard app's own dictionary settings
Tips and tricks
- Add shorthand entries that expand to longer phrases if your keyboard supports text expansion
- Review the dictionary after a big autocorrect annoyance to catch and remove any bad learned entries
Frequently asked questions
Does the personal dictionary work across all keyboard apps?
Not always; some third-party keyboards maintain their own separate dictionary instead of using the system one.
Can I import a large list of words at once?
Some keyboard apps support bulk import from a text file, though the stock dictionary editor usually requires manual entry.
Related settings
- Languages & Input / KeyboardLanguages & input settings control your device's system language, additional keyboard languages, and features like autocorrect, voice typing, and text-to-speech. You can add multiple keyboard languages and switch between them without changing your phone's overall display language.
- Add AccountThe Add Account flow lets you sign in to a new Google Account or other supported account type (Microsoft Exchange, personal IMAP email, corporate work profile) so its data can sync with apps on the device.
More Accounts & Family guides for Android
- Google Account SyncAccount sync keeps Gmail, Calendar, Contacts, Photos, and other Google app data updated automatically across your devices, tied to your signed-in Google Account.
- Digital Wellbeing & Parental ControlsDigital Wellbeing shows exactly how much time you spend on your phone and in each app, with tools like app timers, Focus mode, and Bedtime mode to help rebalance that. The same dashboard connects to Family Link, letting a parent set screen time limits, app approval, and content filters on a child's supervised device.
- Multiple Users / Guest ModeMultiple users lets several people share one Android device while keeping separate apps, accounts, wallpapers, and settings in fully isolated profiles. Guest mode offers a lighter, temporary alternative for a one-off borrower, with everything discarded once that guest session ends.
- Sync Individual Account DataBeyond the master account sync switch, each added account has granular toggles for what actually syncs, such as Contacts, Calendar, Gmail, Drive, or Photos, letting you keep some data local-only while syncing the rest.
- Family Link SupervisionFamily Link connects a child's supervised Google Account to a parent's device, allowing approval of app downloads, screen time limits, content filters, and location checks directly from Android Settings or the Family Link app.
- Emergency Information / Medical IDEmergency Information lets you store medical conditions, allergies, medications, and emergency contacts so they are visible from the lock screen without unlocking the device, giving first responders critical information quickly.