iPadOS 18 Notes - How do I turn off spell check for handwriting?

It’s a system-wide issue for me, and not only does it ruin the handwriting experience, but it’s also incredibly unprofessional during meetings. I’ve annotated PDFs and screenshots in four different languages, and most words end up underlined with blue dots. Even when signing a PDF, Apple isn’t satisfied with my signature and wants to change it to a random word. I spent a significant amount of money on the latest iPad Pro and Apple Pencil Pro, but I can’t use them for handwritten notes because Apple doesn’t like my handwriting. The incompetence of some managers at Apple is mind boggling.

I'm really baffled by how Apple implemented this. Why would you screw up one of the best apps you have and one of the best handwriting experiences on a mobile device....!?! why?

I'm referring to the annoying spelling correction blue underlines that appear under our text.

There's an option to disable spelling checks when typing, why is there no way to disable this?! makes no sense.

The devs behind this feature didn't test it? we waited for many iterations on the hope that the options to disable this will be provided, and now we're at 18.4 and still nothing????

Can we at least get this acknowledged as a problem?

kl-11 wrote:

We really need this resolved. It’s making me really really sad every time I use Notes. It’s one of the best note taking apps, why ruin it like this. Please Apple consider giving us the option to turn off spell checks.

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No, they haven’t.

I’ve just installed iPadOS 18.6, and Apple still hasn’t fixed the bug.

This is the second time you’ve posted inaccurate information in this thread. I wish there were a feature to block unhelpful members.

That just turns off the auto refine feature. The blue line still shows up for words that the device is unsure of.

I have the same problem with the blue dots. No fix so far

100%. It is distracting to the point that I'm transitioning to notability. Such a shame.

I've experienced this too. I use Notes as a space to journal, free-associate, scribble, and play with words, often bending the rules of spelling and language to unleash my creativity and foster outside-the-box thinking. The constant underlining of words—even when they're spelled correctly—becomes a major distraction, like having a strict teacher hovering over my shoulder, shouting, "That's wrong!" It's baffling that there's no way to disable this feature. Apple, please, for the sake of creatives everywhere, give us the option to turn it off.

As a Hebrew speaker, to me it’s a horrible user experience. Not only that apple doesn’t support Hebrew for many of its features like scribble, but while I simply want to journal in Hebrew I can’t do so due to these spell check underlines. Every word I write seems to it like a total gibberish (understandably).

I would really appreciate that if they don’t spell check other languages other than English, at least give us the option to turn that thing off…

I have used the notes app for years, I'm left handed and have a unique writing style that is all my own. I don't want it changing my handwriting. I like that only I can read it. now I cant get rid of these blue lines. they are so distracting! whenever I'm mid flow it just pulls at your attention. I've been looking everywhere for a forum and so glad you all feel the same. I've filled in the feature request but am so annoyed. I want my keyboard settings separate from my writing settings. I did try googling this but its seems to mistake the writing feature with basic spell check or how to simply turn off the rewrite feature. Either way, dear Apple Overlords could I please disable the blue squiggle

Its been like 6 months since i reported this issue. no response.

Imagine Ipad + Apple Pencil = NOTES is like most popular application, and most desirable.

And yet, they don't fix it for months.

Apple - is all about User Experience and Aestethics

This is absolutely absurd & outrageous that we cannot shut this off. I guess they don't know their users at all. This radically impacts my job as a creative & I will need to redo my work flow and switch to a different product if this isn't resolved in a matter of days.

it also happens to do an incredibly poor job at identifying mispelled words.

Omg yes, as I love to write in 3 different languages, these underline spell checks driving me crazy on the newer iPad. This is why I prefer to use the old one from 2018 year. Product Manager who would think that only English is the only language people are using is just plain dumb person.

Thanks for the tip! That disables the auto-“refining” but still leaves annoying blue lines under virtually every written word.

I wish there was a way to disable the stupid, distracting blue lines. I submitted requests to get the feature to disable blue lines.

Apple is a 3.5 trillion dollar company, this isn't an accident. They are doing this on purpose, and the masses will be okay with it. Oh well, apple will just create a market for remarkable. This is clearly unaccaptable for anyone that writes handwritten notes, it's impossible to think with all the distractions.