Predictive text not working in Classic Outlook

Joseph Tonnos 10 Reputation points
2026-11-05T16:05:00.6433333+00:00

I have a personal Microsoft 365 subscription and have it setup to an email address run off Google Workspace. I have the Google Workspace Sync app running so I can use Outlook as my primary email platform.

I would like to have co-pilot working in outlook as well as predictive typing. I have the option selected (File > Options > Mail > "Show text predictions while typing") and it's still not working.

This feature is also not working in the new outlook app nor on my mobile outlook app.

Outlook | Outlook for mobile | Outlook for iOS | For home
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  1. Vikki-T 13,320 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-11-06T06:16:42.8166667+00:00

    Hi Joseph Tonnos,

    I understand that you have already enabled Show text predictions while typing, but no suggestions appear in classic Outlook, new Outlook, or on your mobile device.

    Copilot and text predictions are separate Outlook features, so it would be helpful to troubleshoot text predictions independently first. Since your primary mailbox is a Google Workspace account connected through Google Workspace Sync, please try the following:

    • Compose a new message in English and type a few complete sentences. Text predictions may not appear for every sentence, and Microsoft currently documents limited language availability for this feature.
    • If a Microsoft mailbox is also added to Outlook, compose a message from that mailbox and check whether predictions appear there. This can help determine whether the behavior is specific to the Google Workspace profile.
    • Sign in to Outlook on the web with the Microsoft account associated with your Microsoft 365 Personal subscription. Go to Settings > Mail > Smart suggestions, enable Suggest words or phrases as I type, save the change, and test again.
    • Temporarily disable any third-party Outlook add-ins and restart Outlook in Safe Mode by pressing Windows + R, entering outlook.exe /safe, and testing a new message.
    • Make sure both Office and Windows are fully updated.

    For Outlook mobile, predictive typing may be provided by the iOS or Android keyboard rather than by the same Outlook desktop setting. Please also check that predictive text is enabled in the device’s keyboard settings.

    Could you confirm the language being used while composing and whether text predictions work when sending from a Microsoft Outlook.com mailbox rather than the Google Workspace mailbox? That information would help determine whether this is an account compatibility issue or an Outlook installation issue. Thank you so much for your understanding. 

    Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-11-05T16:06:22.4233333+00:00

    Copilot cannot be applied to your Google Workspace mailbox through Google Workspace Sync in classic Outlook; use new Outlook, add the Google account directly, and link the Microsoft account holding your Microsoft 365 Personal subscription.

    Configure Copilot in new Outlook

    Microsoft supports sharing Copilot benefits with connected third-party accounts such as Gmail when the Outlook app is also signed in to the Microsoft account that owns the eligible subscription. This account-sharing capability is not available in classic Outlook.^1^

    1. Open new Outlook.
    2. Add the Google Workspace mailbox directly under Settings → Accounts → Email accounts rather than relying on the classic-Outlook GWSMO profile.
    3. Select View → View settings, or File → Account info.
    4. Go to Accounts → Your accounts.
    5. Select the Google account, choose Manage, and then select Add Account.
    6. Sign in with the Microsoft account that owns the Microsoft 365 Personal subscription.

    The Add Account option appears only when the Microsoft 365 subscription and third-party account use the same email identity. Copilot is included for eligible Microsoft 365 Personal subscriptions.^2^

    Also verify that connected experiences are enabled:

    1. Open Settings → General → Privacy and data.
    2. Select Privacy settings.
    3. Enable Optional connected experiences.

    Copilot in Outlook for Windows, iOS, Android, and the web requires connected experiences to remain enabled.^1^

    If the Microsoft subscription uses a different sign-in address from the Google Workspace address, the documented linking option does not apply. In that case, add both accounts to new Outlook on the same device and check whether Copilot sharing becomes available; classic Outlook still cannot share the personal subscription’s Copilot access with the Google account.

    Restore text predictions on Windows

    Since the classic Outlook checkbox is already enabled, do not toggle it again. Check the Office update channel instead:

    1. In classic Outlook, open File → Office Account.
    2. Note the channel shown under About Outlook.
    3. Select Update Options → Update Now.
    4. Restart Outlook and compose a new message.

    Text predictions are available in Current Channel, Monthly Enterprise Channel, Beta Channel, and Current Channel Preview. They are unavailable in Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel and its Preview variant. Microsoft restored the feature to supported classic-Outlook channels on May 20, 2025.^3^

    If Office reports a Semi-Annual channel, switch to Current Channel or Monthly Enterprise Channel using Microsoft’s documented channel-change procedure, then run Update Now. Do not edit the registry unless the displayed channel confirms that this condition applies.

    For new Outlook, independently enable its setting:

    1. Open Settings → Mail → Smart suggestions.
    2. Under Text predictions, enable Suggest words or phrases as I type.
    3. Select Save.
    4. Compose a new message; accept a displayed prediction with Tab or Right Arrow.^4^

    Adding the Google account directly to new Outlook synchronizes it through Microsoft Cloud and enables Microsoft Editor-powered spelling and autocomplete suggestions for Gmail accounts.^5^

    Outlook mobile

    Microsoft does not document an Outlook-mobile setting equivalent to Show text predictions while typing. On mobile, ordinary word and next-word predictions are generally supplied by the active iOS or Android keyboard rather than an Outlook compose setting.

    Copilot is supported in Outlook mobile for connected accounts when the eligible Microsoft account is logged into Outlook on that device and connected experiences are enabled.^1^ Add the Google Workspace account directly in Outlook mobile; non-Microsoft Gmail and IMAP accounts can synchronize through Microsoft Cloud there.^5^

    References

    1. Sharing Copilot in Outlook
    2. Link non-Microsoft email accounts to your existing Microsoft subscription | Microsoft Support
    3. Text predictions unexpectedly become unavailable and are missing in Outlook options | Microsoft Support
    4. Use text predictions in Outlook for Windows | Microsoft Support
    5. Sync your account in Outlook to the Microsoft Cloud | Microsoft Support
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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