Predictive text not working in Classic Outlook

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