How to Turn On or Off AutoComplete in Internet Explorer
Information
AutoComplete (automatic text completion) or inline AutoComplete is a feature that automatically appends the suggested text to the words as you are typing them in the Internet Explorer address bar and open dialog box. It tries to guess and finish what it thinks you are typing for you automatically.
This will show you how to turn AutoComplete on or off in the address bar of Internet Explorer in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.
EXAMPLE: Internet Explorer "AutoComplete" On and OFF
OPTION ONE
To Turn IE AutoComplete On or Off in Internet Options
1. Open the
Control Panel (Icons view), and click/tap on the
Internet Options icon.
A) Go to step 3.
OR
2. Open Internet Explorer, click/tap on
Tools (
Menu bar), and click/tap on
Internet Options.
NOTE: In Windows 8, you would open the IE10 desktop version, and not the IE10 Metro (Windows UI) version.
3. Click/tap on the
Content tab, click/tap on the
Settings button under
AutoComplete, and do
step 4 or 5 below for what you would like to do. (see screenshot below)
4. To Turn On Internet Explorer AutoComplete
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Check at least the
Address bar and
Browsing history box, then click/tap on
OK. (see screenshot below)
B) Click/tap on the
Advanced tab, then under the
Browsing section, check the
Use inline AutoComplete in the Internet Explorer Address Bar and Open Dialog box. (see screenshot below)
C) Go to step 6.
5. To Turn Off Internet Explorer AutoComplete A) Uncheck the
Browsing history box, then click/tap on
OK. (see screenshot below step 4A)
WARNING: If you uncheck the Address bar box, then this will also turn off Auto Suggest in the address bar of Windows Explorer.
B) Click/tap on the
Advanced tab, then under the
Browsing section, uncheck the
Use inline AutoComplete in the Internet Explorer Address Bar and Open Dialog box. (see screenshot below step 4B)
C) Continue on to step 6.
6. Click/tap on
OK. (see screenshot below step 4B)
7. If open, close and reopen Internet Explorer to see the changes.
OPTION TWO
To Turn IE AutoComplete On or Off Using a REG File Download
NOTE: This option will not affect auto suggest in Windows Explorer. 1. To Turn On Internet Explorer AutoComplete
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below.
Turn_On_Internet_Explorer_Auto_Complete.reg
B) Go to step 3.
2. To Turn Off Internet Explorer AutoComplete A) Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below.
Turn_Off_Internet_Explorer_Auto_Complete.reg
3. Save the
.reg file to the
Desktop.
4. Double click/tap on the downloaded
.reg file to merge it.
5. Click/tap on
Run,
Yes (UAC-Windows 7/8) or
Continue (UAC-Vista),
Yes, and
OK when prompted.
6. If open, close and reopen Internet Explorer to see the changes.
7. When done, you can delete the downloaded
.reg file if you like.
OPTION THREE
To Turn IE AutoComplete On or Off Manually in Registry Editor
NOTE: This option will not affect auto suggest in Windows Explorer. 1. Open the Start Menu, then type
regedit in the search box and press
Enter.
2. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on
Yes (Windows 7/8) or
Continue (Vista).
3. In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\AutoComplete
4. In the right pane of
AutoComplete, double click/tap on
Append Completion. (see screenshot above)
5. To Turn On Internet Explorer AutoComplete
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Type in yes, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
6. To Turn Off Internet Explorer AutoComplete A) Type in no, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot above)
7. Close regedit.
8. If open, close and reopen Internet Explorer to see the changes.
That's it,
Shawn