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Windows 🟡 Intermediate

How To Clear Personal Inking And Typing Dictionary Data In Windows 11 Privacy Settings

Richard
Written by
Richard
Sep 5, 2026 4 min read
How to clear personal inking and typing dictionary data in Windows 11 Privacy Settings
How to clear personal inking and typing dictionary data in Windows 11 Privacy Settings

Personal inking and typing dictionary data in Windows 11 is a custom word list your PC builds to help suggestions pop up faster as you write. Windows saves your common words, slang, and names from your keyboard and stylus pen to guess what you want to type next.

Clearing this data deletes the digital history your computer stores about your writing habits. You can wipe this list clean anytime through the privacy settings to protect your personal info and stop Windows from tracking your vocabulary.

⚡ Quick Answer

Open Settings , click Privacy & security, select Inking & typing personalization, choose Custom dictionary, and click Clear personal dictionary to erase your saved typing and handwriting history. Your computer deletes the stored data at once, starting fresh with word suggestions based only on your future typing habits.

How to Clear Your Personal Inking and Typing Dictionary in 🪟 Windows 11

Clearing personal inking and typing dictionary data in Windows 11 Privacy Settings takes just a few clicks through your main computer settings. You can wipe out all the words and handwriting habits your PC has saved over time by opening the Start menu , going to your privacy options, and choosing to clear your personal dictionary without needing any extra tools.

To begin clearing your personal inking and typing dictionary data in Windows 11 version 23H2, you must first click the Start button located on your taskbar and select the Settings app icon. The Windows 11 Settings app looks like a small gear icon and serves as the central hub where you can manage your privacy controls, clear stored typing history, and protect your personal information from being saved by Microsoft.

Taskbar
Taskbar

In the Settings window, click on Privacy & security in the left-hand menu.

Settings › Privacy & security
Settings › Privacy & security

Scroll down the right side of the screen and click on Inking & typing personalization.

In your Windows 11 privacy settings, you should look for the option labeled Custom dictionary and click on that button to open your personal word list. Opening your personal word list lets you review and delete the specific words that Windows 11 has saved from your typing and handwriting over time, which protects your privacy by erasing stored personal habits.

⚠️Warning
Click the button that says Clear personal dictionary to erase all the words and phrases your computer has saved over time.

Once you finish these steps, your computer instantly deletes your saved typing and handwriting history. The suggestion tool will start over, learning only from the words you type from now on.

Turning Off Inking and Typing Data Collection Completely

Turning off inking and typing data collection completely stops Windows 11 from learning and saving new words as you type or write. You can block your computer from tracking your daily writing habits by heading back into your privacy settings and switching off the personalization feature so it stops gathering your personal text information.

Open the Settings app from your Start menu.

Settings
Settings

Click on Privacy & security on the left side.

Select Inking & typing personalization again.

Settings › Privacy & security › Inking & typing personalization
Settings › Privacy & security › Inking & typing personalization

At the top of the page, find the main toggle switch under the heading Custom dictionary or Inking & typing personalization.

Click the switch to turn it from On to Off.

By turning this setting off, you stop Windows from sending your typing samples to the cloud and stop the system from building a personal dictionary on your device. Your computer will use only its built-in standard dictionary instead.

Unique Expert Tips: Managing Hidden Diagnostic Data in 🪟 Windows 11

Managing hidden diagnostic data in Windows 11 ensures your typing habits are fully removed from the operating system beyond just the standard privacy menu. Microsoft often stores extra writing and typing information inside optional diagnostic settings, which means you need to check both areas to truly wipe all personal data from your machine.

To make sure your typing habits are truly gone, you should also check your diagnostic data settings in Windows 11. The Windows operating system collects optional diagnostic data that can include small parts of what you type to help Microsoft improve products. While this diagnostic data is completely anonymous, privacy-focused people often prefer to turn off optional diagnostic data completely.

Windows 11 Privacy & security settings menu with options.
Windows 11 Privacy & security settings menu with options.

Open your Windows Settings app.

Click on Privacy & security.

Select Diagnostics & feedback from the list.

Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback
Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback

Under the diagnostic data section, choose Required diagnostic data instead of optional data. This limits the information your computer shares with Microsoft to only what is needed for the system to run safely.

Settings › Privacy › Diagnostics
Settings › Privacy › Diagnostics

Scroll down to the section labeled View diagnostic data and check if there are options to delete your stored diagnostic logs. Click the delete button if you see it.

Taking this extra step makes sure that no leftover typing samples or text snippets stay in Microsoft's diagnostic logs, giving you total peace of mind.

Summary

Windows 11 tracks your typing and handwriting to make text suggestions faster, but this also saves your personal words and names in a custom dictionary. Using your privacy settings to clear this data or turn off the feature protects your personal privacy and keeps your private writing habits off your computer.

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Tags: #Windows 11
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Richard

About the Author

Richard

Tech Writer, IT Professional

Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.

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