How to turn on the secret auto-correct keyboard for iPhone, iPad

By Andrew Couts November 10, 2011

auto-correct-ios-crop — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The secret features of iOS are popping up left and right this week. On Tuesday, we found out that iOS contains a hidden panorama shooting mode for iPhone and iPad cameras. And now, it turns out that iOS 5 also contains an auto-correct keyboard bar concealed within its bowels.

The closeted feature, first reported by Mark Gurman at 9to5Mac, was uncovered by Australian hacker (and 9to5Mac researcher) Sonny Dickson. Unlike the panorama camera mode, which requires jailbreaking your phone — a move that enables a slew of inaccessible features, like downloading unauthorized apps, but can void your Apple warranty — the auto-correct feature only requires some fairly simple finagling.

Here’s how to turn it on:

1. Dowload iBackupBot (a program that allows users to edit files backed up to iTunes)
2. Backup your iPhone/iPad to iTunes
3. Open iBackupBot, find your most recent backup and load it.
4. Go to: Library/Preferences/com.apple.keyboard.plist and open the file. (Hint: Sonny explains that “if your software isn’t registered you’ll have to press cancel and then it will open.”)
5. Here’s the important bit. Add this code to the file you just opened: <key>KeyboardAutocorrectionLists</key><string>YES</string>
6. Save the file, and restore your device from within iBackupBot.
7. Enjoy your auto-correct keyboard bar goodness!

As with the panorama camera mode, there’s likely a good reason this secret feature isn’t simply a feature, so don’t be surprised if this minor code tinkering has some unexpected consequences. (We haven’t yet heard of any issues resulting from performing this change, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist.) In other words: Enable auto-correct at your own risk.

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