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Tech Tips / Windows XP / Desktop and GUI

How to disable the AutoComplete feature?

Microsoft built a lot of smart technologies into Windows XP. One of these technologies is the AutoComplete feature, which remembers and automatically completes entries - such as passwords and user names—that you make in certain forms and applications, including Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer. While this feature is a time-saver, it can also reveal personal information that you'd prefer to keep private.

So, how do you disable the AutoComplete feature? It depends. There are several places you'll have to look, depending on the application you're using. Use the following steps to disable AutoComplete in Internet Explorer:

1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. From the Tools menu, select Internet Options.
3. Go to the Content tab and click the AutoComplete button.
4. Choose from a variety of AutoComplete Settings options. You can enable or disable AutoComplete For Web Addresses, Forms, and/or User Names And Passwords On Forms. You can also choose Clear AutoComplete History, which disables all existing entries.
5. Close all dialogs and exit Internet Explorer.