Track Changes lets you see who changed what, and when

Track Changes is a feature in Microsoft Word that records every edit made to a document — deletions, additions, formatting changes, and comments. When you turn it on, Word marks each change with a colored line, shows who made it, and timestamps when it happened. This matters for privacy because it creates a record you can review before sharing, and it shows you what information leaves your control when you send a document to someone else.

The feature works the same way across Windows and Mac versions of Word, though the menu location differs slightly. Once enabled, Track Changes stays on until you deliberately turn it off, so you won't accidentally send unmarked edits to someone expecting to see your changes.

Key Takeaways

  • Track Changes is found in the Review tab on Windows and the Review ribbon on Mac, and you toggle it on with a single click.
  • When Track Changes is on, Word marks deletions with strikethrough, additions with underlines or colored text, and displays the editor's name and timestamp for each change.
  • You can review all changes before sharing by opening the Track Changes pane, which lists every edit in order.
  • Turning Track Changes off stops recording new edits but does not erase the changes already recorded — you must accept or reject them separately.
  • If you receive a document with tracked changes, you can see exactly what was altered and by whom before deciding whether to keep those changes.

How to turn Track Changes on in Word for Windows

Open your document in Microsoft Word. At the top of the screen, click the Review tab. In the Tracking group (the middle section of the ribbon), you will see a button labeled Track Changes with a small arrow next to it. Click that button once to turn it on. The button will highlight or change color to show that tracking is now active.

If you want to set options before you start — such as choosing what color your edits appear in or whether to track formatting changes — click the small arrow next to Track Changes instead of the button itself. A dropdown menu will appear with options like "Change User Name" and "Change Tracking Options." Most people leave these at their defaults and just click the main button to start tracking.

How to turn Track Changes on in Word for Mac

Open your document and click the Review tab at the top of the screen. In the Tracking section, you will see Track Changes with an icon that looks like a pen with a checkmark. Click it once to turn tracking on. The icon will change appearance to show that tracking is active.

On Mac, the Review tab is sometimes located in a different position depending on your Word version, but it is always labeled "Review" and always contains the Track Changes button in the same Tracking group. If you cannot find it, use the keyboard shortcut Command + Shift + E to toggle Track Changes on and off when ready.

What happens when Track Changes is on

Every edit you make will be marked visually in the document. Deleted text appears with a strikethrough line and usually in red or another color. New text appears underlined or in a different color. The document margin shows a vertical line next to any paragraph you changed. When you hover over a change, a small box appears showing your name (or the name associated with your Word account), the type of change, and the exact time it was made.

If multiple people edit the same document with Track Changes on, each person's changes appear in a different color, and Word assigns each editor a name. This is why Track Changes matters for privacy: if you send a document to someone else and they edit it with tracking on, you will see exactly what they changed and when. Conversely, if you edit a document someone sent you, they will see your changes unless you turn tracking off before editing.

How to review changes before sharing

Before you send a document to anyone, open the Track Changes menu again and click Show Markup or Display for Review (the exact name varies by Word version). This opens a pane on the right side of your screen listing every change in the document in order. You can read through each one and decide whether to keep it or remove it.

To accept a change, right-click it in the list and select "Accept Change," or click the change in the document and use the Accept button in the Review tab. To reject a change, select "Reject Change" from the same menu. You can also click "Accept All" or "Reject All" at the bottom of the changes pane if you want to approve everything at once. Once you accept or reject all changes, the document is "clean" — no tracked changes remain — and you can share it without revealing your editing history.

Why you might want to turn Track Changes off

If you are editing a document for yourself and do not plan to share it, Track Changes creates visual clutter and slows down your work slightly. You can turn it off by clicking the Track Changes button again — it will no longer highlight or change color. Turning it off does not erase the changes you already recorded; it just stops Word from marking new edits you make.

If you receive a document with Track Changes already on and you want to edit it without adding your own tracked changes, turn off Track Changes before you start. This way, your edits will not be marked, and the document will show only the original author's changes when you send it back.

What to do if you accidentally shared a document with tracked changes

If you sent a document to someone and realized afterward that Track Changes was on, you have two options. First, you can open the document, review all the tracked changes in the pane, accept the ones you want to keep, reject the ones you do not, and then send a clean version. Second, you can ask the recipient not to look at the tracked changes — they can view the document in "Final" mode, which hides all the markup and shows only the finished text.

The important thing to know is that tracked changes are not hidden or encrypted. Anyone who opens the document can see them, including the names and timestamps of who made each change. If you want to remove all record of your edits before sharing, you must accept or reject every change, not just turn off tracking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see who made changes if I receive a document with Track Changes on?

Yes. Word displays the name of the person who made each change, along with the date and time. The name comes from whoever's account was logged into Word when the edit was made. If you do not recognize a name, you can ask the document owner who that person is.

Does Track Changes work the same way in Google Docs?

Google Docs has a similar feature called "Suggestion mode" that works differently. In Suggestion mode, edits appear as suggestions that the document owner must approve. Track Changes in Word is automatic — it records edits whether or not anyone approves them. If you switch between Word and Google Docs, the tracking systems do not transfer.

What if I want to hide my name in Track Changes?

You can change the name associated with your edits by going to Review > Track Changes > Change User Name (Windows) or Review > Track Changes > Change User Name (Mac). You can type any name you want, but Word will use that name for all future tracked changes in any document you open on that computer.

Can I turn off Track Changes for just one paragraph?

No. Track Changes is a document-wide setting — it is either on or off for the entire file. If you want to edit one section without tracking, you would need to turn off Track Changes, make those edits, and then turn it back on. Any edits made while tracking is off will not be recorded.

What happens to tracked changes if I save the document as a PDF?

When you save a Word document as a PDF, all tracked changes are either accepted or rejected first — you cannot save a PDF with active tracked changes. Word will prompt you to accept or reject all changes before the PDF is created. Once saved as PDF, the document no longer contains any tracking information.