Redlining in Word shows every edit you make, so the other person can see what changed and accept or reject each change
Track Changes is Word's redlining tool. When you turn it on, every insertion, deletion, and formatting change appears in a different color with your name attached. The original author can then review each change one at a time and decide whether to keep it. This is how editors, lawyers, and teams mark up documents without destroying the original text.
The tool works the same way in Word on Windows, Mac, and the web version. Once you turn Track Changes on, you type and delete normally — Word just records what you do. When you're done, you send the document to the original author, who sees your changes highlighted and can accept or reject them individually.
Key Takeaways
- Track Changes is in the Review tab on Windows and Mac, and in the Review menu on Word Online.
- Turn it on before you start editing, and every change you make will be marked with your name and a timestamp.
- The document author can accept or reject each change separately, or accept all changes at once.
- Comments let you ask questions or explain why you made a change without altering the text itself.
How to turn on Track Changes in Word on Windows
Open the document you want to edit. At the top of the screen, click the Review tab. In the Tracking group on the left side, click Track Changes. A checkmark appears next to it when it's on.
From this moment forward, every keystroke you make will be recorded. Deletions appear crossed out in red (or another color assigned to you). New text appears underlined in the same color. At the end of the document, Word shows a summary of how many insertions, deletions, and formatting changes you made. When you're finished editing, save the document and send it to the author.
How to turn on Track Changes in Word on Mac
Open the document. Click the Review tab at the top. In the Tracking section, click Track Changes, then select Track Changes again from the dropdown menu. You'll see a checkmark when it's active.
On Mac, the process is nearly identical to Windows. Your edits will appear in color with your name. If you're working with others, each person gets a different color automatically, so it's straightforward to see who made which change. Save and send the document when you're done.
How to turn on Track Changes in Word Online
Open your document in Word Online (office.com). Click the Review menu at the top. Select Track Changes and toggle it on. The button will highlight to show it's active.
Word Online works slightly differently from the desktop version — you may see changes appear in a sidebar rather than inline with the text, depending on your browser and settings. The principle is the same: your edits are marked and timestamped. When you close the document, the changes are saved to the cloud version automatically.
How the document author reviews and accepts changes
When you send a tracked document to the author, they open it and go to the Review tab. They'll see a Changes or Tracking section with buttons to Accept or Reject each change. They can click through one change at a time, or click Accept All to approve everything at once.
If they reject a change, the text reverts to what it was before you edited it. If they accept it, the change becomes permanent and the markup disappears. Once all changes are reviewed, the document looks clean — no colors, no strikethrough, just the final text.
Using comments instead of changing text
Sometimes you don't want to alter the document itself — you just want to flag something or ask a question. That's what Comments are for. Highlight the text you want to comment on, go to the Review tab, and click New Comment. Type your note in the box that appears.
Comments appear in a sidebar (or inline, depending on your view) and don't change the actual text. The author can read your comment, reply to it, and then delete it when they've addressed the issue. This is useful for suggesting changes without making them automatically, or for asking "Did you mean this?" without crossing anything out.
Turning off Track Changes when you're done
Once you've finished editing and sent the document, you can turn Track Changes off so future edits won't be tracked. Go back to the Review tab and click Track Changes again to toggle it off. The checkmark disappears.
If you turn it off before sending the document, any changes you make after that point won't be marked. This is useful if you want to make small fixes (like fixing a typo you just noticed) without creating a new tracked change. Just remember to turn it back on if you're still in the editing phase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see who made each change?
Yes. Word assigns a different color to each person and displays their name next to every change. If you hover over a marked change, a tooltip shows the person's name, the date, and the time the change was made. This makes it straightforward to follow who edited what, especially in documents with multiple reviewers.
What if I want to hide the tracked changes but keep them in the document?
In the Review tab, look for a dropdown that says "All Markup" or "Show Markup". Click it and select "No Markup" to hide the colors and strikethrough. The changes are still there — they're just not visible. The author can turn them back on to review them later.
Can I track changes in a shared document that multiple people are editing at once?
Yes, Word Online and Word 365 both support real-time co-authoring with Track Changes on. Each person's edits appear in their assigned color, and you can see changes as they happen. Desktop Word can also track changes in shared documents, though the experience is smoother in the online version.
What happens if I reject a change by mistake?
You can undo the rejection. Press Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Command+Z (Mac) when ready after rejecting, and the change will be restored to the tracked state. If you've already closed and reopened the document, you may not be able to undo it, so be careful when reviewing.
Do I need special software to open a document with tracked changes?
No. Any version of Word can open and review tracked changes — desktop, Mac, web, or even older versions. Google Docs and other editors can also open Word documents with tracked changes, though they may display them differently. The changes will be visible no matter what program opens the file.