How To Track Changes in Word (Online, Mobile, and Desktop)

The ability to track changes in word processing documents was a game-changing innovation. Microsoft Word was at the forefront of that advancement, and users of Word have taken advantage of the feature ever since.

The track changes feature is now considered standard in any word processing app. We’ll show you how to track changes in Microsoft Word’s online, mobile, and desktop apps. You can also track changes in other apps like Google Docs or Microsoft Excel.

When you track changes in a Word document, you make it easy for someone else (or future you!) to spot suggested changes and decide—change by change—whether to accept a change and make it permanent or reject it.

How To Track Changes in Microsoft Word Online

Anyone can use Microsoft Word Online for free by registering for a free Microsoft account. Once you’ve logged in and have started a new Microsoft Word document (or opened an existing one), follow these steps to track changes in Word Online.

Turn On Track Changes in Word Online

First, you need to turn on Track Changes.

1. Select the Review tab.

2. Select the Track Changes button, and select For Everyone to track the changes that anyone makes to this document or Just Mine to only track the changes you make to the document.

You’ll know you’ve done this correctly if you see that the Mode Menu has switched from Editing to Reviewing.

In fact, another way to turn on Track Changes in Microsoft Word Online is to select Reviewing from the Mode Menu. If you use this method, note that it will default to tracking just your own changes, not everyone else’s. If you want to turn on Track Changes for everyone who edits the document, follow the steps above and select For Everyone.

Review, Accept, or Reject Changes in Word Online

If Track Changes is turned on, you can review each suggestion in order and accept or reject them one by one.

1. Click or tap at the beginning of the document (or the place where you want to start reviewing suggested changes).
2. Select the Review tab.
3. Select the Accept or Reject button, and Word will jump to the first suggested change in the document.
   

4. Select the Accept or Reject button to accept or reject the suggested change. If you wish, you can hover your mouse over the change to trigger a popup where you can see a description of the change and buttons to accept (checkmark) or reject (X) the change. Note, however, that if you use this interface, Word will not automatically advance to the next suggested change.

5. Continue selecting the Accept or Reject buttons as you advance through all the suggested changes in the document. Once you have made a decision about each suggested change, you’ll see a popup message alerting you that there are no more tracked changes in your document.

6. Select the OK button, and you’ll be returned to your document.

At some point, you’ll want to turn off Track Changes.

Turn Off Track Changes in Word Online

There are two quick ways to turn off Track Changes in Word Online.

• Switch to either Editing or Viewing in the Mode Menu. Choose Editing if you want to continue editing the document and Viewing if you want to view the document but make no changes.

• Alternatively, select the Track Changes button on the Review tab and choose Off. That will turn off Track Changes for everyone.

Now you are free to edit or view the document without tracking changes.

How To Track Changes in the Microsoft Word Android App

Turning on Track Changes in the Microsoft Word Android app is less straightforward. Open a document and follow these steps.

1. Select the upward arrow in the document editor located at the bottom of the document.

2. Select Home.

3. Select Review.

4. Scroll down in the Review menu and select Track Changes.

With Track Changes enabled, any edits you make will be suggestions that you or someone else can accept or reject.

Review, Accept, or Reject Changes in Word’s Mobile App

To review, accept, or reject changes in Word’s mobile app, follow these instructions.

1. Tap at the beginning of the document (or the place where you want to start reviewing suggested changes.
2. Next, tap on Home in the toolbar and select Review.
3. Scroll down to the Track Changes section and use the document navigation arrows to move from suggestion to suggestion. (Alternatively, tap on each suggestion in the body of the document.)

4. When a suggestion is highlighted, you can choose to accept or reject the change or move to the previous or next suggestion.

5. When you have addressed all the suggestions in the document, you’ll see a message saying there are no more tracked changes to review.

Turn Off Track Changes in Word Mobile App

To turn off Track Changes in Word’s mobile app, simply tap Home on the toolbar, select Review, scroll down, and tap Track Changes to deselect it and turn the feature off.

How To Track Changes in the Microsoft Word Desktop App

Tracking changes in Word’s desktop application is similar to using Track Changes in Word Online.

Turn On Track Changes in Word’s Desktop App

Open the document you want to edit, and follow these steps.

1. Select the Review tab.

2. Select the Track Changes button.

3. If you wish, select the dropdown arrow on the Track Changes button to Lock Tracking. You can opt to add a password to prevent other people from turning off Track Changes.

Changes will be tracked as long as the Track Changes button on the Review tab is activated.

Review, Accept, or Reject Changes in Word for Desktop

To review suggested changes, follow these steps.

1. On the Review tab, select Show Markup. Here you can choose where you want to see suggestions (in balloons or inline). You can also opt to only see suggestions from specific people.

2. Position your cursor at the beginning of the document (or the place where you want to start reviewing suggested changes).
3. On the Review tab, select the Accept, Reject, or Next button to advance to the next suggested change.
4. When a suggestion is highlighted, select the Accept button to accept the change or the Reject button to reject the change and move on to the next suggestion.

5. Alternatively, right-click on a suggestion and choose Accept or Reject.

Microsoft Word for Desktop will let you know once you’re finished reviewing suggested changes.

Explore More Features of Microsoft Word

If you want to learn even more about Microsoft Word’s features, check out our articles on expanding Word’s functionality with add-ins, how to dictate documents in Word, and how to insert a signature into a Word document. Or use the search feature to find all our Microsoft Word articles.