Document Editing Problems

Convert Manual Underlining or Strikethrough to Tracked Changes in Word

Aamir Naveed Akram Sep 27, 2026 872 views

Question details

The user wants to automatically convert text that was manually formatted with underlines or strikethroughs into official Track Changes additions and deletions.

How to Convert Manual Underlining or Strikethrough to Tracked Changes in Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Reviewing a document where previous editors used manual font formatting (underline and strikethrough) instead of the native Track Changes tool to mark document revisions.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Word lacks a built-in feature or automatic method to convert manual font formatting directly into tracked changes.

Before you start

Make sure you save a backup copy of your original document so you do not lose the visual reference of the manual edits while recreating them.

Solution 1Recommended

Manually Recreate Edits with Track Changes Enabled

Since there is no automatic tool in Microsoft Word for this conversion, you must enable Track Changes and manually re-enter the additions and deletions.

Microsoft has not included a feature to convert manual text formatting to tracked changes in any current version of Word. The most reliable method is to process the document manually.

You can also submit a feature request to Microsoft via their official feedback channels if you would like to see this functionality added in future updates.

Enable Track Changes

Open your Word document. Navigate to the 'Review' tab on the top ribbon and click the 'Track Changes' button to turn it on.

Recreate Insertions (Underlined Text)

Locate the manually underlined text. Retype the text exactly as it appears right next to the original so it registers as a tracked insertion. Then, select the original manually underlined text and delete it.

Recreate Deletions (Strikethrough Text)

Find the text that was manually formatted with a strikethrough. Highlight this text and press the 'Delete' or 'Backspace' key on your keyboard to register it as a tracked deletion.

Disable Track Changes

Once you have replaced all manual formatting with proper tracked changes, click the 'Track Changes' button on the 'Review' tab again to disable it and return to normal editing.

Manually Recreate Edits with Track Changes Enabled

Use Find to Speed Up the Process: You can press Ctrl + F to open the Navigation Pane, click the magnifying glass drop-down, select 'Advanced Find', and use the 'Format' button to search specifically for underlined or strikethrough text to quickly jump between edits.

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1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button for your operating system.
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3. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer, open your existing .docx file, and instantly access premium review and tracking tools.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will Microsoft add a feature to convert formatting to tracked changes?

Currently, this feature is not available in any version of Word, including Microsoft 365. Users are encouraged to submit a feature request via Word's official feedback tool by going to File > Feedback.

Can I use Find and Replace to convert strikethrough to tracked deletions?

No. While you can locate struck-through text using the Find and Replace dialog and replace it with nothing, doing so through the automated dialog box often does not properly register as a standard tracked deletion by the current author in the Review pane.

Is there a VBA macro to automate converting manual formatting to track changes?

Advanced users can write complex VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) scripts to locate specific formatting and recreate the text as tracked changes. However, these scripts are often unreliable due to document complexity and overlapping formatting styles, making manual recreation the safest method.

How do I turn on Track Changes in WPS Writer?

In WPS Writer, go to the 'Review' tab on the top ribbon and click the 'Track Changes' button. Any subsequent modifications you make to the document will be automatically recorded as insertions, deletions, or formatting changes.

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