Document Editing Problems

Fix Word Making Unexpected Insertions and Deletions with Track Changes

Muhammad Talha Oct 10, 2026 871 views

Question details

The user needs to stop Word from intermittently substituting, deleting, or inserting unexpected text in large shared or local documents when Track Changes is enabled.

How to Fix Word Making Unexpected Insertions and Deletions with Track Changes

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: Windows 11
Scenario: Editing large documents with Track Changes enabled on local storage, SharePoint, or OneDrive.
Observed behavior: Word intermittently deletes parts of words, substitutes text, or inserts garbled characters and unexpected page-number fields.

Before you start

Before troubleshooting, compare your document's version history to pinpoint when the unexpected changes occurred, and save a backup copy of the current file to prevent further data loss.

Solution 1Recommended

Isolate the Document and Disable Nonessential Add-ins

Move the shared document to your local drive and disable add-ins to rule out network syncing or third-party interference.

Network latency or conflicts with third-party COM add-ins can sometimes cause erratic behavior in large documents with Track Changes enabled. Testing a local copy in Safe Mode helps identify the root cause.

Download a local copy

Save the affected SharePoint or OneDrive document directly to your local desktop.

Open Word in Safe Mode

Press the Windows key + R, type 'winword /safe', and press Enter to launch Word without any background add-ins or automation.

Disable COM Add-ins

Go to 'File' > 'Options' > 'Add-ins'. Select 'COM Add-ins' from the Manage drop-down menu at the bottom and click 'Go'. Uncheck all items and click 'OK'.

Isolate the Document and Disable Nonessential Add-ins

Intermittent Issues: Because the behavior is intermittent, you may need to work in Safe Mode for a while to confirm if an add-in was causing the corruption.

Solution 2

Review AutoCorrect and AutoFormat Settings

Ensure that automated formatting features are not causing unexpected character substitutions or capitalization changes.

Solution 3

Check Hardware Inputs and Repair the Document

Eliminate accidental touchpad inputs or underlying document corruption as the source of the unexpected insertions.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Edit Large Documents Safely with WPS Office

If Microsoft Word continues to corrupt your text or struggle with Track Changes in large documents, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly stable, lightweight, and free environment for collaborative editing without the frustrating glitches.

1. Download the software: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installer.
2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded setup file and follow the simple on-screen instructions to install the suite.
3. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open your .docx file to continue tracking changes smoothly and securely.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word formats (.docx, .doc)Stable Track Changes feature designed for extensive document reviewsLightweight software that prevents lagging or crashing on large filesFamiliar user interface requires no learning curve to master

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word randomly delete or change text when I type?

This can happen due to accidental touchpad presses moving the cursor, aggressive AutoCorrect settings replacing words, or underlying document corruption, especially in large files synced to SharePoint or OneDrive.

How can I recover text that was unexpectedly deleted?

You can use the 'Version History' feature in SharePoint, OneDrive, or Microsoft Word to view and restore a previous version of the document from before the unexpected deletions or corruptions occurred.

Does Track Changes cause document corruption in Word?

While Track Changes itself doesn't inherently cause corruption, heavily edited large documents with complex formatting, numerous comments, and multiple authors can sometimes become unstable, leading to glitches like unexpected insertions or garbled text.

How do I fix garbled text and random page numbers in a shared Word document?

Try opening the document using the 'Open and Repair' feature in Word, or download a local copy to edit offline. If the issue persists, copying the content (excluding the final paragraph mark) into a brand new document can often resolve underlying corruption.

Document & File Issues