How to Change the Color of Your Own Track Changes in Word
Question details
The user wants to assign a unique, specific color to their own tracked changes in a document to easily distinguish their edits from those of other reviewers.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Collaborating on a document with multiple reviewers and needing a clear visual distinction for personal insertions and deletions.
- Observed behavior
- Microsoft Word automatically assigns colors to different reviewers, preventing users from manually picking a permanent custom color exclusively for their own edits.
Ensure you have the 'Track Changes' feature turned on in the Review tab. Note that Word natively assigns markup colors by author automatically, meaning you cannot permanently map a specific color to your own name.
Filter Track Changes by Specific Reviewers
Since you cannot assign a specific color to yourself, the best workaround is to isolate your edits by filtering the markup to show only your changes.
Microsoft Word does not support manual color mapping per user. By default, it rotates through available colors for each new author. To focus entirely on what you have added or deleted, you can temporarily hide the edits made by other collaborators.
Open your Word document and click on the 'Review' tab located in the top ribbon.
Locate the 'Tracking' group and click on the 'Show Markup' dropdown option.
Hover your cursor over 'Specific People' (or 'Reviewers' in some versions) in the dropdown menu.
Uncheck all other reviewers' names except your own. The document will now only display your tracked changes, making them easy to identify regardless of the assigned color.
Apply One Color for All Tracked Changes
If you prefer a consistent look and do not need to distinguish between different reviewers, you can force all track changes to appear in a single chosen color.
Seamlessly Review Documents with WPS Office
If you are frustrated by Microsoft Word's rigid limitations with track changes customization, try WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and free alternative with intuitive document review features.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installation package for your operating system.
- 2. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing Word document. The formatting and tracked changes will be perfectly preserved.
- 3. Manage track changes: Navigate to the Review tab to access familiar tracking tools, manage reviewers, and collaborate effortlessly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Word keep changing the color of my track changes?
Word dynamically assigns colors 'By author' to keep edits distinct. If you close and reopen a document, or if the document is shared among multiple computers, Word may reassign the color palette to ensure each reviewer still has a unique color.
Can I force Word to print track changes in black and white?
Yes. While printing, you can configure your printer properties to print in grayscale. Alternatively, you can temporarily go to the Advanced Track Changes options and change the color for Insertions and Deletions from 'By author' to 'Black' before printing.
How do I remove track changes and colors completely from my document?
To remove the colored markup permanently, you must accept or reject the edits. Go to the Review tab, click the arrow below 'Accept', and select 'Accept All Changes'. Finally, turn off Track Changes by clicking the Track Changes button so future typing isn't tracked.
