SharePoint Document Issues

How to Compare an Open Word Document with a SharePoint or Teams File

Ayan Masood Oct 16, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to compare a currently open Word document with a revised file located in SharePoint or Microsoft Teams, but the file cannot be found in the comparison dialog.

How to Compare an Open Word Document with a SharePoint or Teams File

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to use the Compare feature in Microsoft Word to review changes between a local file and a cloud-stored file.
Observed behavior: Word does not display every open or recent document in the Compare dialog, and the Browse option fails to directly access files stored in Teams or SharePoint.

Before you start

Ensure you have the OneDrive desktop application installed and signed in with your work or school account, as it is required to sync SharePoint and Teams files to your computer.

Solution 1Recommended

Sync the SharePoint or Teams Library Locally

By synchronizing your cloud document library to your local drive, you can bypass the Browse limitation and easily select your files directly within the Compare dialog.

Currently open documents should ideally appear in the Compare dialog's list of recent files. However, due to interface behavior in certain Word versions, cloud files may not populate correctly. Syncing the library locally creates a standard file path that Word can easily read.

Navigate to the cloud library

Open Microsoft Teams or your SharePoint site in a web browser and go to the channel or document library where the target file is stored.

Sync the folder

Click the 'Sync' button located in the top toolbar to synchronize the cloud library with your local computer via OneDrive.

Open the Compare tool in Word

In your open Microsoft Word document, navigate to the 'Review' tab on the ribbon and click 'Compare' > 'Compare...'.

Browse for the synced file

In the Compare Documents dialog box, click the yellow folder icon next to the 'Original document' or 'Revised document' dropdown menu.

Select your document

Use the File Explorer window to navigate to your newly synced SharePoint or Teams folder (usually found under your organization's name in the left navigation pane) and select the document to begin the comparison.

Sync the SharePoint or Teams Library Locally

Report Interface Behavior: Since open cloud documents should natively appear in the Compare dialog, consider reporting this interface limitation directly to Microsoft using Word's Help > Feedback option.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Compare Documents Seamlessly with WPS Office

If Microsoft Word struggles to locate your SharePoint or Teams files for comparison, try WPS Office. It provides a robust, intuitive document comparison feature and serves as a highly compatible, free alternative to Microsoft Office.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to securely download and install the free office suite.
2. Open WPS Writer: Launch WPS Writer and open the original version of your document.
3. Use the Compare Tool: Navigate to the Review tab, click Compare, and browse your local or synced folders to select the revised document.

Seamless format compatibility with Microsoft Word (.docx) filesIntuitive Document Compare tool to quickly highlight revisionsLightweight application that runs smoothly without laggingFree to use with a familiar, user-friendly interface

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't my open cloud document appear in Word's Compare dialog?

This is a known interface limitation in some versions of Word where cloud-based or recently opened documents fail to populate in the recent files dropdown. Syncing the file locally via OneDrive is the most reliable workaround.

Can I directly paste a SharePoint link into Word's Compare Browse window?

Typically, the Browse function in the Compare dialog requires a local file path or a mapped network drive. Pasting a web URL from SharePoint often results in an error, which is why downloading or syncing the file is recommended.

How do I access files stored in Teams from the Word Compare dialog without syncing?

If you prefer not to sync the entire library, you can simply download a copy of the Teams file directly to your desktop or Downloads folder, run the comparison in Word using that downloaded file, and then delete the local copy afterward.

How do I stop syncing a SharePoint library once I am done comparing?

Click the OneDrive cloud icon in your system tray, open Settings, go to the 'Account' tab, locate the specific SharePoint library you synced, and click 'Stop sync' next to it.

Document & File Issues