'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
How to Fix Track Changes Showing Unknown Author in Word
Question details
Users experience an issue in Microsoft Word where tracked changes display the author as 'Unknown', and attempting to remove document properties fails to properly standardize or anonymize the author name.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Anonymizing a document with tracked changes or reviewing edits from multiple authors.
- Observed behavior
- The author name displays as 'Unknown', and utilizing the Document Inspector to remove personal information does not resolve the display issue consistently.
Ensure you have saved a backup copy of your document before altering document properties or privacy settings, as anonymizing author data cannot always be undone.
Disable the 'Remove Personal Information' Setting
If you want actual author names to appear instead of 'Unknown', you must disable the privacy setting that strips this data upon saving.
Microsoft Word has a built-in privacy feature designed to remove identifying information from file properties when the document is saved. If this feature is accidentally enabled, all new tracked changes and comments will have their author changed to 'Unknown' upon saving.
Click on the 'File' tab in the top ribbon, select 'Options' at the bottom, and then click on 'Trust Center' in the left pane. Finally, click the 'Trust Center Settings' button.
In the Trust Center window, select 'Privacy Options' from the menu on the left.
Look for the checkbox labeled 'Remove personal information from file properties on save' under the Document-specific settings section. Uncheck this box.
Click 'OK' to close the dialog boxes, save your document, and add a new tracked change to verify that your author name now appears correctly.
Isolate the Issue and Contact Microsoft Support
If the issue persists despite changing Trust Center settings, determine if it is a document-specific glitch and gather details for Microsoft Support.
Use WPS Writer for Reliable Document Collaboration
If Microsoft Word's tracked changes and privacy settings are causing workflow interruptions, try WPS Office. It is a highly compatible, free, and lightweight alternative that allows you to cleanly track changes, manage document metadata, and collaborate without unexpected 'Unknown' author errors.
- 1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office for free from the official website and complete the lightweight installation.
- 2. Open Your Word Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing .docx file directly to view any existing tracked changes.
- 3. Manage Track Changes: Navigate to the 'Review' tab on the top ribbon to easily turn Track Changes on or off, and manage user metadata reliably.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my tracked changes suddenly show as 'Unknown' in Word?
This typically occurs when the 'Remove personal information from file properties on save' option is enabled in Word's Trust Center. When you save the document, Word automatically strips the author's identity to protect privacy.
How can I reveal the original author if it already says 'Unknown'?
Unfortunately, once the personal information has been stripped and the document is saved, the author metadata is permanently deleted. You cannot recover the original author names for those specific edits.
Does WPS Office support Microsoft Word's tracked changes?
Yes, WPS Office is fully compatible with Microsoft Word's Track Changes feature. You can open a .docx file in WPS Writer and continue to view, accept, or reject edits made by others without losing original metadata.
How do I properly anonymize a document for blind peer review?
To intentionally anonymize a document, go to File > Info > Check for Issues > Inspect Document. Run the inspector, and then click 'Remove All' next to 'Document Properties and Personal Information'. All tracked changes will then display as 'Author' or 'Unknown'.
