Formatting Issues

How to Fix Word Track Changes Revisions Not Showing in Color

Olivia Miller Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to see color formatting for tracked changes and revisions in a document.

How to Fix Word Track Changes Revisions Not Showing in Color

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Reviewing or editing a document with the Track Changes feature enabled.
Observed behavior: Revisions and tracked edits appear as plain text or without color differentiation, making it difficult to distinguish edits from original text or between different authors.

Before you start

Ensure that your document is currently displaying in Print Layout view and that Track Changes is actively enabled before modifying any display settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Change Markup View and Adjust Advanced Color Settings

The most common reason for missing revision colors is having a restricted markup view selected or having the revision color manually forced to a single default.

Word allows you to toggle how much markup is displayed on the screen. If 'Simple Markup' or 'No Markup' is selected, colorized details will be hidden. Additionally, the tracking configuration might not be set to assign colors by author.

Select 'All Markup'

Navigate to the 'Review' tab on the ribbon. In the 'Tracking' group, open the 'Display for Review' dropdown menu and select 'All Markup'.

Open Advanced Options

In the same 'Tracking' group, click the small dialog box launcher arrow in the bottom right corner to open the Track Changes Options dialog.

Adjust Advanced Track Changes Options

Click on 'Advanced Options'. Look at the color settings for Insertions, Deletions, and formatting. Ensure these dropdowns are set to 'By Author' so that different editors get distinct colors.

Save Settings

Click 'OK' to apply the changes and return to your document to see if the colors are restored.

Change Markup View and Adjust Advanced Color Settings

Why Choose 'By Author'?: Setting the color preference to 'By Author' allows Word to automatically assign a unique color to each collaborator's edits, making document reviews much easier.

Solution 2

Reset Word Settings Data Folder

If adjusting the internal document settings does not restore track changes colors, the local Word application configuration files might be corrupted.

Efficient Document Review

Track Changes Effortlessly with WPS Writer

WPS Writer offers an intuitive and colorful Track Changes feature fully compatible with Microsoft Word. It is perfect for collaboration, allowing you to easily manage revisions, display author-specific colors, and accept or reject changes with a single click.

1. Open your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document you wish to review.
2. Access the Review Tab: Click on the 'Review' tab located on the top navigation ribbon.
3. Enable Track Changes: Click the 'Track Changes' button to start logging edits. Changes will automatically appear in distinct colors.
4. Customize Preferences: Click the 'Track Changes Options' dropdown to easily toggle balloons, markup views, or specific author colors.

100% format compatibility with Microsoft Word (.docx) documentsClear, color-coded Track Changes by author for easy collaborationFree, lightweight, and fast office suiteFamiliar ribbon interface ensures zero learning curve

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pick specific colors for my track changes instead of letting the software decide?

Yes. In the Advanced Track Changes Options menu, you can manually assign specific colors (like Blue, Green, or Purple) for insertions, deletions, and formatting changes instead of using the default 'By Author' setting.

Why do all my track changes appear in red only?

If all changes appear in red, your Track Changes color options are likely set manually to 'Red' for all insertions and deletions. Changing this setting back to 'By Author' will restore multiple colors if multiple people are editing the document.

Do Track Changes colors show up when I print the document?

Yes, if you select 'Print Markup' within your print settings, the document will print exactly as it appears on your screen, including all color-coded tracked changes and comment balloons.

Will my revision colors be saved when sharing the document with others?

The 'By Author' setting is saved with the document. However, the exact color assigned to a specific author is generated locally by the viewer's application, meaning your edits might appear blue on your screen but green on your colleague's screen.

Document & File Issues