Document Editing Problems

How to Hide Reviewer Names in Word Track Changes and Comments

Steven Parker Oct 15, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user wants to anonymize tracked changes and comments in a Word document by hiding or unifying all reviewer names.

How to Hide Reviewer Names in Word Track Changes and Comments

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Preparing a reviewed document for sharing where multiple authors' identities and editing colors need to be concealed or standardized.
Observed behavior: The document currently displays tracked changes and comments with distinct, identifiable reviewer names and multiple formatting colors.

Before you start

Always save a backup copy of your document before removing personal information, as the original reviewer names cannot be restored once they are deleted.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Document Inspector to Remove Personal Information

Use Word's built-in Document Inspector tool to permanently replace all distinct reviewer names with a generic 'Author' label.

This method strips out all personal identifying information from your document's metadata, comments, and tracked changes. Once applied, all revisions will be attributed to a single, anonymous 'Author'. Ensure you apply this only to a copy of your document if you need to keep a record of who made specific changes.

Open Document Info

Open the Word document containing the track changes and comments. Click on the 'File' tab in the top-left corner, then select 'Info'.

Launch the Document Inspector

Click on the 'Check for Issues' button, and then select 'Inspect Document' from the drop-down menu.

Select Inspection Options

In the Document Inspector dialog box, make sure the checkbox for 'Document Properties and Personal Information' is selected. You can clear the other checkboxes if you do not want to inspect for other items.

Inspect and Remove

Click the 'Inspect' button. Once the inspection is complete, click 'Remove All' next to the 'Document Properties and Personal Information' results.

Save the Document

Close the Document Inspector and save your document. All reviewer names in the tracked changes and comments will now display as 'Author'.

Use the Document Inspector to Remove Personal Information

Important Note on Colors: Removing personal information changes the reviewer names to 'Author', but it does not guarantee that every formatting color will be identical. To change colors, you must adjust your Track Changes Advanced Options.

Manage Track Changes with WPS Writer

Easily Manage and Anonymize Track Changes in WPS Writer

WPS Writer provides a robust set of reviewing tools, allowing you to seamlessly track changes, collaborate, and secure your documents by stripping personal information before sharing.

1. Open your Document in WPS: Launch WPS Writer and open the document containing the track changes and comments.
2. Access Security Options: Click on 'Menu' at the top left corner of the screen, then click on 'Options' at the bottom of the drop-down.
3. Navigate to Security: In the Options dialog box, select the 'Security' tab from the left-hand menu.
4. Enable Privacy Settings: Check the box labeled 'Remove personal information from file properties on save' under the Privacy options, then click 'OK'.
5. Save to Anonymize: Save your document. All identifying reviewer names will be immediately replaced with generic author labels.

Remove personal information automatically upon saving to hide reviewer identities.Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) track changes and comment formatting.Intuitive review tab interface for accepting, rejecting, and managing document revisions.Free and lightweight office suite with cross-platform support.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I restore the reviewer names after removing them with Document Inspector?

No, once you click 'Remove All' in the Document Inspector and save the file, the names are permanently replaced with 'Author'. This action cannot be undone, which is why saving a backup copy beforehand is highly recommended.

Why are the track changes colors still different after removing reviewer names?

Removing personal information only anonymizes the names. Word may still assign different colors based on distinct editing sessions or generic author IDs. To display all changes in one color, go to the Review tab, click the arrow next to Tracking options, select Advanced Options, and manually set the colors for insertions and deletions to a specific color instead of 'By author'.

How do I change my reviewer name for future track changes?

You can change the name that appears on your future edits by going to File > Options > General. Under the 'Personalize your copy of Microsoft Office' section, update the 'User name' and 'Initials' fields, and check the box that says 'Always use these values regardless of sign in to Office'.

Document & File Issues