How to Hide Track Changes for Specific Authors in Word
Question details
The user is asking if it is possible to disable the Track Changes feature for only one specific author while keeping it active for others in a shared document.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Collaborating on a shared document where multiple authors are making edits, and the user wants to filter which reviewers' tracked changes are applied or visible.
- Observed behavior
- Track Changes records edits from all users by default, making the document cluttered, and the user wants to isolate or exclude a single author's modifications.
Ensure that your shared document is open and that the Track Changes feature has already been activated to record edits from multiple collaborators.
Filter Displayed Changes by Specific Reviewers
While you cannot completely turn off tracking for a single user, you can easily hide their tracked changes from your view by adjusting the Show Markup settings.
In Microsoft Word, Track Changes is a document-wide setting. When enabled, it records every edit made by anyone who opens the file. Although you cannot disable tracking for just one person, you can filter your display so that specific authors' edits are hidden or solely visible on your screen.
Open your Word document and click on the 'Review' tab located in the top ribbon.
In the Tracking group, click the 'Show Markup' dropdown button to reveal display preferences.
Hover over 'Specific People' in the dropdown menu. You will see a list of all authors who have made edits to the document.
Uncheck the names of the reviewers whose changes you want to hide. Alternatively, to view only one person's edits, uncheck 'All Reviewers' and then select only that specific author's name.
Manage Track Changes Easily with WPS Writer
WPS Office offers a comprehensive, highly compatible, and free alternative to Microsoft Word. With WPS Writer, you can effortlessly track changes, filter edits by specific reviewers, and collaborate with your team without compatibility issues.
- 1. Open your shared document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document containing multiple authors' edits.
- 2. Go to the Review tab: Click on the 'Review' tab at the top of the application window.
- 3. Filter by Reviewers: Click on 'Show Markup', hover over 'Reviewers', and uncheck the authors whose edits you wish to hide from your view.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I completely stop tracking changes for just one person?
No, Track Changes is a global document setting. When it is turned on, it applies to all users editing the document. However, you can hide specific people's changes from your view using the 'Show Markup' menu.
Will hiding an author's changes delete their edits?
No. Hiding an author's changes through the 'Specific People' or 'Reviewers' setting only affects your display. Their edits are still tracked, saved within the document, and visible to other users who have not hidden them.
How do I accept changes from only one specific author?
First, use the 'Show Markup' > 'Specific People' menu to display only the changes from that particular author. Then, click the drop-down arrow under 'Accept' on the Review tab and select 'Accept All Changes Shown'. This will apply their edits while leaving other hidden authors' changes untouched.
