File Corruption & Recovery

How to Recover Disappeared Tracked Changes in Word on Mac

Guest Writer Sep 28, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to recover tracked changes that have disappeared from a Microsoft Word document saved locally on a Mac.

How to Recover Missing Tracked Changes in a Local Word Document on Mac

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Reopening a locally saved Word document to find that recently tracked revisions are no longer present, and cloud history is unavailable.
Observed behavior: Most tracked changes are missing from the document. Because the file was saved locally on the Mac, OneDrive or SharePoint version history does not contain the missing edits.

Before you start

Verify that you are opening the original document from its correct local folder, rather than an older email attachment or a duplicate copy saved elsewhere on your Mac.

Solution 1Recommended

Check the Word AutoRecover Folder on Mac

Locate hidden AutoRecover files created by Word to see if an emergency backup of your tracked changes was saved before the application closed.

Microsoft Word periodically saves AutoRecover data for crash recovery. While local documents do not support real-time AutoSave, you might still find a temporary snapshot of your document here.

Open the Go to Folder tool

Click on the Finder icon, select the 'Go' menu at the top of your screen, and choose 'Go to Folder'.

Navigate to the AutoRecovery path

Type '~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Word/Data/Library/Preferences/AutoRecovery' into the search box and press Return.

Locate and open the backup

Look for files that begin with 'AutoRecovery save of' followed by your document's name. Double-click to open it in Word.

Save the recovered document

If your missing tracked changes are present, immediately go to File > Save As to create a permanent copy in your desired folder.

Check the Word AutoRecover Folder on Mac

AutoRecover Limitations: AutoRecover files are typically deleted automatically if Word is closed normally. This method works best if Word crashed or forced quit during your last session.

Solution 2

Restore the Document from a Time Machine Backup

Use macOS's built-in Time Machine feature to restore the folder containing your document to a date when the tracked changes were still present.

Solution 3

Verify Track Changes Display Settings

Ensure that the missing revisions are actually gone and not just hidden from view by Word's tracking layout settings.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Never Lose Tracked Changes Again with WPS Office

Since Microsoft Word's AutoSave feature only works with cloud storage, local edits on Mac are vulnerable to being lost. Switch to WPS Office for a lightweight, free alternative that offers robust local backup features and seamless Track Changes functionality.

1. Install WPS Office for Mac: Download and install the free WPS Office suite from the official website.
2. Open your Word Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing .docx files natively without losing formatting or existing revisions.
3. Use Track Changes and Backup: Navigate to the Review tab to utilize Track Changes, and configure local backup settings to ensure edits are always saved to your Mac safely.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx) formatsAdvanced Track Changes and collaboration toolsBuilt-in local file auto-backup to prevent data lossLightweight, fast performance with a familiar UI for Mac

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my tracked changes disappear in Word for Mac?

If you save a document locally, Word's continuous AutoSave feature (which relies on OneDrive or SharePoint) is disabled. If you closed the document without manually saving your progress, or if Word crashed without capturing an AutoRecover state, the recent tracked changes will not be retained.

Can I recover local Word files using OneDrive Version History?

No. Version History exclusively tracks changes for documents that are actively synced with OneDrive or SharePoint. Locally saved files do not have an associated cloud version history to restore from.

How often does Word for Mac save AutoRecover files?

By default, Word for Mac attempts to save AutoRecover information every 10 minutes. However, this feature is strictly designed to help recover files after a crash or power failure, and should not be used as a substitute for manually saving your document.

Document & File Issues