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How to Stop New Word Documents from Opening with Track Changes on Mac
Question details
The user needs to prevent new Microsoft Word documents from defaulting to having Track Changes turned on upon creation.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- Creating a new blank document in Microsoft Word on a Mac.
- Observed behavior
- Every new document automatically opens with Track Changes enabled because the default Normal.dotm template was previously saved with revision tracking turned on.
Before making changes to your default template, ensure that all currently open Word documents are saved and closed to prevent conflicts when editing the Normal.dotm file.
Edit the Normal.dotm Template via the Visual Basic Editor
The most reliable way to fix this issue is by opening the default Normal.dotm template directly, turning off Track Changes, and saving it.
Since new documents inherit their settings from the Normal.dotm template, any accidental changes saved to this template will carry over to all future documents. Using the built-in Developer tools ensures you open the correct global template file.
Open Microsoft Word. Go to Word > Preferences > Ribbon & Toolbar in the top menu, check the box next to 'Developer' in the right pane, and click Save.
Navigate to the newly added Developer tab on the ribbon and click on the 'Visual Basic' button.
In the Visual Basic editor, go to View > Immediate Window (or press Control+G) to open the command input area.
Type `Application.NormalTemplate.OpenAsDocument` exactly as written into the Immediate window and press Enter. This will open the core template file in Word.
Switch back to the main Word interface. The open document's title bar should say 'Normal.dotm'. Go to the Review tab and click the Track Changes button to turn it off, or press Command+Shift+E.
Save the Normal.dotm file (Command+S) and close it. All new documents you create will now open in standard Editing mode without Track Changes enabled.
Toggle Track Changes Quickly Using Keyboard Shortcuts
Use this method if you only need to turn off Track Changes for a specific document without permanently altering the default template.
Try WPS Office for a Hassle-Free Writing Experience
If dealing with persistent background template issues in Microsoft Word is slowing you down, WPS Office provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative. It offers powerful word processing without the complex, hidden template configurations that often disrupt workflows.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the Mac version of the software.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Open the downloaded file and follow the simple on-screen instructions to install the application.
- 3. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing Word documents to continue working without annoying template glitches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do all my new Word documents automatically open with Track Changes turned on?
This happens if Microsoft Word's global template file, called Normal.dotm, was accidentally modified and saved while the Track Changes feature was enabled. Every new blank document inherits its starting state from this template.
Where is the Normal.dotm template file located on a Mac?
By default, the Normal.dotm file is hidden in your Mac's Library folder. You can usually find it by going to ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/User Content/Templates. However, using the Visual Basic editor inside Word is often the fastest way to access it safely.
Will disabling Track Changes in my current document fix the template issue?
No. Turning off Track Changes in a standard document will only affect that specific file. To fix the issue for all future documents, you must open, modify, and save the Normal.dotm template directly.
What is the Mac keyboard shortcut for toggling Track Changes?
You can quickly turn Track Changes on or off in Microsoft Word for Mac by pressing Command+Shift+E.
