How to Stop Word for Mac from Showing Tracked Changes on Document Open
Question details
The user needs to permanently hide or remove tracked changes that persistently appear every time a specific document is opened in Microsoft Word for Mac.
- Product
- Microsoft Word for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Opening a shared or previously edited document containing unresolved modifications.
- Observed behavior
- Word repeatedly displays tracked changes and comments when the file opens, ignoring user preferences to disable or hide the markup display.
Before resolving the markup, confirm with your collaborators that the review phase is fully complete, as accepting or rejecting edits will permanently alter the document's content.
Accept or Reject All Tracked Changes
Permanently resolve the tracked edits to prevent Word from displaying them as a security measure upon opening.
Microsoft Word intentionally retains tracked changes and displays them when a document is opened to prevent the accidental sharing of sensitive, hidden edits. Simply toggling the 'Highlight Changes' view only affects your current session.
To permanently remove the markup, you must explicitly accept or reject the changes incorporated into the document.
Open your document in Word for Mac and click on the 'Review' tab located in the main ribbon.
Click the drop-down arrow next to 'Accept' or 'Reject' in the Changes group, and select 'Accept All Changes in Document' or 'Reject All Changes in Document'.
If the document contains comments, click the drop-down arrow next to the 'Delete' button in the Comments group and choose 'Delete All Comments in Document'.
Press Cmd + S to save the file. The tracked changes are now resolved and will no longer appear when opening the file.
Remove Document Protection
If the options to accept or reject changes are grayed out, you must first remove document protection.
Manage Document Edits Seamlessly with WPS Office
If you find Microsoft Word's document tracking settings overly complicated, WPS Office offers a free, lightweight, and highly intuitive alternative. It features fully compatible reviewing tools, allowing you to easily read, edit, and resolve tracked changes in standard Word documents without the recurring display issues.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installation package for your Mac.
- 2. Open your Word Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your .docx file directly; all existing tracked changes will be recognized.
- 3. Manage track changes: Navigate to the Review tab to quickly accept or reject changes with a single click, saving your document flawlessly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do tracked changes reappear after I hide them in Word for Mac?
Hiding tracked changes by unchecking 'Highlight Changes' only changes your view for the current session. Word retains the actual edits in the document for privacy and security reasons until you permanently accept or reject them.
How can I tell if a Word document is protected for tracked changes?
If a document is protected, the 'Accept' and 'Reject' buttons in the Review tab will be grayed out or unclickable. You can verify this by going to Tools > Protect Document in the Mac menu bar.
Can I remove all tracked changes and comments at once?
Yes. Go to the Review tab, click the arrow next to the Accept button, and select 'Accept All Changes in Document'. Similarly, use the Delete button drop-down in the Comments group to select 'Delete All Comments in Document'.
