Document Editing Problems

How to View Author and Time Details for Tracked Changes in Word

Olivia Miller Sep 25, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs a reliable way to view the author and timestamp details for tracked changes made by themselves and other contributors in a Word document.

How to View Author and Time Details for Tracked Changes in Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Reviewing a collaborated document where multiple authors have made edits over time.
Observed behavior: Hovering over tracked changes does not consistently display the author and timestamp, particularly for changes made by the user themselves in certain versions of Word.

Before you start

Ensure that the 'Track Changes' feature was actually enabled when the edits were made, and verify that your document display settings are set to show markup.

Solution 1Recommended

Generate a List of Markup

Use the Print menu to generate a comprehensive, chronological list of all changes, which reliably displays timestamps and author names for everyone.

Because newer versions of Word may not always show your own editing timestamps when hovering, printing or previewing the List of Markup is the most reliable way to establish a chronology of edits.

Access the Print menu

Click on 'File' in the top-left corner of the Word ribbon, then select 'Print' from the left-hand sidebar.

Select List of Markup

Under the 'Settings' section, click the first dropdown menu (which typically says 'Print All Pages'). Look under the 'Document Info' category and select 'List of Markup'.

View the chronolocial details

Check the print preview or proceed to print or save the document as a PDF. The output will list every tracked change chronologically, complete with the author's name, date, and exact time.

Pro Tip: Saving the List of Markup as a PDF is an excellent way to keep a permanent, unalterable record of who made what changes and when.

Solution 2

View Details by Hovering Over the Tracked Change

Use the built-in tooltip feature to quickly check the author and timestamp of a specific edit directly within the document.

Easily Manage Tracked Changes with WPS Writer

WPS Office provides a highly intuitive Track Changes feature that clearly displays author names, timestamps, and edit details for all collaborators in a unified Reviewing Pane without version-specific display bugs.

1. Open your document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open your .docx file containing the tracked changes.
2. Enable the Reviewing Pane: Navigate to the 'Review' tab on the top ribbon and click on 'Reviewing Pane'.
3. View comprehensive change details: Look at the pane on the side or bottom of your screen to see a complete chronological list of all edits, clearly showing authors and timestamps.

Clearly view author and timestamp details for every single editFully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) track changes and commentsUser-friendly revision pane for quick chronological reviewFree, lightweight, and fast alternative to Microsoft Office

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I see my own name and timestamp when hovering over a tracked change?

In certain updates of Microsoft Word, hovering over a change you made yourself does not trigger the details tooltip. The tooltip is often prioritized for viewing changes made by other collaborators. To view your own timestamps, generate a 'List of Markup' via the Print menu.

How do I show the Reviewing Pane to see all edits at once?

Go to the 'Review' tab on the ribbon and click 'Reviewing Pane'. You can choose to display it vertically on the left side or horizontally at the bottom. This pane lists all changes in the document along with their respective authors and timestamps.

Can I hide the author's name in tracked changes before sharing the document?

Yes, you can anonymize tracked changes by removing personal information. Go to File > Info > Check for Issues > Inspect Document. Check the box for 'Document Properties and Personal Information', click Inspect, and then select 'Remove All'. This changes the author name to 'Author'.

Document & File Issues