Fix Tracked Changes Showing in One Color on Word for iPad
Question details
Tracked changes in Microsoft Word appear only in black or a single color on an iPad, despite displaying correctly with multiple colors on other devices.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- iPadOS
- Scenario
- Reviewing or editing a document with tracked changes on an iPad.
- Observed behavior
- All tracked edits display in a single color instead of distinguishing different authors with unique colors.
Verify if the issue occurs with all documents on your iPad or just one specific file to determine if it is a document corruption issue or an app bug.
Copy Content to a New Word Document
Transferring your text to a fresh document can resolve underlying file corruption causing the single-color issue.
If the behavior affects only a single document, the file itself might contain corrupted formatting data that prevents the iPad version of Word from rendering author colors correctly. Recreating the document often clears these formatting glitches.
Launch Microsoft Word on your iPad and open the document displaying the tracked changes color issue.
Tap and hold on the text to select it, then drag the grabber to highlight the entire document. Tap 'Copy' from the context menu.
Return to the Word home screen and tap 'Blank document' to create a new file.
Tap on the blank page and select 'Paste'. Check the Review tab to confirm if the tracked changes now display in their correct, distinct colors.
Check and Update Your Word Version
Outdated app versions may contain specific rendering bugs affecting how tracked changes are displayed on iPadOS.
Review Documents Flawlessly with WPS Office for iPad
If Microsoft Word continues to display tracked changes incorrectly on your iPad, switch to WPS Office. It is a highly compatible, free, and lightweight alternative that renders document formatting, including tracked changes and distinct author colors, perfectly.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download WPS Office for free from the iPad App Store.
- 2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Office and locate your Word document in your iPad's file manager or cloud storage.
- 3. View Tracked Changes: Navigate to the Review tab to view your tracked changes clearly displayed in multiple colors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do all my tracked changes show up as one color in Word for iPad?
This usually happens due to document corruption or a display bug within the specific version of the iPad Word app. It prevents the app from reading the individual author color settings properly.
How do I change the color of tracked changes on my iPad?
In the Word app on iPad, you cannot customize specific colors for each author manually; the app automatically assigns colors. If it fails, copying the text to a new file or updating the app can force the app to refresh the formatting.
Will my tracked changes keep their colors if I send the file to a PC?
Yes. Even if the colors display incorrectly as black on your iPad due to an app glitch, the underlying author color data is usually preserved and will display correctly when the document is opened on a Windows PC or Mac.
