Office Settings & Configuration

Fix Word Track Changes Not Showing Deletions or Red Edits

Guest Writer Sep 30, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to restore standard Track Changes formatting so that edits appear in red and deleted text shows with a strikethrough instead of disappearing.

How to Fix Word Track Changes Not Showing Deletions or Red Edits

Product: Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Reviewing or editing a document collaboratively and attempting to view the exact text modifications.
Observed behavior: Edits are not appearing in red, and deleted text vanishes completely rather than showing with typical strikethrough formatting.

Before you start

Ensure that the Track Changes feature is actively turned on in your document and that you have not accidentally accepted or rejected all previous formatting changes.

Solution 1Recommended

Switch Display Mode to All Markup

The most common reason for hidden deletions or missing red text is that the document view is set to "Simple Markup" or "No Markup". Switching to "All Markup" reveals all formatting.

Modern word processors often default to a simplified view to make reading easier. However, this hides the detailed markup, meaning deleted text will simply disappear instead of showing a strikethrough.

Navigate to the Review Tab

Open your document and click on the 'Review' tab in the top ribbon menu.

Locate the Tracking Group

Find the 'Tracking' section within the Review ribbon.

Change the Display for Review

Click the dropdown menu that currently says 'Simple Markup' or 'No Markup' and change it to 'All Markup'.

Markup Restored: Once selected, all your deleted text will reappear with strikethrough lines, and new edits will show in their respective colors.

Solution 2

Configure Advanced Track Changes Formatting

If "All Markup" is selected but changes still look incorrect, the specific formatting options for insertions and deletions might have been altered.

Efficient Document Review

Use Track Changes Seamlessly in WPS Writer

WPS Writer offers an intuitive and highly compatible Track Changes feature, ensuring all your insertions, deletions, and comments are clearly visible exactly as they are in Microsoft Word.

1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document you wish to review.
2. Go to the Review tab: Click on the 'Review' tab at the top of the workspace.
3. Enable Track Changes: Click the 'Track Changes' button to turn on document tracking.
4. Select All Markup: Ensure the markup dropdown is set to 'All Markup' so deletions and additions are distinctly visible.

Clearly see all edits and deletions with color-coded markup100% compatibility with Microsoft Word DOCX formats and reviewing toolsLightweight, fast performance for heavy document editingClean UI makes toggling markup options straightforward

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my deleted text completely disappearing instead of showing a strikethrough?

This happens if your tracking display is set to 'Simple Markup' (which hides the clutter of deletions) or if the advanced deletion settings are configured to 'Hidden' instead of 'Strikethrough'.

Can I choose specific colors for different authors in Track Changes?

Yes. Under the Review tab, open the Tracking dialog launcher, select Advanced Options, and set the Color drop-down to 'By author'. The software will automatically assign a unique color to each editor.

How do I print a document with the tracked changes showing?

When you go to Print (Ctrl + P), look at the settings under your selected printer. Open the 'Print All Pages' or document properties dropdown and ensure that 'Print Markup' is checked with a checkmark.

How do I accept all track changes to finalize my document?

Navigate to the Review tab, click the arrow below or next to the 'Accept' button in the Changes group, and select 'Accept All Changes and Stop Tracking'.

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