Office for Mac Issues

How to Change the Author Name for Word Comments and Track Changes on Mac

John Wilson Oct 20, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to change the author name associated with comments and tracked changes in Microsoft Word on a Mac.

How to Change the Author Name for Word Comments and Track Changes on Mac

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: Mac
Scenario: Editing a document collaboratively and needing to display a specific author name for new comments and tracked changes.
Observed behavior: The author name needs to be updated for future comments and tracked changes, but existing comments and revisions will retain the previous author name.

Before you start

Ensure you have Microsoft Word open on your Mac. Keep in mind that updating your user information will only apply to new comments and tracked changes, not existing ones.

Solution 1Recommended

Update User Information in Word Preferences

Modify the default author name settings in Word Preferences to apply a new name to all future comments and edits.

Microsoft Word for Mac pulls the author name for comments and Track Changes directly from your application's User Information settings. Changing this will immediately affect your next edit.

Open Word Preferences

Launch Microsoft Word on your Mac. In the top Apple menu bar, click on 'Word' and select 'Preferences' from the dropdown menu.

Access User Information

In the Word Preferences window, locate and click on 'User Information' under the Personal Settings section.

Update Author Name

Type your desired author name in the 'Name' or 'First' and 'Last' name fields. You can also update your initials.

Save and Apply

Close the Preferences window to save your changes. Any new comments or tracked changes you create will now display the updated author name.

Update User Information in Word Preferences

Existing Comments: This method only applies to new comments and tracked changes. Existing comments and revisions will continue to display the previous author name.

WPS Writer Collaboration

How to Change the Author Name in WPS Office

WPS Office is a powerful, lightweight, and fully compatible alternative to Microsoft Office. It allows you to easily manage Track Changes and Comments, including updating your author name for collaborative editing.

1. Open WPS Office: Launch WPS Office on your Mac and open a Writer document.
2. Access Settings: Click on 'WPS Office' in the top Mac menu bar and select 'Preferences' or 'Settings'.
3. Update User Information: Navigate to the 'User Information' section, enter your new author name, and click 'OK' to apply the changes to all new comments and revisions.

100% compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formatsIntuitive interface for managing Track Changes and CommentsLightweight and runs smoothly on macOSFree to use with a familiar layout

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the author name on existing comments in Word for Mac?

No, changing the User Information in Word Preferences only applies to new comments and tracked changes. To change the name on existing comments, you would typically need to use a VBA macro or inspect the document to remove personal information, which changes all existing authors to a generic 'Author'.

Why did my author name change to 'Author' on all my comments?

This happens if the 'Remove personal information from this file on save' option is enabled in Word's security or privacy settings. It strips specific user names and replaces them with a generic 'Author' label to protect your privacy when sharing the document.

Will changing my author name in Word affect other Office apps like Excel or PowerPoint?

Yes, the User Information setting is generally shared across the Microsoft Office suite on Mac, so updating your name in Word will also update it for new comments in Excel and PowerPoint.

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