Office Settings & Configuration

How to Disable Track Changes Accept or Reject Popups in Word

Phi Hung Vo Oct 12, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to disable the 'Accept or Reject' popups that appear next to tracked changes in Word, which may also cause slow performance or application crashes.

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Reviewing and editing a document with the Track Changes feature enabled.
Observed behavior: Word displays intrusive 'Accept or Reject' popups beside tracked changes, sometimes accompanied by slow performance or crashes after a recent software update.

Before you start

Before modifying your settings, check your current Microsoft Word version by navigating to File > Account, and take a screenshot of the popup if you plan to report the issue to support.

Solution 1Recommended

Adjust Track Changes Markup Settings

Modify how revisions are displayed to hide the inline popups and improve document performance.

Often, the inline popups are triggered by specific markup display settings in Word. By changing how revisions are shown on the screen, you can bypass these popups and reduce the processing load on your computer.

Open the Review Tab

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

Modify Tracking View

In the Tracking group, click the 'Display for Review' drop-down menu (often set to 'All Markup') and change it to 'Simple Markup' or 'No Markup'.

Adjust Balloon Settings

Click on 'Show Markup', hover over 'Balloons', and select 'Show All Revisions Inline' to prevent floating popups from appearing on the side of your document.

Performance Boost: Hiding detailed markup not only removes the popups but can significantly speed up Word when working on large documents.

Solution 2

Disable Conflicting COM Add-ins

Third-party add-ins can interfere with the Track Changes feature, causing unwanted popups or application crashes.

Solution 3

Update or Repair Microsoft Office

Resolve underlying software bugs causing unexpected popups and crashes by updating or repairing your Office installation.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Edit Documents Smoothly with WPS Office

If Microsoft Word updates are causing intrusive popups, crashes, or slow performance, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible word processor with a clean Track Changes interface, free from frustrating performance bugs.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and install the free WPS Office suite.
2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing .docx file. All formatting and tracked changes will be preserved.
3. Review Seamlessly: Navigate to the Review tab to manage your tracked changes smoothly without performance drops or annoying popups.

Free and lightweight alternative to Microsoft OfficeFully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formatsClean Track Changes interface without intrusive inline popupsFast performance and stability, even on exceptionally large documents

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Word lagging so much when Track Changes is turned on?

Word can become sluggish if a document is very large and contains a massive amount of tracked edits or complex formatting. Changing the view to 'Simple Markup' or 'No Markup', or accepting all changes, usually restores normal performance.

How do I accept all tracked changes at once to stop the popups?

Go to the 'Review' tab on the ribbon, click the drop-down arrow under the 'Accept' button in the Tracking group, and select 'Accept All Changes'. This will finalize the document and remove all markup.

Can I stop Word from tracking my formatting changes?

Yes. Navigate to the 'Review' tab, click the small dialogue box launcher icon in the bottom right corner of the 'Tracking' group (Advanced Track Changes Options), and uncheck the 'Track Formatting' option.

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