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How to Show Word Tracked Changes Inline and in Balloons at the Same Time
Question details
The user wants to view document revisions inline while simultaneously displaying review markup in side balloons.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Reviewing and editing a document that contains both tracked changes and comments.
- Observed behavior
- Recent software updates restrict the display methods, allowing the user to select only one markup display method rather than showing revisions inline and in balloons together.
Ensure you have saved all changes in your current document, as you will need to restart Microsoft Word for the interface settings to take effect.
Disable Modern Comments in Word Options
Revert to the classic review layout to restore the ability to show inline tracked changes and balloon comments simultaneously.
The introduction of 'modern comments' in recent Microsoft 365 updates separated comments from tracked changes. By disabling this feature, you can restore the legacy markup display options.
Launch Microsoft Word, click on the 'File' tab in the top-left corner of the ribbon, and select 'Options' at the very bottom of the menu.
In the Word Options dialog box, ensure the 'General' tab is selected in the left-hand navigation pane.
Scroll down to the 'User Interface options' section and uncheck the box labeled 'Enable modern comments'.
Click 'OK' to apply the changes. Close all open Word documents and restart the application to restore your classic tracking and balloon views.
Use WPS Writer for Effortless Track Changes Management
WPS Office provides a highly intuitive and classic Review interface, allowing you to seamlessly view tracked changes inline and comments in balloons without navigating complex update settings.
- 1. Open your document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open your .doc or .docx document containing the tracked changes.
- 2. Navigate to the Review tab: Click on the 'Review' tab on the top ribbon to access all document tracking and collaboration tools.
- 3. Configure Track Changes: Click on 'Track Changes' and use the 'Balloons' dropdown menu to select how you want revisions and comments displayed on the screen.
- 4. Review the document: You can now read the document with inline text deletions and additions while viewing comments neatly organized in the side margin balloons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Word stop showing tracked changes inline and in balloons together?
Recent updates to Microsoft Word introduced the 'modern comments' feature, which separates the comments interface from standard tracked changes, limiting the ability to display both simultaneously.
Where do I find the Review display settings in Microsoft Word?
You can adjust how revisions are shown by navigating to the 'Review' tab, clicking on the 'Tracking' group, and using the 'Show Markup' and 'Balloons' dropdown menus.
Will disabling modern comments delete my existing comments?
No, disabling modern comments only changes how the comments and tracked changes are visually displayed on your screen. Your actual comments and document text remain fully intact.
