Office Settings & Configuration

What Are Track Changes Cards in Microsoft Word and How to Use Them

Steve K Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is looking for an explanation of the Track Changes cards feature in Microsoft Word and wants to know if the notification promoting this feature can be disabled.

What Are Track Changes Cards in Microsoft Word?

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Collaborating on and reviewing document revisions with other users.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Word displays a notification promoting the new Track Changes cards review experience, which does not have an obvious setting to be turned off.

Before you start

Ensure you are signed in and your Microsoft Word is updated to the latest version, as Track Changes cards are a modern feature introduced in recent Office updates.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Track Changes Cards for Document Review

Understand how the Track Changes cards work to effectively review, accept, or reject edits in your document.

Track Changes cards are a modern review feature in Microsoft Word that presents document edits and revisions in a cleaner, more organized format. Instead of cluttering the main text, changes are displayed as interactive cards in the margins, making it easier for collaborators to examine revisions before finalizing them.

Enable Track Changes

Open your document, navigate to the 'Review' tab on the top ribbon, and click 'Track Changes' to start recording edits.

Interact with the Cards

When a collaborator makes an edit, click the corresponding Track Changes card in the margin to view the details of the revision.

Accept or Reject Edits

Use the checkmark or cross icons within the Track Changes card to quickly accept or reject the specific change.

Use Track Changes Cards for Document Review

Feature Notification: Word periodically shows a notification about this feature to promote the newer review experience. Currently, there is no direct toggle in the settings to disable this specific notification.

Solution 2

Provide Feedback on Track Changes Notifications

Since the notification cannot be disabled locally, you can submit feedback directly to Microsoft if you find the prompt intrusive.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Distraction-Free Review Experience

If you find Microsoft Word's un-dismissible feature notifications distracting and prefer a straightforward, classic revision tracking system, WPS Writer is an excellent free alternative. It provides a lightweight, familiar interface while maintaining seamless compatibility with all your Microsoft Office documents.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free WPS Office suite for your operating system.
2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing .docx file. All previous track changes and comments will load perfectly.
3. Track Changes Seamlessly: Navigate to the 'Review' tab to use standard, distraction-free track changes to collaborate with your team.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) track changes and formatting.Clean, familiar interface without intrusive or mandatory feature notifications.Completely free and lightweight alternative for document editing and collaboration.Provides a classic, easy-to-use review pane for accepting and rejecting edits.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I disable the Track Changes cards notification in Microsoft Word?

Currently, Microsoft Word does not provide a built-in setting to directly disable the notification promoting the new Track Changes cards experience. Submitting feedback through the File menu is the recommended way to request this option.

How do I switch between different Markup views?

You can adjust how revisions are displayed by going to the Review tab, clicking 'Tracking', and changing the view in the 'Display for Review' dropdown. You can choose from Simple Markup, All Markup, No Markup, or Original to change how edits appear.

Will Track Changes cards show up when I print my document?

By default, tracked changes and comments may print if your settings allow it. To print a clean copy without the markup cards, go to File > Print, click on the Print All Pages dropdown under Settings, and uncheck 'Print Markup'.

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