Data Protection Issues

Does Microsoft Word Editor Save Documents for Plagiarism Detection?

Huma Ashraf Ch Oct 1, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is concerned about data privacy and wants to know if using the Microsoft Word Editor similarity checker adds their document to a public plagiarism database.

Does Microsoft Word Editor Save Documents for Plagiarism Detection?

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Checking a document for text similarity to online sources using the Microsoft Word Editor feature.
Observed behavior: Users fear their original work might be published online or added to a plagiarism database after running the similarity check.

Before you start

Ensure you are signed into your Microsoft 365 account, as the similarity checker requires an active subscription and an internet connection to securely compare your text against online sources.

Solution 1Recommended

Understand How Word Editor's Similarity Checker Handles Your Data

Review the privacy protocols of Microsoft Word's Editor to confidently use the similarity checker without risking your intellectual property.

Microsoft Word's Editor similarity checker compares your text strictly against publicly available online sources via Bing. When you use this feature, your document is processed securely for the comparison but is never added to any public plagiarism database.

While your document may be synchronized and saved to your personal OneDrive or SharePoint based on your auto-save preferences, Microsoft guarantees that it is not published as an online source or shared with external third-party plagiarism checkers.

Open the Editor Pane

Launch your document in Microsoft Word. Navigate to the 'Home' tab and click on the 'Editor' icon located on the right side of the ribbon.

Run the Similarity Checker

Scroll down the Editor pane to find the 'Similarity' section. Click 'Check for similarity to online sources' to scan your document safely.

Review Citations

If similarities are found, Word will prompt you to review them. You can safely insert citations or ignore the suggestions, knowing your document remains private.

Data Privacy Confirmed: Your files remain completely under your control. The similarity tool only reads the text to match against the web and does not store your content in any global plagiarism index.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Write and Edit Securely with WPS Office

If you are concerned about cloud privacy or are looking for a secure, feature-rich word processor, WPS Office is an excellent free alternative. It provides powerful editing tools while keeping your documents safe and entirely under your local control.

1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS Office website to download the free suite. Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions.
2. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Writer. You can directly open your existing Microsoft Word (.docx) files without worrying about formatting issues.
3. Edit Securely Offline: Use WPS Writer's comprehensive editing and formatting tools to work on your documents locally, ensuring maximum data privacy.

Complete privacy and control over where your documents are savedFully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx, .doc) formatsLightweight, fast, and free to use without mandatory cloud uploadsBuilt-in professional writing, spell-check, and editing tools

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can anyone else see my document if I run the similarity checker in Word?

No. The similarity checker only compares your text against public web pages. It does not make your document public or visible to other users.

Are my checked documents saved to Turnitin or similar academic databases?

No, Microsoft Word's Editor does not submit your documents to Turnitin or any other third-party educational plagiarism databases. It strictly searches Bing's index of the public web.

How can I ensure my documents stay strictly on my local computer?

To keep documents offline, avoid saving them to cloud services like OneDrive or SharePoint. Save them directly to your local hard drive. However, please note that using online features like the similarity checker will temporarily send text data to Microsoft servers for processing.

Microsoft Office Security Issues