It is often useful to have a record of the changes made to a document over time, especially when multiple people are editing it at once. This is why Microsoft Word includes a feature called Track Changes, which allows users to see exactly what changes have been made to a document and by whom. Enabling Track Changes in Word is simple, and can be done in a few easy steps. In this blog post, we’ll provide a comprehensive guide for enabling Track Changes in Word. We’ll also discuss the different options that are available, so you can make sure you get the most out of this feature. Read on to learn how to enable Track Changes in Word and get the most out of this helpful tool.
- Open the document that you want to edit.
- On the Review tab, under Tracking, select the Track Changes switch to turn on track changes. Tips: Each reviewer’s changes are displayed in a different color. If there are more than eight reviewers, Word will reuses colors.
How to enable “Track Changes” in Word
To enable “Track Changes” in Microsoft Word, follow these steps:
1. Ensure you open the correct file
Open the file you want to edit in order to enable “Track Changes” in Microsoft Word. When beginning this process, it can be especially crucial to make sure you select the right file to ensure that you edit the appropriate document and that your changes are sent to the required collaborators. Verify the file name of the document you want to review before clicking it to open the file to make sure you’re opening the right one.
2. Open the “Review” tab
Next, navigate to the “Review” tab on your document. In Microsoft Word, this is typically found in the “Home” menu bar at the top of the page, along with other options for changing document settings like “Layout,” “Insert,” and “Draw.” Find the “Review” button and click it to display a menu of options for changing the file’s content.
3. Find the “Track Changes” button
Search for the “Track Changes” button after selecting the “Review” tab. This frequently appears as an icon of a page with lines on it and the label “Track Changes” above it. To view a list of “Track Changes” options, click this button.
4. Enable “Track Changes”
The “Track Changes” button prompts the appearance of a small window with a few options. To make this tool available, select the “Track Changes” option. You may also be able to quickly activate the tool in some more recent Word versions by clicking the “Track Changes” button without opening the window. After that, click “Save” in the top-left corner of your Word document to keep “Track Changes” active until you decide to turn it off.
Why enable “Track Changes” in Word?
There are numerous justifications for turning on “Track Changes” in Microsoft Word. The need for multiple rounds of editing in a writing project is one of the most frequent justifications for using this tool. This is so that editors can make changes while looking over previous edits from other participants and showcasing their edits for upcoming editors using “Track Changes.” When working together on a writing project with people in different locations, professionals can also use “Track Changes” because each writer can make changes and share them digitally with the rest of the team.
Publishing, marketing, and research are just a few of the industries that concentrate on completing tasks that might use “Track Changes.” The following occupations could gain from understanding how to use Word’s “Track Changes” feature:
How to customize your settings for “Track Changes” in Word
Certain projects might require specific “Track Changes” settings, such as limiting which readers can view comments or changes. Here are some instructions on how to modify the “Track Changes” settings in Microsoft Word:
1. Adjust the change display settings
You can change how your edits are displayed in “Track Changes” in order to make it more personalized. There are numerous options available for how to display your changes in “Track Changes.” Open the “Track Changes” window and select “Show Markup” to customize your display settings. Then, select the option that corresponds with how you want to display your changes by clicking on the “Balloons” button to access a list of display settings.
For instance, you can select “Show All Revisions Inline” to have all changes shown in red and link to the document’s side comments that describe each change. There are additional options available, such as “Show Revisions in Balloons” and “Show Only Comments and Formatting in Balloons.” “.
2. Choose the viewer settings
The list of viewers who can see the changes you make when they open the document is another setting in “Track Changes” that you can personalize. Only certain team members may be required to view changes for some projects, while others may demand that everyone on the team be able to view everyone’s edits. Navigate to the “Show Markup” option in the “Track Changes” window to change your viewer’s preferences. Place a checkmark next to each component of your document by selecting “Comments,” “Insertions and Deletions,” or “Formatting” and then clicking.
To allow each reviewer to see the changes you want them to see, after you’ve selected the changes for which you want to change the settings, click the button that says “Specific People.” You can also choose “All Reviewers” to make your changes visible to anyone who opens the document.
3. Remove markups from printed versions
You may also change your settings to prevent “Track Changes” annotations from appearing in the printed version of the document. To do this, go to the “File” window, typically found outside of the Microsoft Word document, in the bar at the top of your screen. After that, click “Print” and “Settings” to access a new menu where you can modify your printing preferences. Select “Document Info” from among these options, then look for the “Print Markup” option. “.
If “Print Markup” has a checkmark next to it, click on the checkmark to uncheck it. This makes sure that the markups and comments from “Track Changes” are removed from any printed versions of your document. “.
Please note that Indeed is not affiliated with any of the businesses mentioned in this article.
How to Use Track Changes in Microsoft Word (Updated)
FAQ
Why can’t I turn on Track Changes in Word?
If “Track Changes” is grayed out in the Word menu bar, the document may have been locked to prevent changes from being made. To track changes in Word in this situation, you must first remove document protection.
How do I turn on Track Changes and show all markup in Word?
Choose Protect Document from the Tools menu. Word displays the Protect Document dialog box. Choose the Tracked Changes option. Enter a password at the bottom of the dialog box.
How do I enable track changes in a Word document that is protected?
Choose Protect Document from the Tools menu. Word displays the Protect Document dialog box. Choose the Tracked Changes option. Enter a password at the bottom of the dialog box.
