Turn on Track Changes to see who changed what
Track Changes in Google Docs records every edit made to a document — who made it, when, and what the change was. You turn it on through a single menu option, and from that point forward, deletions appear crossed out, additions appear highlighted in color, and each change is tagged with the editor's name and timestamp. The document itself doesn't change shape or break — Track Changes runs alongside your normal writing and editing.
Track Changes is most useful when multiple people work on the same document and need to see what each person altered. It's also useful when you want to review your own changes before finalizing a draft, or when you need a record of what was edited for compliance or accountability reasons.
Key Takeaways
- Track Changes is turned on from the menu: click Tools, then select Track Changes, then click Turn on Track Changes.
- Once on, all edits appear marked — deletions crossed out in red, additions highlighted in a color assigned to that editor.
- You can accept or reject individual changes one at a time, or accept all changes at once from the Track Changes panel.
- Editors can see who made each change and when, because Google Docs tags every edit with the person's name and timestamp.
- Track Changes can be turned off at any time, but changes already recorded stay visible until you accept or reject them.
How to turn Track Changes on and off
Open the document in Google Docs. At the top of the page, click Tools. A dropdown menu appears. Click Track Changes. Another menu opens with two options: "Turn on Track Changes" and "Turn off Track Changes." Click whichever one you need.
When Track Changes is on, a small dot appears next to the Tools menu to remind you it's active. You'll also see a "Track Changes" panel on the right side of the screen showing all recorded edits. If you turn Track Changes off, the panel closes, but any changes already recorded stay marked in the document until someone accepts or rejects them.
What edits look like when Track Changes is on
When you delete text, it appears crossed out in red with a strikethrough line. When you add text, it appears highlighted in a color — Google Docs assigns a different color to each editor, so you can tell at a glance who wrote what. Comments appear as a small box in the margin with the commenter's name and the date.
Formatting changes (bold, italics, font size, alignment) also show up in the Track Changes panel on the right, listed in order from top to bottom. Each entry shows what changed, who changed it, and when. You can click any entry in the panel to jump to that location in the document.
How to accept or reject individual changes
Open the Track Changes panel on the right side of the screen. You'll see a list of all recorded changes in the order they appear in the document. Hover your mouse over any change in the list. Two buttons appear: a checkmark (to accept) and an X (to reject).
Click the checkmark to accept the change. The strikethrough or highlight disappears, and the text becomes permanent. Click the X to reject it. Deleted text reappears, and added text is removed. Once you accept or reject a change, it's gone from the panel and won't appear again unless you undo your decision.
How to accept or reject all changes at once
If you want to accept every change in the document without reviewing each one individually, open the Track Changes panel. At the top of the panel, click the three-dot menu icon. A small menu appears with the option "Accept all changes." Click it, and every marked edit becomes permanent instantly.
To reject all changes at once, click the three-dot menu again and select "Reject all changes." Every deletion will reappear, and every addition will be removed. Use this option carefully — there's no undo after you've rejected all changes, so make sure you mean it before you click.
How to see who made each change
Every change in the Track Changes panel shows the editor's name and the date and time the edit was made. Click on any change in the panel, and the document jumps to that location and highlights it. The name and timestamp appear right there in the panel entry.
If you hover over a marked change in the document itself (a strikethrough or highlight), a small tooltip appears showing the editor's name, the date, and the time. This is useful when you're reading through the document and want to know quickly who made a particular edit without opening the panel.
What happens when you share a document with Track Changes on
If you share a document while Track Changes is on, everyone you share it with will see the marked edits and the Track Changes panel. They can accept or reject changes, add their own edits (which will also be tracked), and leave comments. Each person's edits appear in their assigned color.
If you want to prevent other people from seeing the change history, you can accept or reject all changes before sharing, which removes all the marks and makes the document look final. Alternatively, you can share the document with Track Changes on but give people "Viewer" access instead of "Editor" access — viewers can see the changes but can't modify them or accept/reject them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see Track Changes on a document someone else shared with me?
Yes. If someone shares a document with Track Changes already on, you'll see all the marked edits and the Track Changes panel. You can accept or reject changes if you have Editor access. If you only have Viewer access, you can see the changes but can't modify them.
What if I accidentally reject a change I meant to accept?
Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Z (or Cmd+Z on Mac) to undo the rejection immediately after it happens. The change will reappear in the Track Changes panel, and you can accept it then. If you've made other edits since the rejection, undo will reverse those too, so undo right away.
Does Track Changes slow down Google Docs or use extra storage?
No. Track Changes doesn't make the document load slower or take up more storage space. It's a built-in feature that runs in the background. The only difference you'll notice is the panel on the right side and the colored marks in the document.
Can I turn off Track Changes without losing the change history?
Yes. You can turn Track Changes off at any time, and all the marked edits stay visible in the document. They won't disappear until you accept or reject them. Turning Track Changes off just stops recording new edits — it doesn't erase what's already been recorded.
What if two people edit the same sentence at the same time?
Google Docs handles this by showing both edits in the Track Changes panel, each tagged with the person who made it. You can accept or reject them independently. If the edits conflict (for example, one person deletes a word and another person changes it), Google Docs will show both versions and let you choose which one to keep.