How to remove track changes from a Word document
To remove track changes in Word, you first need to decide whether you want to accept or reject the changes, then turn off the tracking feature itself. The process differs slightly depending on whether you're using Word on Windows, Mac, or online, but the core steps are the same: open the Review tab, choose to accept or reject each change (or all at once), then toggle Track Changes off.
Most people confuse two separate actions: stopping new changes from being tracked, and removing changes that were already tracked. You can do both in one workflow, or handle them separately depending on your situation.
Key Takeaways
- Track Changes records who edited what and when, but the document still shows the original text with markup until you accept or reject each change.
- Accepting a change makes it permanent; rejecting a change removes it and restores the original text.
- You can accept or reject changes one at a time, or accept or reject all changes at once using the Review tab.
- Turning off Track Changes stops Word from recording new edits, but does not remove changes that were already tracked.
- The Review tab location and button names are the same across Windows, Mac, and Word Online, though the interface layout varies slightly.
Where to find Track Changes controls in Word
Open your document in Word and look at the top menu bar. Click the Review tab. On the left side of the Review ribbon, you will see a button labeled Track Changes with a small arrow next to it. This is your main control point.
Below or near the Track Changes button, you will also see buttons labeled Accept and Reject. These appear only when your document contains tracked changes. If the document has no tracked changes yet, these buttons will be grayed out.
On the right side of the Review tab, you may see a Changes pane button or a Reviewing Pane option. This opens a side panel that lists every change in the document, which is useful if you have many edits to review.
Accepting or rejecting individual changes
Click the Accept button to keep a change and make it permanent in the document. The text will stop showing as marked-up, and Word will move to the next tracked change automatically. Click the Reject button to remove a change and restore the original text.
If you want to review each change before deciding, use the arrow buttons next to Accept and Reject to move forward and backward through the list. Some versions of Word show these as Next and Previous buttons. This method takes longer but gives you full control over which changes stay and which go.
As you accept or reject changes, Word highlights the current change in the document so you can see exactly what you are deciding on. The change counter at the top of the Review tab updates in real time, showing how many changes remain.
Accepting or rejecting all changes at once
If you trust all the edits and want to remove all tracked changes in one action, click the small arrow next to the Accept button. A dropdown menu will appear with an option like Accept All Changes or Accept All Changes in Document. Click it, and Word will make every tracked change permanent instantly.
Similarly, you can click the arrow next to Reject and choose Reject All Changes to remove every tracked change and restore the document to its original state. Use this only if you are certain you want to discard all edits.
After you accept or reject all changes, the document will no longer show any markup, and the Accept and Reject buttons will gray out because there are no more changes to process.
Turning off Track Changes so new edits are not recorded
Once you have dealt with existing changes, turn off the tracking feature itself by clicking the Track Changes button. The button will no longer appear highlighted or pressed, and any new edits you or others make will not be recorded.
If you want to turn Track Changes back on later, click the button again. A checkmark or highlight will reappear, and Word will resume recording all edits.
Some versions of Word also let you click the arrow next to Track Changes to see options like Track Changes: Off or Track Changes: On. The effect is the same — you are toggling the feature on or off.
Removing the markup display without accepting or rejecting
If you want the document to look clean but are not ready to permanently accept or reject changes, you can hide the markup temporarily. In the Review tab, look for a button or dropdown labeled Display for Review or Show Markup. Click it and select Final or Final: Show Markup. The document will display as if all changes were accepted, but the tracked changes data remains in the file.
This is useful when you need to print or share a clean version of the document but want to preserve the change history for later review. If you open the document again, the changes will still be there, and you can switch back to All Markup view to see them.
Be aware that this is a display setting only. The changes are not actually removed from the file — they are just hidden from view. To permanently remove them, you must accept or reject them.
Removing Track Changes from a document others sent you
When someone sends you a document with Track Changes on, you see their edits marked in color with their name attached. You have the same options: accept each change, reject each change, or accept or reject all at once. The process is identical whether the changes came from you or someone else.
If you want to send the document back to the original author with your own changes tracked, make sure Track Changes is on before you start editing. Your edits will appear in a different color with your name, so the author can see what you changed.
If you want to edit the document without adding new tracked changes, turn Track Changes off first. Your edits will be made directly without markup, and the original author's changes will remain visible until they accept or reject them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between accepting and rejecting a change?
Accepting a change makes the edit permanent and removes the markup. Rejecting a change discards the edit and restores the original text. Both actions remove the change from the tracked list.
Can I undo accepting or rejecting changes?
Yes, you can use Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Command+Z (Mac) immediately after accepting or rejecting to undo that action. However, if you close and reopen the document, you cannot undo past decisions. Save a backup copy before accepting or rejecting all changes if you are uncertain.
Does turning off Track Changes remove changes that were already tracked?
No. Turning off Track Changes only stops Word from recording new edits. Changes that were already tracked remain in the document until you accept or reject them. You must use the Accept and Reject buttons to remove them.
How do I see who made each change?
Hover your mouse over a tracked change in the document, and a tooltip will appear showing the editor's name, the date, and the time of the edit. You can also open the Reviewing Pane from the Review tab to see a detailed list of all changes with author names.
What happens if I accept all changes but later want to see what the original text was?
Once you accept changes, the original text is replaced and cannot be recovered from within Word. If you need to preserve the original, save a copy of the document before accepting any changes, or use the Display for Review setting to hide markup without permanently accepting changes.