How to Compare Two Documents in Microsoft Word Easily

In Microsoft Word for Windows, open either document and choose Review > Compare > Compare. Select the earlier file as the original and the later file as the revised document, then select OK. Word creates a third document that marks the differences, leaving both source files unchanged. You can review the changes, adjust what Word displays, and save the comparison separately.

What You’ll Need

Two Word documents in a format Word can open, such as .docx. For a reliable comparison, use copies of the documents in their final form rather than files that are still being edited.
Microsoft Word for Windows with the Compare command available. The instructions below use Word for Microsoft 365; some older desktop versions have slightly different ribbon labels.
Access to both files. Save them locally or make sure you can open their locations, including a shared drive or cloud folder. If a file is password-protected, you may need its password to open it.

Step-by-Step

Decide which file is the original. Identify the earlier or baseline version and the later version you want to check. Word uses these labels to describe the direction of the changes; putting them in the wrong order can make additions and deletions harder to interpret. If the files have vague names, check their contents or dates first, and consider making clearly named copies such as Report-original.docx and Report-revised.docx.
Open the Compare command. In Word for Windows, open either document, select the Review tab, and choose Compare in the Compare group. Select Compare from the menu. If the ribbon is collapsed or the window is narrow, expand the ribbon or look for the command under the Review tab; its placement can shift with window size.
Choose the two files. In the Compare Documents window, use the folder buttons beside Original document and Revised document to browse for the files. Select the earlier version for Original and the newer version for Revised. You can use files that are already open or browse to different files. Check the names in both fields before continuing, especially if several drafts have similar names.
Set the comparison options if needed. Word can compare more than the words in the main body. Select More in the dialog to view options for items such as formatting, comments, headers and footers, text boxes, tables, and other document elements. Leave the defaults if you want a general comparison. Turn off categories you do not want included—for example, formatting changes if you only care about wording. The available options can vary slightly by Word version.
Choose where to show the results. In the expanded options, check the setting for where Word will display changes. A new document is usually the most useful choice: it keeps the comparison separate and protects the two source files from accidental editing. If you choose to show changes in one of the source documents, be especially careful not to save over it unless that is what you intend.
Run the comparison. Select OK. Word creates a comparison document with differences marked as revisions, much like tracked changes. Depending on your settings and view, insertions, deletions, and other changes may appear in the document, the Reviewing pane, or both. If the documents are long, give Word time to finish before clicking elsewhere.
Review and save the result. Read the comparison from the beginning, using the Review tab’s navigation and change controls to move through the differences. Use the display options to show markup or a cleaner view, but do not accept or reject changes until you understand them. Save the comparison under a new, descriptive name, such as Report-comparison.docx. Keep the original and revised documents too; the comparison is a review aid, not a replacement for either source.

On Mac: Word for Mac also has a document-comparison feature, but the ribbon wording or location may differ by version. Look on the Review tab for Compare or Compare Documents, select the original and revised files, then check the available options before starting. If you cannot find the command, update Word or use the desktop app rather than Word for the web, which may not offer the same full comparison controls.

Common Mistakes

Reversing the file order. Word still finds differences if you swap the original and revised files, but additions may be presented as deletions and vice versa. Confirm which version came first before running the comparison.
Assuming the comparison edits the original. The usual result is a separate comparison document, not an automatic update to either source. Review the result and decide what to keep; do not treat the output as a merged, approved final copy.
Comparing files with different layouts or content scopes. A document with a new cover page, reordered sections, or large inserted blocks can produce many changes that obscure small edits. Compare corresponding versions where possible, and use the Review options to exclude irrelevant categories.
Ignoring formatting and non-body content. A text-only review can miss changes in headers, footers, tables, or formatting if those categories are excluded. If those details matter, include them in the options and inspect the relevant parts of the result manually.
Saving over a source file. A comparison can contain markup and may not be the clean version you expect. Save it under a new name and retain both originals until the review is complete.

Tips

Use meaningful filenames. Include a date, version number, or status such as draft or approved. Clear labels reduce the chance of reversing the documents and make it easier to locate the comparison later.
Choose settings based on the review. For an editorial review, keep the focus on text and comments. For a document-control check, include formatting and elements such as headers, footers, and tables. Showing every category is thorough, but can create extra markup that makes a short review slower.
Use the Reviewing pane for a long document. If the result looks crowded, open the Review tab and use its Reviewing Pane or markup display controls to inspect a list of changes. You can switch between a summary and the page view rather than scrolling through the entire file looking for marks.
Review changes before accepting them. The comparison marks differences; it does not know which wording is correct. Use Word’s Previous and Next controls to move through changes, then accept or reject each one only when you have checked it against the source or the requested edits.
Make a clean final copy deliberately. After deciding which changes to keep, save a separate final document. If you need a copy without visible markup, use the Review tab’s display settings to check the clean view, and remember that hiding markup is not the same as accepting or removing it.

Troubleshooting

The Compare option is missing or unavailable. Confirm that you are using the desktop version of Word and that the Review tab is visible. Maximize the window or expand the ribbon, since a compact layout can hide commands. In Word for Mac, look for the equivalent Compare Documents command on Review. If you are working in Word for the web, open the file in the desktop app for the full comparison workflow.

Word says it cannot open a file. Open each document separately to confirm it is accessible and not damaged, and enter any password it requests. If a file is in an older format, open it in Word and save a working copy as .docx, then compare the copies. For a file stored online, make sure it has finished syncing and that you have permission to access it.

The result shows too many differences. Check that the right files and versions are selected. A change in line breaks or pagination can follow from different fonts, page setup, or editing history. Open Review > Compare > Compare again, select More, and turn off formatting or other categories that are not relevant. Do not dismiss a large set of changes without checking for real edits mixed in.

Some changes seem to be missing. Re-run the comparison with the relevant options enabled, especially if you need to check formatting, comments, headers, footers, or tables. Also confirm that you selected the intended files rather than two copies of the same version. If a change is still not shown, compare the specific section manually; differences in document structure or unsupported content can make a visual check worthwhile.

The document looks unchanged, but markup is hidden. On the Review tab, change the display to show markup or all revisions, and inspect the Reviewing pane. A clean or simplified display can hide visible revision marks without removing them. If the comparison document is important, save a separate copy before accepting or rejecting any changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does comparing documents change either original file?
Normally, Word creates a new comparison document and leaves the original and revised files as they were. Still, save the result with a new filename and avoid choosing a source document as the output location if you are unsure.

Can I compare two Word documents without opening them first?
Yes. Open Word, go to Review > Compare > Compare, and browse to the two files in the dialog. You can also start with a document already open and browse for the other version.

Can Word compare documents that are not .docx files?
Word can open several document formats, but results depend on whether it can interpret the file content and formatting. If comparison fails, open each file and save a Word copy, preferably as .docx, then compare those copies.

Can I compare more than two documents at once?
The Compare command compares an original and a revised document in one comparison. To check additional versions, compare each one against the same baseline in separate runs, and label each result clearly. Word’s Combine feature is intended for bringing together revisions from multiple reviewers, which is different from comparing a set of independent versions.

Can I compare documents in Word for the web?
The web app does not provide the same complete Compare workflow as desktop Word in every version. Open the files in Word for Windows or Mac and use the Review tab’s comparison command when you need a full marked comparison.

How do I make a final document from the comparison?
Review the marked changes and use the Review tab’s Accept or Reject controls to decide which edits belong in the final version. Then save the result as a new file. If you only hide markup, the revisions remain in the document, so confirm whether you need to accept or reject them before sharing a clean copy.

Try it: the Date Difference Calculator: days, months, years and weekdays between two dates, with the DATEDIF formulas.

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Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

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