How to Change Track Changes Color in Microsoft Word

To change the color used for tracked edits in Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows, open Review, open the tracking options, choose Advanced Options, then select colors for insertions, deletions, and other markup. This changes how revisions are displayed; it does not recolor the document’s ordinary text or accept the revisions. The exact controls can vary by Word version, and Word may assign different colors to different reviewers.

Changing markup colors can make a crowded review easier to read, especially when you need to distinguish added text from removed text. Before you begin, open the document in the Word desktop app if possible. Word for the web has fewer controls for customizing Track Changes colors, so you may need to select Open in Desktop App first.

What You’ll Need

A document with Track Changes enabled or with existing tracked revisions.
Microsoft Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows for the steps below. In other desktop versions, the labels or location of the advanced options may differ slightly.
Permission to edit the document if you are working in a shared or protected file. You can usually view markup without permission to change the document’s settings.

Step-by-Step

Open the document in the Word desktop app. If the document is in OneDrive or SharePoint and opened in a browser, use Editing or Open in Desktop App to launch Word. Save the document before changing settings, particularly if you are working with a shared copy.
Go to the Review tab. On the ribbon, select Review. Find the Tracking group. If you cannot see all its controls, maximize the Word window or expand the ribbon; a narrow window can collapse group commands into menus.
Open the advanced tracking options. Select the small dialog box launcher at the lower-right corner of the Tracking group, if it is shown. In the dialog that opens, select Advanced Options. Depending on your Word build, the route may instead appear under the Track Changes menu as Change Tracking Options or a similarly named command, followed by Advanced Options. If you do not see the launcher, widen the window and inspect the Track Changes dropdown on the Review tab.
Find the color controls. In Advanced Track Changes Options, look for the markup settings for Insertions, Deletions, Changed lines, and Comments. Each type may have its own color menu. The exact fields shown depend on your Word version and which markup options it supports.
Choose a color for insertions. Open the color menu beside Insertions and select a color that is easy to distinguish from the document text and other markup. For example, choose a blue or green shade for added text if deletions are displayed in red. If you want Word to assign colors automatically, choose By author where that option is available.
Choose colors for deletions and other markup. Set the Deletions color separately if you want removed text to stand out. You can also change the colors for changed lines or comments if those options appear. A changed-line marker is the vertical bar in the margin that flags a line with revisions; it is not the same as the color of the edited words.
Apply the choices. Confirm with OK in the advanced options window, then close any remaining options dialog. Return to the document and check a few insertions and deletions. If the colors look unchanged, continue to the troubleshooting section below; the display mode or author-based color assignment may be affecting what you see.
Keep Track Changes on if you are still reviewing. In the Review tab, check the state of Track Changes. Changing a display color does not turn tracking on or off. If you need to capture new edits, enable Track Changes; if you only want to inspect or format the display of existing revisions, leave the revision content as it is.
Save and check the file in its intended setting. Save the document, and if other people will review it, ask them to check the markup in their own Word app. Display preferences can vary by version, account, and reviewer. If appearance in a PDF or printout matters, preview that output separately rather than assuming the on-screen color will match exactly.

On Mac: Open the document and select Review. Look for the Track Changes or Tracking options on that tab and open the advanced options, if available. In some Mac versions, related settings are under Word > Preferences > Track Changes. Menu names and the available color controls can differ from Windows, so use the equivalent Track Changes options shown in your installed version. Word for the web does not provide all the desktop app’s advanced color controls.

Common Mistakes

Changing font color instead of markup color. The Font Color command on the Home tab changes the actual text formatting. Use the Track Changes advanced options to adjust revision markup. Formatting ordinary text will not reliably recolor existing insertions or deletions.
Expecting the color setting to change the revision itself. A display color is a visual aid, not a change to the words, the reviewer’s identity, or the status of a revision. The markup remains tracked until it is accepted or rejected.
Choosing By author when you want one fixed color. By author tells Word to distinguish reviewers automatically. It does not mean every author will use the same color, and Word may choose or cycle the colors. Select a specific color in the relevant markup menu if your version offers that option and you want a fixed display color.
Assuming every person will see the same colors. Word’s display settings and reviewer-based color behavior can differ among users. A colleague may see the same revision with a different color, particularly when markup is assigned by author or when they use another Word version.
Hiding markup and concluding the color did not work. If the document is set to show No Markup or a limited review view, revisions may be hidden. Choose All Markup from the Display for Review control on the Review tab to inspect them.
Accepting revisions to make colors disappear. Accepting or rejecting edits changes the document’s revision history. It is not a color-setting method. Only do that when the review decision is final.

Tips

Use colors with strong contrast. Choose shades that remain readable against the page background and are distinguishable from normal text. Very light colors can be difficult to see on screen and may become faint in print.
Pair color with markup style. Word can show insertions and deletions with different visual treatments, such as underlining or strikethrough, depending on the selected options. Keeping those styles distinct helps readers who have difficulty telling similar colors apart.
Check the review display before adjusting colors. On the Review tab, choose All Markup to show revisions, then use Show Markup to check whether insertions, deletions, comments, or formatting changes are included. A category that is hidden cannot be assessed by its color.
Use a color convention for a team only if everyone agrees. For instance, a team might choose one color for additions and another for deletions. However, do not rely on a color to identify a particular person unless you have confirmed how each reviewer’s Word settings behave.
Keep an untouched copy before a major review. Color changes normally affect display options rather than revision content, but a separate copy is useful when making broad review changes or working with a document whose status is important.
Use a PDF only as a snapshot. A PDF can preserve the appearance of a review copy at the time it is exported, but it is not a substitute for the editable Word file with live tracked changes. Inspect the PDF preview to confirm that markup is visible and legible.

Troubleshooting

I cannot find Advanced Options. Make sure you are in the desktop version of Word and on the Review tab. Maximize the window to reveal collapsed ribbon controls. Look for the small dialog box launcher in the Tracking group or open the Track Changes dropdown and inspect its options. If the document is open in a browser, choose to open it in the desktop app. On Mac, check the Review tab and Word preferences because the route is not identical to Windows.

The color menus are missing or disabled. Check whether the file is protected, opened read-only, or subject to permissions that prevent editing. You may still be able to view revisions without changing settings. If the controls remain unavailable, confirm that you are using a current desktop version of Word and not a simplified viewer.

The revisions still look the same after I chose a color. First choose All Markup and make sure the relevant type of markup is enabled under Show Markup. Then reopen Advanced Options and check that the correct category—such as Insertions rather than Deletions—was changed. A setting of By author may also cause Word to display reviewer colors instead of the fixed color you expected. Close and reopen the document if the view does not refresh.

Only some edits change color. Insertions, deletions, comments, and changed-line indicators can have separate color settings. Also, formatting changes may be displayed differently from inserted text. Check each relevant category rather than expecting one color choice to apply to every kind of revision.

Another reviewer sees different colors. That can be normal. Ask them to open the file in Word desktop and check their Display for Review and Track Changes options. If the team needs a consistent visual copy, agree on a review setup and create a PDF after checking the result. Keep the Word file as the working version so revisions remain available.

The printed document does not match the screen. Use File > Print to inspect Print Preview and confirm that markup is included. Printer settings, grayscale printing, and low-contrast colors can alter the result. Choose a darker color or use a markup style that remains recognizable without color if readers may print in black and white.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I give each reviewer a specific color?
Word can assign colors by author, but it may choose those colors automatically rather than letting you permanently select a named color for every person. The available controls vary by version. For consistent collaboration, test the behavior with the people and devices involved instead of relying on a color as the sole identifier.

Can I change the color of existing tracked changes?
You can change the display options for markup, including existing revisions, when the relevant color controls are available. This does not alter the edited words or accept the changes. The view may differ for another person who opens the shared document.

Does changing the color affect the final document?
No. It changes how tracked changes are shown, not the underlying text formatting or the revision decision. Accepting or rejecting a change is a separate action. When all revisions are accepted or rejected, the markup is removed from the document’s review view.

Can I change Track Changes colors in Word for the web?
Word for the web supports reviewing and working with tracked changes, but it does not expose every advanced desktop color setting. Open the file in Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows or the equivalent desktop app to look for the full set of Track Changes options.

Why does Word keep changing the color?
If the color is set to By author, Word can assign colors based on reviewer identity and may display different colors for different people. Choose a specific markup color instead, if your version offers it, and remember that another reviewer’s display may still differ.

Will the color appear when I print or save as PDF?
It may, depending on the markup display and print settings. Check File > Print and review the preview before sharing. Color reproduction can vary, so use readable contrast and do not depend on color alone to explain the edits.

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