Show Source Documents in Word Compare: Step-by-Step

To show the original and revised files alongside a Word comparison, run Review > Compare > Compare, select the two source documents, and then choose Review > Compare > Show Source Documents > Show Both. This lets you inspect the inputs while reviewing Word’s marked-up comparison result. Use the desktop version of Word for the most complete set of Compare controls; the exact menu layout can vary slightly by version.

What You’ll Need

A desktop copy of Microsoft Word, preferably Microsoft 365, with the Review tab available. Word for the web may not offer the full desktop Compare workflow, so open the files in the desktop app if you cannot find the command.
Both files you want to compare, saved somewhere you can access. Word calls them the original document and the revised document. Keep track of which is which before you start.
Permission to open both files. If either document is password-protected, read-only, or stored in a location you cannot access, resolve that before comparing.
Optional: a separate folder or copy of the files if you want to preserve a clean, unchanged set. Compare normally creates a comparison document rather than editing the two selected source files.

Step-by-Step

Open Word and start Compare. In Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows, open Word and select the Review tab. Choose Compare, then choose Compare from its menu. If you already have one of the documents open, you can start there; you do not have to open both source files in separate windows first. On Mac, look on the Review tab for Compare and choose the command to compare documents. Menu placement can differ by Word build, but the comparison dialog asks for the same two files.
Choose the original document. In the Compare Documents dialog, use the file or folder button beside Original document to browse to the earlier version. Select it and confirm. Check the filename shown in the field before continuing. The original is the baseline Word uses to identify what has changed; selecting the newer file here can make the comparison confusing even though Word can still detect differences.
Choose the revised document. Use the file button beside Revised document to select the later version. Confirm that the two fields contain the intended files and are not both pointing to the same document. If you have several similarly named drafts, check their folder locations and dates rather than relying only on names such as Final or Final2.
Review the comparison options. Select More or expand the additional options in the dialog if you need to control what Word checks. Depending on the Word version, you can choose whether to compare text, formatting, comments, and other document elements, and whether changes are marked at the character or word level. For a normal editing review, the default settings are often sufficient. Turn off categories that would create irrelevant marks, such as formatting, if you only need to inspect wording.
Choose where the comparison appears. In the expanded options, find Show changes in. Choose New document to keep the comparison result separate from the two source files. This is usually the clearest and safest choice: Word opens a document showing insertions, deletions, and other detected differences without replacing either input. The dialog may also offer the original or revised document as the location for changes; choose those only when you have a specific reason to display the result in one of the source documents.
Run the comparison. Select OK. Word processes the files and opens the result with the detected differences shown as tracked changes. Take a moment to check that the result looks plausible. For example, if you expect a paragraph to be inserted, confirm it appears as an insertion rather than as a large unrelated replacement. A result that appears unexpectedly empty or enormous may mean the wrong source files or comparison settings were selected.
Display the source documents. With the comparison result active, go to Review > Compare and open Show Source Documents. Choose Show Both to display the original and revised documents with the comparison. Word may arrange the source views and result in separate panes or windows depending on your screen size and version. If you only need one input for reference, use the same menu and select Show Original Only or Show Revised Only, if those choices appear in your build.
Arrange the views so they are readable. If panes are cramped, maximize the Word window, close unrelated documents, or adjust the window arrangement. You can also use the navigation and zoom controls to focus on the same section in the source and result. A source view is for reference; edits you make in the comparison result do not automatically become edits to the original and revised source files.
Save the comparison result separately. Use File > Save As to save the marked-up comparison with a clear name, such as Comparison of policy drafts. Save it in an appropriate location and retain the original and revised files if you need an audit trail. If you only want to change which source views are visible, use Review > Compare > Show Source Documents rather than running Compare again.

To hide the inputs later, return to Review > Compare > Show Source Documents and choose Hide Source Documents, if available. Hiding the panes changes the display, not the tracked changes in the comparison result. You can show them again from the same menu while that result is active.

Common Mistakes

Reversing the source files. Word needs a baseline and a later version. If you are unsure, check the document contents, saved dates, or version history before assigning Original and Revised. The labels do not tell Word which file is newer automatically.
Opening Compare from the wrong place. The Show Source Documents control is associated with the comparison result. If you are viewing an ordinary document, the source-display choices may not be available. First create or activate the comparison document.
Expecting Show Both to create a comparison. Showing source documents only changes which inputs are visible around an existing result. It does not run Compare, identify changes, or combine the two files. Start with Review > Compare > Compare when you have not yet generated a result.
Choosing a source file as the output by accident. The Show changes in setting is separate from the Original and Revised file fields. For a clean review, use New document so the marked-up result is distinct from the inputs.
Confusing hidden changes with missing changes. The comparison can contain revisions that are not obvious under the current markup display. Check the Review tab’s display controls and the Reviewing Pane before concluding that Word found nothing. Avoid accepting or rejecting revisions merely to change how the result looks.

Tips

Give each source a clear name. Names that include a date, draft number, or version make it easier to select the right pair and understand the result later. For example, use a name that distinguishes a March draft from an April revision instead of saving both as Document.
Compare like with like. If possible, use files that share the same basic layout and structure. If one file has been extensively reformatted, comparing text and formatting together can produce many marks that distract from wording changes.
Use the Reviewing Pane for a change list. In the comparison result, the Reviewing Pane can help you scan the revisions without searching page by page. The pane’s location and available options vary by build, but it is generally available from the Review tab. Use it alongside the source views when you need to locate a specific change.
Keep the source files untouched. Save the comparison under a new filename and treat it as a review copy. This is especially useful when someone else must verify the changes or when the original files need to remain available for reference.
Check the result at more than one level. Review the overall list of changes, then read important sections in context. A comparison identifies differences; it does not determine whether an edit is correct, intended, or appropriate.

Troubleshooting

Show Source Documents is missing or unavailable: Click inside the comparison result to make it the active document, then check Review > Compare again. Confirm that you ran Compare rather than simply opening one source file. If you are using Word for the web, choose the option to open the file in the desktop app and look for the controls there.
Only one source appears: Open Review > Compare > Show Source Documents and select Show Both. If that choice is absent, check whether the menu offers separate options to show the original and revised documents. Your version may present the choices differently, or the active result may not be a Word comparison document.
The files look identical in the result: Reopen the comparison dialog and verify that you selected the correct files. Check whether changes were made in a part of the document that is excluded by the comparison settings. If the source files contain only layout changes, make sure formatting is included. If you still see no differences, open each source separately and confirm that the supposed change is actually present in the saved versions.
The result contains too many changes: Check whether formatting, comments, or other categories were included when you compared. Run a new comparison with only the categories you need, or use the result’s display controls to focus on particular kinds of revisions. Save a fresh result rather than overwriting a review copy you still need.
The source panes or result are difficult to read: Maximize the Word window and close other open documents. If the display remains crowded, show one source at a time from the Show Source Documents menu, then switch between Original Only and Revised Only as needed. You can also zoom out slightly or use a larger monitor, but avoid zooming so far out that text is hard to inspect.
Word cannot open a selected file: Close any error dialog and verify that the file is accessible, is a supported Word document, and is not blocked by a password or permissions issue. If it is stored online, make sure you are signed in and can open it directly. When necessary, save an accessible copy in a local folder and select that copy in the Compare dialog.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does showing source documents change the original or revised file?
No. Showing the source views displays the files for reference. The comparison is normally saved as a separate document when you choose New document. Save any intentional edits under a new name if you want to preserve the inputs unchanged.

Can I show only the original or only the revised document?
Yes, in Word versions that offer the source-display menu, choose Show Original Only or Show Revised Only under Review > Compare > Show Source Documents. Choose Show Both to bring both back into view.

Can I show the source documents without comparing them?
You can open the two files normally in Word, but the Show Source Documents command is intended for a comparison result. It displays the inputs alongside that result; it does not create a change-marked comparison by itself.

Where does Word put the comparison result?
If you select New document in the Compare Documents dialog, Word opens a separate result document. Use File > Save As to choose its name and location. The result may be unsaved until you save it.

Can Word Compare work on a Mac?
Word for Mac includes document comparison in supported desktop versions, although the Review and Compare menus can be arranged differently from Windows. Find Compare on the Review tab, select the original and revised files, and check the resulting document for source-display choices.

What if I only have Word for the web?
Some Word web experiences can open or display documents, but the full Compare workflow and its source-display controls may not be available there. Open the documents in the desktop Word app to run the comparison and use the complete Review > Compare controls.

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