Stop Track Changes in Word: Turn It Off and Keep Edits

To stop Track Changes in Word, open the document, select Review > Track Changes on the ribbon, and switch the button off. This prevents new edits from being marked; it does not accept, reject, or erase changes already recorded. If you need a clean final copy, review the existing markup separately and accept or reject it before sharing. The steps below are for Microsoft Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows, with Mac and web notes where the controls differ.

What You’ll Need

A Word document open in an editable version of Microsoft Word. If it is read-only or protected, you may need permission from its owner to change tracking settings.
Decide whether your goal is simply to stop recording future edits or also to resolve the changes already in the document. Accepting or rejecting edits is a separate decision.
If the document belongs to a team or another person, check whether others are editing it or whether tracking is locked. A password or owner permission may be required to change those settings.

Step-by-Step

Open the document and check which version you are using. Open the file in Word rather than relying on a preview in email or a file browser. In Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows, look for the ribbon tabs across the top of the window. The Mac ribbon has similar review controls, though its layout and some labels can vary slightly. Word for the web also offers tracking controls, but a protected or shared file may limit what you can change.
Go to the Review tab. Select Review on the ribbon. Find the Track Changes control. In some window sizes, the ribbon is simplified and the control may be in a menu or collapsed group; maximize the window or open the Review tab’s overflow options if you cannot see it. On Word for Mac, select Review and locate Track Changes there.
Switch tracking off. Select the main Track Changes button to toggle the feature off. If you see a drop-down arrow, open it and use the control that switches tracking state; do not choose an option that only changes who is tracked. The button should no longer appear selected or highlighted. The exact visual indicator can differ with the ribbon layout and theme, so verify the state by checking the menu or making a small test edit in a copy if you are uncertain.
Check whether the setting is off for the right people. In a shared document, the Track Changes menu may offer choices such as tracking edits for everyone or only your edits. Those choices set the tracking scope; they do not necessarily turn tracking off. Use the main toggle to disable tracking, then check the status again. If another collaborator turns tracking back on, or the document has a tracking lock, the setting may change or remain unavailable.
Make a small, safe test if needed. After turning tracking off, click in a noncritical part of the document and type a short word, then undo the test with Ctrl+Z on Windows or Command+Z on Mac. If the test word appears as a tracked insertion, tracking is still active. Do not use an important passage for this check, and avoid testing in a shared document while others are editing unless you coordinate with them.
Decide what to do with existing changes. Turning off tracking does not remove earlier insertions, deletions, or comments. To keep an edit, select it and choose Review > Accept. To discard it, choose Review > Reject. Use the arrows or drop-down menus beside those controls to review options. If you want to resolve every tracked change, use the appropriate accept-all or reject-all command only after reviewing the document and confirming that this is what you intend.
Save a copy or save the updated document. Press Ctrl+S on Windows or Command+S on Mac. If you are unsure whether to keep all existing edits, use File > Save As to create a separate copy before accepting or rejecting changes. Saving preserves the tracking state and any decisions you made; it does not automatically remove unresolved markup.

To turn tracking off and accept every recorded edit in one action: on Windows, open Review > Accept and look for Accept All Changes and Stop Tracking. This both accepts the current tracked changes and stops tracking. It is not the right choice if some edits should be rejected or left for another reviewer. Check the available command on your Word version before using it; menus can differ between Windows, Mac, and the web app.

Common Mistakes

Assuming the toggle removes markup. Switching off tracking stops new edits from being marked, but existing revisions stay in the file until you accept or reject them. Comments also remain until you delete or resolve them separately.
Hiding markup and thinking it is gone. Display options such as No Markup change what you see on screen, not what is stored in the document. A recipient can still view revisions if they choose another display setting. Use Accept or Reject to resolve tracked edits, not just a display filter.
Choosing the wrong review action. Accepting keeps an edit in the document; rejecting removes the proposed edit and restores the prior text. Accept All may keep changes you did not intend to approve, while Reject All can discard useful work. Review changes individually when their purpose is uncertain.
Confusing tracking scope with the on/off switch. Options such as tracking for everyone or only your edits control whose changes Word marks. They are not the same as turning the feature off. Confirm the button’s state after changing a scope option.
Forgetting to save or coordinate. A toggle changed in an unsaved local copy may not change the shared file. In coauthoring, another editor may re-enable tracking or make changes while you are reviewing. Save, check the file location, and coordinate before making sweeping edits.

Tips

Keep a review copy. If you are about to accept or reject many changes, save a separate copy first. This gives you a way to compare versions if you later discover that an edit should have been handled differently.
Review the document in context. Read each changed sentence with the surrounding paragraph. A deletion can make the remaining text misleading, and an insertion may rely on a change elsewhere. Use the Previous and Next controls in the Review tab to move through revisions instead of scanning only the visible page.
Use markup display settings as a viewing aid. Word’s display choices can help you focus on the final text or inspect revisions, but remember that hiding markup does not remove it. Return to a view that shows revisions before making a final accept-or-reject decision.
Separate comments from tracked edits. Comments are review notes, not the same as insertions and deletions. Accepting all changes does not necessarily delete comments. Check the Comments area and resolve or delete notes according to your team’s process.
Make the status clear to collaborators. If you have finished editing but want someone else to decide on existing revisions, tell them that tracking is off but the markup remains. If the file is shared, agree who is responsible for accepting or rejecting the outstanding edits.

Troubleshooting

The Track Changes button is greyed out or will not switch off. The document may be protected, opened read-only, or restricted by its owner or organization. Confirm that you have edit access and that you opened the working file rather than a preview. If a protection setting is involved, ask the document owner or administrator to remove it or provide the required password. Do not try to bypass restrictions.

Tracking seems to turn itself back on. Check whether you selected a tracking-scope option rather than the main on/off control. In a shared file, another editor may have changed the setting, or a policy may require tracking. Confirm the state after saving and ask collaborators whether they are changing the document. If it is a managed workplace file, contact the person who administers its permissions.

Revisions are still visible after you turned tracking off. That is expected: the switch affects future edits only. Use Review > Accept or Review > Reject to handle existing revisions. If you only want to hide them temporarily, change the markup display setting, but remember the edits remain in the file.

You cannot find the control. Make the Word window wider, open the Review tab, and check any collapsed or overflow ribbon menus. If you are using Word for the web, check its Review tab; if you are in a document preview, choose the option to open the file in Word. On Mac, the control is also on the Review tab, but the ribbon arrangement may differ from Windows.

You accepted edits but still see marks or notes. Check whether the remaining items are comments, formatting revisions, or changes that were not included in the action you used. Navigate through the Review tools and handle each item type separately. Also verify that the document is not showing markup from another reviewer or a different version of the file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does turning off Track Changes delete the changes already in the document?
No. It stops Word from marking new edits. Existing tracked insertions and deletions remain until you accept or reject them.

Can I stop tracking but leave the revisions for someone else?
Yes. Turn off the Track Changes toggle and save the file without accepting or rejecting the existing revisions. Tell the next reviewer that the markup is still present.

How do I permanently remove the markup?
Review each tracked edit and accept or reject it. Hiding markup with a display option is not permanent removal. Save the document after you have resolved the revisions you intend to remove.

What is the difference between Accept and Reject?
Accept keeps the proposed edit as part of the document. Reject discards that edit and restores the text that was there before it. Choose based on whether the proposed change should become final.

Can I turn Track Changes off in Word for Mac?
Yes. Open the document, select Review, and switch off Track Changes. Ribbon placement can vary by Mac Word version; existing revisions still need to be accepted or rejected separately.

Will turning off tracking remove comments?
No. Comments are separate review notes. Turning off Track Changes does not delete them, and accepting tracked edits does not necessarily resolve or remove them. Review comments separately before sharing a clean copy.

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