Hiding Tracked Changes in Word Does Not Remove Them
Check tracked changes and comments before sending a finished Word document. Learn what No Markup hides, where to find Document Inspector in Word for Windows, and why to work on a copy.
On this page
Choosing No Markup in Word hides the revision marks on your screen.
The tracked changes are still in the file. Before sending a finished document, check whether it contains revisions or comments you do not intend to share.
Hidden is not removed
No Markup controls how Word displays tracked changes.
Microsoft explains that this view hides changes temporarily without removing them. They may become visible again when the document is reopened or the display setting is changed.
To remove tracked changes from a finished document, review them on the Review tab and accept or reject them as appropriate.
Comments are separate from tracked changes. Accepting every change does not delete comments; any comments you do not want to keep need to be deleted separately.
What to check before sending
Keep the original document and make a copy to prepare for sending.
Start on the Review tab and check the tracked changes and comments. If the finished copy should not include the editing history, review and accept or reject the changes. Delete unwanted comments too.
In Word for Windows, you can then open Document Inspector:
File → Info → Check for Issues → Inspect Document
It checks for tracked changes and comments, as well as hidden text and personal names in document properties.
Microsoft recommends inspecting a copy because information removed by the inspector may not be recoverable.
Reopen the file you will send
Save your changes, then reopen the actual file you intend to send.
Check that information you do not intend to share has been removed. A screen without revision marks is not enough to establish that.
Tracked changes are useful for collaboration. You do not always need to remove them: a colleague reviewing your edits may need the history too.
Decide whether you are sending a finished version or a document for further review, and check the file accordingly.
Notes: what we checked
At Legacy Tools, we compared .docx files in Microsoft 365 Word for Windows after hiding tracked changes, accepting changes, deleting comments, and other steps.
In those files, choosing No Markup left the tracked changes in place. Accepting the changes also left comments that needed separate handling.
This article mainly covers Microsoft 365 Word for Windows. Word for Mac, Word for the web, and older versions may have different screens or available features. Our tests used the Japanese interface; the English command names above come from Microsoft's support pages.
Related tool
Safe Attachment Check is a Chrome extension that shows information such as tracked changes and comments when you attach Word and other supported files to an email, giving you a chance to review it before sending.
It does not delete information automatically or declare a file safe. It provides a prompt to check what you are about to share.
Sources
- Microsoft Support, Accept or reject tracked changes in Word
- Microsoft Support, Track changes in Word
- Microsoft Support, Remove hidden data and personal information by inspecting documents, presentations, or workbooks