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How to Change the Color of Track Changes in Microsoft Word

By Erin Wright

Colored pencils with text overlay "How to Change the Color of Track Changes in Microsoft Word"

Do you prefer editing with a specific color? If so, you can change the color of Track Changes markup in Microsoft Word. Specifically, you can choose from eighteen different colors for insertions, deletions, text movements, and comment balloon borders, as shown in this tutorial.

Before starting the tutorial, please review these important notes:

  • Track Changes colors apply to all markup in the document. Word doesn’t currently offer a way to choose specific colors for individual users.
  • Track Changes colors appear in-line (i.e., in the text) rather than in balloons or the Reviewing pane. If your markup only appears in balloons or doesn’t appear at all, please see the bonus section below for the steps to show Track Changes in-line.
  • Track Changes colors are stored in your computer, not in your document. Therefore, your color choices won’t transfer to someone else’s computer.
  • The color of Track Changes for formatting is customizable. However, the results can be visually confusing because color changes can be format changes. For best results, show format tracking in comment balloons.

This tutorial is also available as a YouTube video showing all the steps in real time.

Watch more than 100 other writing-related software tutorials on my YouTube channel.

The images below are from Word in Microsoft 365. These steps also apply to Word 2021, Word 2019, Word 2016, and Word 2013. However, your interface may look different in those older versions of the software.

How to Change the Color of Track Changes

  1. Select the Review tab in the ribbon.
Review tab in Word 365
Figure 1. Review tab
  1. Select the dialog box launcher in the Tracking group.
Tracking group dialog box launcher in Word 365
Figure 2. Tracking group dialog box launcher
  1. Select the Advanced Options button in the Track Changes Options dialog box.
Track Changes Options dialog box Advanced Options button in Word 365
Figure 3. Advanced Options button
  1. Choose a new color for each of the tracking options in the Advanced Track Changes Options dialog box:

(A) Insertions

(B) Deletions

(C) Comments (This is the color of the comment balloon border, not the color of the comment text.)

(D) Text movements

Advanced Track Changes Options dialog box color menus in Word 365
Figure 4. Color menus

Important Note: The “By author” option gives each user a different color. The software chooses those colors and does not currently offer a way to customize colors for different users.

Advanced Track Changes Options dialog box "By author" option
Figure 5. “By author” option
  1. Select the OK button in the Advanced Track Changes Options dialog box.
Advanced Track Changes Options dialog box OK button in Word 365
Figure 6. OK button
  1. Close the Track Changes Options dialog box.
Track Changes Options dialog box Close button in Word 365
Figure 7. Close button

Your color selections should appear immediately.

Example of track changes color change in Word 365
Figure 8. Track changes color change example
  1. Save your file to save your changes.

If your Track Changes markup doesn’t appear in-line, follow the steps below to review your current settings.

Bonus Section: How to Show Track Changes In-line

  1. Select the Review tab in the ribbon (see figure 1).
  2. Ensure that All Markup is selected in the Display for Review menu.
All Markup menu in Word 365
Figure 9. All Markup menu
  1. Ensure that Insertions and Deletions is selected in the Show Markup menu.
Insertions and Deletions option in Word 365
Figure 10. Insertions and Deletions option
  1. Ensure that Show All Revisions Inline or Show Only Comments and Formatting in Balloons is selected in the Balloons menu.
Balloons menu in Word 365
Figure 11. Balloons menu

Related Resources

How to Stop Microsoft Word from Calling You “Author” in Track Changes

How to Copy and Paste Text with Comments and Track Changes in Microsoft Word

How to Change the Font and Font Size of Comments in Microsoft Word

How to Use Comments in Microsoft Word (Modern Comments)

Updated August 22, 2022

Filed Under: Microsoft Word Tagged With: Microsoft 365, Track Changes, Word 2010, Word 2013, Word 2016, Word 2019, Word 2021, Word 365

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Hello! My name is Erin. I am a technical writer and editor who shares writing-related software tutorials on this website and on YouTube.

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