Track Changes in Word (Ctrl+Shift+E / ⌘⇧E)
Turn revision marking on or off: press Ctrl+Shift+E on Windows or ⌘⇧E (Command+Shift+E) on the Mac. The same shortcut toggles it back off when you are done.
| Action | Mac | Windows | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toggle Track Changes on/off | ⌘⇧E | Ctrl+Shift+E | |
| Open the Reviewing (Markup) Pane | Review → Reviewing Pane | Alt+R, T, V | |
| Accept this change & move to next | Review → Accept → Accept and Move to Next | Alt+R, A, 2 | |
| Reject this change & move to next | Review → Reject → Reject and Move to Next | Alt+R, J, 2 | |
| Go to next revision | Review → Next | Alt+R, H | |
| Go to previous revision | Review → Previous | Alt+R, F | |
| Accept ALL changes in document | Review → Accept → Accept All Changes | Alt+R, A, L | |
| Show / hide markup | Review → Display for Review | Alt+R, D |
Toggle revision marking
Press Ctrl+Shift+E on Windows or ⌘⇧E on the Mac to start tracking edits — every insert, delete and format change is marked in colour. Press the same keys again to stop tracking. This single toggle is the only direct hotkey for Track Changes; everything else lives on the Review ribbon.
Accepting and rejecting changes
The toggle does not accept edits. On Windows the fastest route is the ribbon key-tips: press Alt then R to jump to the Review tab, then A opens the Accept menu (2 = Accept and Move to Next, L = Accept All) and J opens Reject. Use Alt+R, H / Alt+R, F to step to the next and previous revision. On the Mac there are no Alt key-tips — click Accept ▾ / Reject ▾ and Next on the Review tab instead.
See every edit in one place
Open the Reviewing Pane (Windows Alt+R, T, V; Mac: Review → Reviewing Pane) to list every insertion, deletion and comment with its author. Switch the Display for Review box to All Markup to see changes inline, or No Markup to preview the clean final document without accepting anything.
Stop others from turning it off
To force every editor's changes to be tracked, use Review → Track Changes → Lock Tracking and set a password. While locked, Ctrl+Shift+E / ⌘⇧E does nothing until the password is entered — handy for shared contracts and student submissions.
FAQ
What is the Track Changes shortcut in Word?
Press Ctrl+Shift+E on Windows or ⌘⇧E (Command+Shift+E) on the Mac to toggle Track Changes on and off.
Does the same shortcut turn Track Changes off?
Yes — Ctrl+Shift+E / ⌘⇧E is a toggle, so pressing it again stops tracking.
How do I accept tracked changes with the keyboard?
On Windows press Alt+R, A, 2 to accept the current change and move to the next, or Alt+R, A, L to accept all changes. On the Mac use the Accept button on the Review ribbon — there is no Alt key-tip on macOS.
How do I move to the next or previous change?
On Windows press Alt+R, H for the next revision and Alt+R, F for the previous one. On the Mac click Next / Previous on the Review tab.
Can I stop someone from turning Track Changes off?
Yes — use Review → Track Changes → Lock Tracking and set a password. The Ctrl+Shift+E / ⌘⇧E toggle is disabled until the password is entered.
Why can't I see the tracked changes?
Set the Display for Review box on the Review tab to 'All Markup'. 'No Markup' or 'Simple Markup' hides the coloured edits so the document looks final.