How to Compare Two Documents in Word
Someone sent back your document "with a few small changes" — but didn't turn on Track Changes. Instead of reading both copies side by side, let Word find every difference for you.
Quick reference
| What you want | How |
|---|---|
| Compare two versions | Review → Compare → Compare… |
| Merge edits from two people | Review → Compare → Combine… |
| Ignore formatting changes | More >> → untick Formatting |
1. Compare two documents
1. Open Word (any document, or a blank one).
2. Go to Review → Compare → Compare…
3. Under Original document, choose the older version.
4. Under Revised document, choose the newer version.
5. Click OK.
2. Go to Review → Compare → Compare…
3. Under Original document, choose the older version.
4. Under Revised document, choose the newer version.
5. Click OK.
2. Read the results
Word creates a new document showing every change as tracked changes — insertions underlined, deletions crossed out. The screen splits into:
• Revisions pane on the left, listing every change.
• Compared document in the middle.
• Original and Revised documents on the right, scrolling together.
• Compared document in the middle.
• Original and Revised documents on the right, scrolling together.
Neither of your original files is changed.
3. Only show the changes that matter
Before clicking OK, click More >> and untick anything you don't care about — Formatting, Case changes, White space — so you only see real text changes.
4. Accept or reject changes
In the compared document, use Review → Accept or Reject to go through each change, or Accept All Changes if you're happy with them. Then save the result as your new version.
5. Combine edits from two reviewers
If two people edited separate copies of the same document, use Review → Compare → Combine… instead. Both people's changes end up in one document, labelled with each person's name.
Troubleshooting
Every line shows as changed. The formatting has probably changed throughout. Untick Formatting in More >>.
Changes are labelled "Author". In More >>, set Label changes with to the reviewer's name.
Can I compare PDFs? Open each PDF in Word first (File → Open), save them as Word documents, then compare.
Wrapping up
Review → Compare, pick the old and new versions, and Word shows every difference in seconds — no squinting at two windows.
