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If you're in "Editing" mode, why does enabling track changes put you into "Viewing" mode?

Anonymous
2024-05-21T06:30:36+00:00

MS Word for Windows has introduced a new feature: Editing/Reviewing/Viewing mode

Easily switch between editing, reviewing, and viewing documents in Word (microsoft365.com)

If you're in "Editing" mode, and you try to enable tracked changes using the "Track Changes" button or CTRL-SHIFT-E, instead of switching to "Reviewing" mode, it switches to "Viewing" mode which prevents you from making any edits to the document.

Before clicking the "Track Changes" button (circled):

After clicking the "Track Changes" button, it switches to "Viewing" mode (circled), and disables track changes and grays out the track changes button.

This has caused mass confusion at my company, with many people being unable to figure out how to enable tracked changes since this feature was rolled out.

(The only way to enable Track Changes is now to select "Reviewing" mode, which is really confusing for an unannounced change.)

This makes no sense! Is this a bug? Is it possible for me (or our system admin) to change a setting to change this behaviour? Or if that's how it's supposed to work, can anyone explain the logic?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For business | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-05-22T00:31:21+00:00

    Hi Claire,

    Thanks for your response. I've now found this issue is only affecting documents that have been set to open read-only. I think it might be a bug. Here are the steps to replicate:

    1. Create a new blank word document.
    2. Click File -> Info -> Protect Document -> Always Open Read-Only

    1. Save the document (doesn't seem to matter whether it is saved locally or on OneDrive or SharePoint)
    2. Re-open the document, dismiss the "always open view-only" dialog

    1. Switch to "Editing" mode

    1. Click the "Track Changes" button or press CTRL-SHIFT-E

    1. Instead of switching to "reviewing" mode, it switches to "viewing" mode and disables track changes.

    Word version:

    Microsoft® Word for Microsoft 365 MSO (Version 2402 Build 16.0.17328.20282) 64-bit

    Windows version:

    Edition Windows 10 Enterprise

    Version 21H2

    Installed on ‎06/‎03/‎2023

    OS build 19044.2846

    Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.4190.0

    9 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2024-05-27T03:39:32+00:00

    Thanks Claire.

    Reported to feedback community here:

    Bug: Tracked Changes button doesn't work if "Always Open Read-Only" has ever been enabled on a document · Community (microsoft.com)

    If you are experiencing the same issue and would like Microsoft to fix it, please go to the above link and upvote the post.

    6 people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2024-05-24T02:24:38+00:00

    Dear Lima Yankee,

    Thank you for post back.

    I had tested it again with the steps you provided. and I reproduce your scenario.

    I create a Word file and set it as Protection Document and save it in local. And then I reopen it. Even I uncheck the Protection Document, it still can't use Tract Change correctly.

    ![](https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/1aeec48e-5963-4072-bf82-39247c9921de?platform=QnA"https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/66e52d96-c659-4ecd-a7f4-638a3752341c?platform=QnA" title="filestore.community.support.microsoft.com" rel="ugc nofollow">![](https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/66e52d96-c659-4ecd-a7f4-638a3752341c?platform=QnA"https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/cb1a6459-79ec-4f64-9ec5-22de072ad8bc?platform=QnA" title="filestore.community.support.microsoft.com" rel="ugc nofollow">![](https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/cb1a6459-79ec-4f64-9ec5-22de072ad8bc?platform=QnA"https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/e305f945-a5ba-4420-8ae8-d65008cd7f5d?platform=QnA" title="filestore.community.support.microsoft.com" rel="ugc nofollow">![](https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/e305f945-a5ba-4420-8ae8-d65008cd7f5d?platform=QnA"https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/01b51ba1-7811-4e60-af57-57cb54041a0d?platform=QnA" title="filestore.community.support.microsoft.com" rel="ugc nofollow">

    It seems a normal phenomenon. If it brings inconvenience to your work, I recommend sharing your valuable feedback to Word Feedback Community: Word · Community (microsoft.com). Our Product Team is in-charge of the site, and they are constantly checking the comments and feedback from our customers. Many features have been developed and improved based on users' comments. 

    Your patience and understanding will be greatly appreciated.

    Sincerely,

    Claire | Microsoft Community Moderator

    4 people found this answer helpful.
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  4. Anonymous
    2024-05-21T08:19:06+00:00

    Dear Lima Yankee,

    Good day. Thank you for posting to Microsoft Community, and we are happy to help you.

    As per your description, when you enable Track Change, Editing mode will switch to Viewing mode automatically, you can only change to Reviewing mode manually.

    I have tested it on my side, and it works according to official document.


    I noticed you mentioned all persons in your organization have the same issue, this is an abnormal situation. I'm afraid this issue needs to be investigated from the backend side via remote assistance and collect the background logs. As this Forum community has limited resources, the backend support team there has more permission than us, they have more resources to investigate the issue from the backend, they have Escalate channel to escalate your issue to check more and collect log reports for the root cause.

    Please contact the administrator in your tenant and let him open a support ticket to our related team to seek further help: Get support - Microsoft 365 admin | Microsoft Learn

    Your patience and cooperation will be greatly appreciate.

    Sincerely,

    Claire | Microsoft Community Moderator

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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