Occasionally I open a Word document that I've been editing and see a red bar on the left indicating that Track Changes has been enabled. I don't ever want it enabled. How does this keep happening accidentally? Is there some hot key that I'm hitting?

It may be that you have Track Changes showing on your Status Bar. That will turn it on and off when you click there. So, it could be a stray mouse click.

I keep that in my Status Bar just so I can be aware if it is turned on. I seldom use it except when editing legal documents to pass back and forth.

Hi Charles,


Thank you for the response. Can you tell from the attached screenshot if I have Track Changes showing in my Status Bar?


Thanks,
Burt

Attached Images

status bar.png (4.3 KB, 12 views)

You do not. Right-click on the status bar. There will be a check mark next to each item that is displayed.

Right.... I see. Thanks for the info.

You are welcome. As you can see, I keep a bunch checked!

Perhaps, by mistake, you pressed Ctrl+Shift+E (which enabled Track Changes)? It is a toggle, so you can press the same key combination again to turn off the tracking.

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional