This week my version of Word 365 has begun to display tracked changes in an incredibly irritating way, whereby all of the change gets a background (similar to text that has a comment on it), and mouseover causes a popup box that covers some of the text. It is, quite simply, insane. I finally figured out what MS is calling it - it's a new feature called track changes "cards":
Review tracked changes with new cards in Word


Do any of you know how to switch this off?!

I have yet to see this. I am using 365 - current release channel.

If you are on the Beta channel or the Insider channel, get off.
Send feedback to Microsoft.


This may be connected to Modern Comments, which, for now, can be disabled.

When trying to resolve this myself before posting my query I'd actually found the "modern comments" checkbox in Word's options, and unchecked it - but that didn't work. I'm on "current channel", as far as I can tell:

After you have turned off the modern comments, you have to restart Word, for the changes to take effect.

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Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

You'd got me optimistic there, but alas restarting Word didn't make any difference. Modern comments are switched off, and the cards (and strobe-like highlighting) are still there.

Sorry, I apparently didn't read the entire thread properly.

You are talking about the "cards" that are mentioned in the TechCommunity article Review tracked changes with new cards in Word.

I haven't seen those myself ("live," in an actual Word installation, I mean). They look similar to the cards that Word Online displays for tracked changes, and I thought (hoped!) that Microsoft had given them up, but it seems that they have not. :-(

Attached Images

TrackChangesCards.png (35.6 KB, 18 views)

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Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Yes - that's exactly what I'm talking about. I can completely see how some reviewing contexts might benefit from them. But in our work they are a productivity-killer. They cover up key text (shown in your screenshot). And, just as bad, is the "background" color that appears on mouseover. In your screenshot the word "to" is the edit that your mouse would have hovered on, and it has been given a faint background color. In my world the edits are often paragraphs long, and so the entire page of text gets this background. Even worse, the background appears and disappears as the mouse moves between lines, producing a strobe effect. And finally, the actual markup font color is often obfuscated (or perhaps changed) while the background is showing - which adds to the confusion. What a mess! We're not sure how to work at the moment. Our current workaround involves printing out a copy on the side, for reference. Not cool.

You can post feedback for Microsoft. See How do I give feedback on Microsoft 365? - Microsoft Support. While you are unlikely to receive a follow-up from Microsoft, they do read all of the feedback and suggestions.

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Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

It is their MOST annoying feature to date! I am so incredibly annoyed. If anyone has advice on removing that feature, I'd be forever grateful...

Rooey,

Do the cards go away if you choose not to display revisions inline? Just a thought. I haven't had a chance to test this yet in Word 365.

Attached Images

TrkChangesCardsImage.png (92.7 KB, 4 views)

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Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

very interesting, but it didn't work for me I tried showing all revisions in balloons, but those annoying pop-ups show up anyway...

Too bad it didn't make a difference. :-(

My suggestion was a bit of a long shot, perhaps.

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Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Note, this is not the place to get any changes made in Word nor the attention of developers at Microsoft. This is an independent user-to-user support forum. MS does not see anything you post here. The way to get their attention is through the feedback mechanisms.

• How do I give feedback on Microsoft Office?
• Word Feedback Portal – allows a public feedback that can be voted on
• Microsoft applications Feedback Portal (pick an application)
• Send Feedback to MS Developers
• Bonus Reading related to MS Feedback system

My personal preference is to use the Word Feedback Portal. If you do, please get a share link and post it here so that others seeing this thread can go there and vote and comment.

I reported this to Word ages ago. I was hoping for suggestions from other users on how to circumvent that terrible feature.

Community

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