To accept all formatting changes in Word without accepting text edits, go to Review > Show Markup and untick everything except Formatting. Then click the arrow under Accept and choose Accept All Changes Shown. Only the visible formatting changes are accepted; insertions, deletions and comments stay tracked for you to review.
Quick Answer
Review > Show Markup > leave only Formatting ticked > Accept > Accept All Changes Shown. Then turn the other markup types back on.
Steps to Accept Only Formatting Changes
- Open the document and click the Review tab.
- Make sure the view is All Markup in the Tracking group.
- Click Show Markup and untick Comments, Ink, and Insertions and Deletions, leaving Formatting ticked.
- Click the arrow under Accept and choose Accept All Changes Shown.
- Go back to Show Markup and tick the other items again to review the remaining changes.
Accept Options Compared
| Command | What it accepts |
|---|---|
| Accept This Change | The selected change only |
| Accept All Changes Shown | Only the change types currently visible |
| Accept All Changes | Everything, visible or not |
| Accept All Changes and Stop Tracking | Everything, then turns tracking off |
Stop Tracking Formatting in Future
Click the small arrow in the Tracking group to open Track Changes Options, click Advanced Options, and untick Track formatting. Word will still track text edits.
To clear every edit, read how to remove all track changes in Word.
Troubleshooting
- Accept All Changes Shown is missing: It appears only when some markup types are hidden. Filter Show Markup first.
- Changes by one person only: Use Show Markup > Specific People to filter by reviewer before accepting.
- Blue or coloured lines remain: Those may be proofing marks, not tracked changes. See removing blue lines in Word.
- Want to see who changed what? See viewing edit history in Word.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I undo accepting changes?
Yes, with Ctrl + Z straight away. After saving and closing, the changes are permanent.
Does this work in Word for Mac?
Yes. Use Review > Markup Options to filter, then Accept > Accept All Changes Shown.
Can I reject all formatting changes the same way?
Yes. Filter to Formatting and choose Reject > Reject All Changes Shown.
Summary
- Open Review > Show Markup.
- Leave only Formatting ticked.
- Choose Accept > Accept All Changes Shown.
- Turn the other markup back on and review the rest.
Kermit Matthews runs Live2Tech from just outside Philadelphia. He is an IT specialist with over 20 years of experience, from a university help desk to small-business IT, IT management and his own consulting practice, and has written tech guides full time since 2020. Steps are checked against the current software on a real device or the maker’s official documentation. More about Kermit.