Google Docs has Editing, Suggesting, and Viewing modes. To stop making suggestions and return to normal document changes, switch from Suggesting to Editing when your permissions allow it.
- Open the Google Doc.
- Find the mode control near the upper-right area of the editor.
- Choose Editing instead of Suggesting.
- Type a small change and confirm it edits the document directly rather than creating a colored suggestion.
- Undo the test change if it was only for verification.
Why you might be stuck in Suggesting
| What you see | Likely reason | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The mode menu shows only Suggesting and Viewing | You have Commenter access | Ask the owner to change your access to Editor |
| No mode menu at all | You have Viewer access, or the window is too narrow to show it | Widen the window or check your access in the Share dialog |
| Your typing still appears in color after switching | Those are older suggestions, not new ones | Accept or reject them as shown below |
| On a phone, there is no pencil-style menu | The app puts the option in a different place | See the mobile steps below |
If Editing is unavailable
Your sharing permission may allow only viewing or commenting. Ask the document owner for Editor access rather than trying to bypass the restriction.
Existing suggestions remain
Switching to Editing changes how new edits are made; it does not automatically accept or reject suggestions already in the document.
Accept changes deliberately
Review existing suggestions and accept or reject them based on the document’s editorial process. Bulk-accepting suggestions can introduce changes you did not intend.
Accept or reject all suggestions at once
- Open Tools > Review suggested edits.
- Use the arrows to step through each change, or choose Accept all or Reject all.
- Use the drop-down in that panel to preview the document with all suggestions accepted before you commit.
If you accept something by mistake, you can undo it right away or restore an earlier copy from version history.
Mobile interface
Google Docs on phones/tablets places the mode and suggestion controls differently. The same permission principle applies: only editors can make unrestricted direct edits. In the Google Docs app, open the document, tap More (the three dots), and turn off Suggest changes.
Suggesting is useful for review
Suggestion mode is not an error. It lets collaborators propose changes without immediately replacing the original text, making it useful when an editor or owner needs to approve revisions.
Frequently asked questions
Can the owner force me to stay in Suggesting mode?
Only by giving you Commenter access. Editors can always switch to Editing themselves.
How do I switch the other way, into Suggesting?
Use the same mode menu and choose Suggesting. Our guide to switching between Editing and Suggesting mode explains each mode in detail.
How do I stop editing altogether so I don’t change anything by accident?
Choose Viewing from the mode menu. See how to get out of editing mode in Google Docs.
Do suggestions notify the owner?
The owner and other editors can see and reply to each suggestion in the margin, much like comments in Google Docs, and may get email notifications depending on their settings.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.