The markup area in Microsoft Word is the shaded pane on the right side of the page that shows comments and formatting changes in balloons. It appears when a document has tracked changes or comments, and it can shrink your page, clutter your view, and even show up when you print or save as PDF. You can hide it temporarily, change how changes are displayed, or remove it permanently by resolving the changes and comments. This guide covers each option.
Quick Answer
To hide the markup area, go to the Review tab and change the Display for Review box (it usually says All Markup) to No Markup or Simple Markup. To remove it permanently, click Accept > Accept All Changes and Stop Tracking, then Delete > Delete All Comments in Document, and save.
Hide vs. Remove
| Goal | What to do | Changes and comments |
|---|---|---|
| Read without distractions | Switch to No Markup or Simple Markup | Still in the document |
| Keep changes but lose the side pane | Show revisions inline | Still in the document |
| Print without markup | Uncheck Print Markup | Still in the document |
| Send a clean final version | Accept or reject all changes and delete comments | Removed permanently |
Option 1: Change the Markup View
- Click the Review tab.
- In the Tracking group, open the Display for Review dropdown.
- Choose one of these:
- Simple Markup: shows the edited text with a red line in the margin where changes are. Comments appear as small icons.
- All Markup: shows every change and the markup area.
- No Markup: shows the document as if all changes were accepted, with no markup area.
- Original: shows the document before any tracked changes.
This only changes your view. Anyone else who opens the file may still see the markup.
Option 2: Show Changes Inline Instead of in Balloons
- On the Review tab, click Show Markup.
- Hover over Balloons.
- Choose Show All Revisions Inline.
Changes appear in the text with colored underlines and strikethroughs, and the side pane disappears. Comments show as highlighted text with small icons or initials.
You can also uncheck specific items under Show Markup, such as Formatting, to stop formatting changes from appearing in balloons.
Option 3: Print Without the Markup Area
- Go to File > Print.
- Click the first setting under Settings (usually Print All Pages).
- Uncheck Print Markup.
When saving as a PDF, choose File > Save As > PDF, click Options, and set Publish what to Document rather than Document showing markup, or switch to No Markup before exporting.
Option 4: Remove Markup Permanently
To make the markup area go away for everyone, resolve all tracked changes and comments:
- Save a copy of the document first, in case you need the history.
- On the Review tab, click the arrow under Accept and choose Accept All Changes and Stop Tracking. (Or use Reject to discard changes.)
- In the Comments group, click the arrow under Delete and choose Delete All Comments in Document.
- Make sure Track Changes is turned off so new edits are not tracked.
- Save the document.
Check for Hidden Markup Before Sharing
Go to File > Info > Check for Issues > Inspect Document. Check Comments, Revisions, and Versions, click Inspect, and then Remove All if any are found. This is a good final step before sending a document to clients or publishing it.
Troubleshooting
The markup area appears again when I reopen the file
Word may be set to show markup when opening documents with tracked changes. Resolve all changes and comments to remove it permanently.
Accept All is grayed out
The document may be protected. Go to Review > Restrict Editing and stop protection (you may need the password).
The markup area shows even with no changes
There may be formatting changes or comments you cannot see. Use Review > Reviewing Pane to list every change and comment in the document.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the markup area in Word?
It is the margin pane that displays comments and tracked changes in balloons when you use All Markup view.
Does choosing No Markup delete changes?
No. It only hides them. Use Accept or Reject to permanently apply or discard them.
How do I remove the markup area on a Mac?
The steps are the same: use the Review tab to change the markup view, or accept all changes and delete all comments.
Can I make the markup area narrower?
Yes. Go to Review > Tracking dialog launcher, click Advanced Options, and change the Preferred width for balloons.
Summary
- Switch Display for Review to No Markup or Simple Markup to hide it.
- Use Show Markup > Balloons > Show All Revisions Inline to remove the side pane.
- Uncheck Print Markup when printing.
- Accept all changes, delete all comments, and save to remove it permanently.
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.