# Word opens in Reviewing mode on Mac: how lawyers turn it off in 2026

> Word opens in Reviewing mode on a Mac because Track Changes is on or the file is locked. Here is how lawyers check, accept changes and switch back.

URL: https://www.lazur.app/for/lawyers/problems/word-opens-in-reviewing-mode
Updated: 2026-11-06

Word opens in Reviewing mode when Track Changes is on, or when someone shared the file for review and locked tracking. To get out, look at the Document access mode button, then turn Track Changes off, or accept all changes if you have permission. This page covers the causes, the fixes anyone can use without buying anything, and the points where you need the document owner.

## Quick answer

- Reviewing mode is Word's tracking view. If you see it, Track Changes is almost always on.
- Check Review > Tracking first. If Track Changes is on, save a copy, then accept or reject all changes.
- If you cannot turn tracking off, the owner may have shared the file for review or locked tracking with a password.
- Do not try to get around a password lock. Ask the document owner for the password or edit permission.

## What word stuck in reviewing mode costs you

- **Lost minutes on every open.** Nobody has measured how often lawyers hit this or how long it takes. You can estimate it. Start with the BLS median hourly pay of $76.76 for May 2025. Every 15 minutes lost is about $19 of pay-equivalent time, since $76.76 divided by four is $19.19. Your billing rate may be higher, because the median wage is not a billing rate.
- **A redline sent by mistake.** The worst cost is a file with tracked changes or comments sent to the wrong reader. The other side or the client then sees internal edits and notes. Recovering from that can take a call, an apology, and a revised file. No study I could find measures how often this happens, so check for markup before every send.
- **A clean file that still has changes.** The reverse is also a cost. You think the file is clean, but a deleted clause is still in it as tracked text. A reader who turns on markup sees it. Scan the file before you save the final copy, not after it has gone out.
- **Lost history for the team.** Accepting all changes erases the visible trail of who changed what. If a partner later asks why a clause moved, you have no record to check. Keep the redline copy, even when the clean copy is the one that goes out to the client.
- **Waiting on someone else.** Locks and permission problems need another person. That wait is often the real cost of this problem. Send one clear request early in the day, rather than three small ones through the afternoon.

## Why it happens

1. **Track Changes is switched on.** This is the most common cause. Track Changes puts the document into Reviewing mode. A Microsoft Q&A thread describes the link both ways: selecting Reviewing turns Track Changes on, and turning Track Changes on switches the document to Reviewing. So anyone who turned it on has put you here, including a colleague or the author of a template. The setting travels with the file, so a copy you received can still have it on.
2. **The file was shared with you for review.** A reviewer may have sent you a file with tracking required. Microsoft's Track Changes article says that if a document was shared with you for review, you may not be able to turn off Track Changes. The owner set that up, not you. Changing it from the Review tab may simply not work, however many times you click.
3. **Tracking is locked with a password.** Tracked changes can be locked with a password. While they are locked, you cannot turn off change tracking, and you cannot accept or reject changes. The Review tab can look completely normal. The lock is what stops you. Ask the person who set it for the password.
4. **The mode was set by hand.** Sometimes nobody else touched anything. You, or the last person to save, picked Reviewing or Viewing from the Document access mode button. That button turns blue in either mode, so it is easy to misread. Check the button before you assume something worse is going on.
5. **Permissions or your organization limit editing.** Editing access depends on sharing permissions and document restrictions. Microsoft says Always open view-only does not control editing access, so changing that setting will not help. Some restrictions are controlled by the document owner or your organization and cannot be changed locally. On a managed firm Mac, the policy may come from IT.

## How to fix it

- **Read the mode and the Track Changes state.** Look at the Document access mode button in the top right. Then open Review > Tracking and check whether Track Changes is highlighted. Do this before you click anything else. It tells you whether the problem is tracking, the mode, or a lock. Those three need three different fixes.
- **Save a copy, then accept or reject all changes.** Save a copy with File > Save As or ⇧⌘S. In the copy, choose Review > Tracking > Accept > Accept All Changes and Stop Tracking. Microsoft lists this option in its Track Changes article, and it also stops tracking. Use Reject instead only if you want the original text back. Check that the Mac menu labels match your version, since Microsoft's page is not written for Mac.
- **Turn Track Changes off in Review > Tracking.** If the file still tracks after you accept, go to Review > Tracking and click Track Changes so it is no longer highlighted. Then check the mode button again. If it still shows Reviewing and you have permission, use the dropdown to choose Editing. If the Track Changes click does nothing, go to the next fix.
- **Switch to Editing if you have permission.** Click the Document access mode button and choose Editing. This works only when sharing permissions and document restrictions allow it. Microsoft says you can move from Viewing or Reviewing to Editing with that dropdown, but the access has to be there. If Editing is missing from the list, the cause is permission, not the mode.
- **Ask the owner for the password or edit permission.** If tracking is locked or the file was shared for review, you need the owner. Ask for the password or for edit permission, and name the file. Do not use a password remover. It can damage the file, and it can break your firm's rules for client documents.

## What Reviewing mode means in Word for Mac

Reviewing mode is the state where Word records every edit as a tracked change. Anyone who opens the file can see who typed what. Word for Mac shows the state with a button you may not have noticed. It sits beside Share in the top right of the window and is called the Document access mode button. A Microsoft Q&A thread describes it as turning blue in Reviewing or Viewing mode. The Share button is always blue, whether or not the file is shared. So the blue color alone does not tell you who has access.

![Lawyer at a desk checking a Word document that opens in Reviewing mode on a Mac](https://lfobmih1tpj3sgpo.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/content-images/problem/word-opens-in-reviewing-mode/word-opens-in-reviewing-mode-1-fc2518.jpg)

## Check the mode before you change anything

Start by looking, not clicking. Find the Document access mode button in the top right. Then open the Review tab and look at the Tracking group. If the Track Changes button looks highlighted, tracking is on. Microsoft's general instruction is to select Track Changes again to turn it off. Its Track Changes article is not written for Mac, so match what you see on screen to these steps. If the control does not respond at all, check for a lock before you try anything else.

| Mode | What it does | How to leave it |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Editing | Your edits are normal. Nothing is tracked. | You are already here. Nothing to change. |
| Reviewing | Every edit is tracked. Turning on Track Changes switches the file to this mode. | Turn off Track Changes, or accept all changes and stop tracking, if you have permission. |
| Viewing | You cannot change the text in this view. | Use the dropdown to choose Editing, if sharing permissions allow it. |

_Modes as Microsoft describes them. Check the exact labels in your version of Word._

## A worked example: a contract that came back with tracking on

Say a colleague sends you a long agreement for a final read. You open it and the file is in Reviewing mode. Every line you type shows up in color. You need a clean version to send to the client by the end of the day. Work through it in this order so you do not lose the redlines you may need later. First, save a copy with File > Save As, or press ⇧⌘S. Give the copy a name that tells it apart from the original.

Next, read the markup. Look for a Display for Review control in the Review tab and choose Simple Markup. Simple Markup shows a red line in the margin where changes sit, which is easier to scan than All Markup when a file is full of edits. Then open the Reviewing Pane from the Review tab and read the list. Only after you know what changed should you accept anything.

1. Save a copy with File > Save As or ⇧⌘S. Keep the original with its markup untouched.
2. On the copy, choose Review > Tracking > Accept > Accept All Changes and Stop Tracking. This accepts the changes and stops tracking in one step.
3. If the mode still shows Reviewing, open Review > Tracking and make sure Track Changes is no longer highlighted.
4. If the button still says Reviewing and you have permission, click the Document access mode button and choose Editing.
5. Scroll the clean copy once, then save it under a new name before you send anything.

> **Accepting removes the trail:** Accept All Changes and Stop Tracking removes the markup from this file. The record of who changed what goes with it. Keep the redline copy from step one, or the next reviewer cannot see the history.

## Mistakes that make the problem worse

- Accepting all changes before you have read them. You may lose a deleted clause that matters.
- Turning off Track Changes on the original file and sending it. Save the copy first, then change only the copy.
- Clicking Track Changes again and again. If nothing happens, a lock or a permission setting is the likely cause.
- Treating Viewing as a place to edit. In Viewing you cannot change the text, so you lose time hunting for the cursor.
- Using a password remover you found online. It can damage the file and may break your firm's rules for client documents.
- Blaming the cursor. One Microsoft Q&A user linked cursor jumping to tracking, but no answer in that thread confirmed it.

Two more claims come up in forums. Microsoft's Enable editing article says Always open view-only does not control editing access, so that setting will not help. Community posts also list ⌘⇧E as a Track Changes toggle. Microsoft's Track Changes article does not mention it. Test it on a copy before you rely on it.

## When the owner has locked tracking or shared the file for review

Sometimes the setting is not yours to change. A document shared with you for review may not let you turn off Track Changes. A password on tracked changes blocks turning tracking off, and it also blocks accepting or rejecting changes. Microsoft notes that some editing restrictions come from the document owner or your organization, and you cannot change those locally. In that case the fix is a short conversation, not another menu.

- **$76.76** Median hourly pay for lawyers in May 2025, used here as a rough baseline for the cost of lost time, not a billing rate. ([source](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/lawyers.htm))
- **$159,670** Median annual pay for lawyers in May 2025, from the same BLS page. ([source](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/lawyers.htm))

Make the request in one message. Name the file. Say you need the password or edit permission, and give a reason. A clear request gets answered faster than three vague ones. If you want help with the wording, ask Lazur to draft the note while you hold the shortcut. You still read it and send it yourself.

## Check firm rules before you change a shared file

Lawyers handle client files, so treat every lock as a question for the firm. Your firm may have rules about who can accept changes, who keeps redlines, and where copies can live. Follow those rules. Do not copy a client document into a personal tool to get around a restriction. If the file is locked, the matter lead, the records team, or IT can tell you what is allowed.

![Printed legal papers and a laptop on a desk, the setting where a Word document opens in Reviewing mode](https://lfobmih1tpj3sgpo.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/content-images/problem/word-opens-in-reviewing-mode/word-opens-in-reviewing-mode-2-6b7d4b.jpg)

## After the fix: check the clean file before it leaves your desk

Open the clean copy and scroll the whole document once. Look for stray colored text, leftover comments, and any deletion that survived. Then check the mode button. It should show Editing, with tracking off. If you need to compare the clean version with the redline, follow the steps in [How to compare two Word documents on a Mac](https://www.lazur.app/for/lawyers/problems/compare-two-word-documents-on-mac). That page covers redlining in more detail.

A short checklist helps. Confirm the file name, confirm tracking is off, and check that the Reviewing Pane is empty. Save once more. Only then should the file go to a client or to opposing counsel.

## Where Lazur fits, and where it does not

Lazur is a voice assistant for the Mac. Hold ⌥ ⌘ to ask about anything on screen, and Lazur answers out loud. Ask where the Document access mode button is, and Lazur draws a circle and a label around it. Ask how to turn off Track Changes, and Lazur guides you one click at a time, waiting for each click. Lazur looks at the screen only while you hold the shortcut. It does not click for you.

![Person typing on a laptop in an office while editing a Word document that opens in Reviewing mode](https://lfobmih1tpj3sgpo.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/content-images/problem/word-opens-in-reviewing-mode/word-opens-in-reviewing-mode-3-807d50.jpg)

Lazur is not a plugin or add-in for Word. It reads what is on screen and does not operate Word for you. Its answers depend on what it can read on your screen. Check its answer against the menu you actually see, especially on a Word version that differs from the steps on this page.

## With Lazur

Lazur is a voice assistant for the Mac that lives in the notch. Hold ⌥ ⌘ and ask; it sees your screen, answers out loud, points at buttons and walks you through apps. Hold fn to dictate. Free for 3 days, then $18/month: https://www.lazur.app/download

- “Why is this document in Reviewing mode?”: Lazur points at the Document access mode button and names the setting that switched the mode. (Points at it)
- “What does Reviewing mode mean in this file?”: Lazur reads what is on screen and answers out loud. It names the mode and explains what Track Changes does.
- “Where is the Document access mode button?”: Lazur draws a circle and a label around the button, so you know which control to find in the top right.
- “Walk me through turning off Track Changes.”: Lazur guides you one click at a time and waits for each click. You do the clicking, and the file stays in your hands.
- “Help me write a note asking for the password.”: Lazur drafts the text. You read it, edit it, and send it yourself. Lazur does not send mail for you.
- “What does Accept All Changes and Stop Tracking do?”: Lazur explains the option in plain words before you choose it. It does not accept the changes for you.

## A plan you can start this week

- **Now: Look before you click.** Find the Document access mode button and check Review > Tracking. Note whether Track Changes is highlighted, and whether the mode says Reviewing or Viewing. That one minute tells you which fix you need.
- **Minute 2: Save the copy first.** Press ⇧⌘S and save the file under a new name. Do this before any accept or reject. The copy keeps the markup, so you can check the changes later or share the history with a colleague.
- **Minute 5: Review the markup.** Set the markup view to Simple Markup, then open the Reviewing Pane from the Review tab. Read the changes and comments you care about. Note any clause that someone deleted, because that is where mistakes hide.
- **Minute 10: Accept, then confirm.** On the copy, choose Review > Tracking > Accept > Accept All Changes and Stop Tracking. Then check the Track Changes button and the mode button. If the file still shows Reviewing and you have permission, switch to Editing.
- **If locked: Ask in one message.** If the button does nothing or a lock message appears, ask the owner in one message. Name the file, say you need the password or edit permission, and give a reason. Expect to wait, so send the note early.
- **Before sending: Scan the clean copy.** Scroll the whole clean file once. Look for colored text, comments, and struck-through text. Confirm the mode says Editing and the Reviewing Pane is empty. Then save and send.

## FAQ

### Why does my Word document open in Reviewing mode on Mac?

Usually Track Changes is on. A Microsoft Q&A thread says that selecting Reviewing turns Track Changes on, and turning Track Changes on switches the document to Reviewing. Check Review > Tracking first to see which one applies.

### How do I turn off Track Changes in Word for Mac?

Open the Review tab and click Track Changes in the Tracking group, so it is no longer highlighted. If the click does nothing, the file may be shared for review or locked. In that case, ask the owner before you try again.

### Can I switch Word from Reviewing to Editing?

Yes, if your permissions allow it. Click the Document access mode button, then choose Editing. Microsoft says editing access depends on sharing permissions and document restrictions. If Editing is not offered, you need the owner.

### What if Accept All Changes does nothing?

That usually points to a lock or a shared-for-review setting. Microsoft says that while tracked changes are locked, you cannot accept or reject changes. Ask the document owner for the password or edit permission.

### Does Always open view-only fix Reviewing mode?

No. Microsoft's Enable editing article says Always open view-only does not control editing access. Use the Document access mode button and the permission steps instead.

### Is cursor jumping a Track Changes problem?

It might be, but the link is unverified. One Microsoft Q&A user connected cursor jumping to tracking, and no answer in that thread confirmed it. Test with tracking off on a copy before you blame it.

### Is ⌘⇧E the Track Changes shortcut in Word for Mac?

Community posts say it toggles Track Changes. Microsoft's Track Changes article does not list it. Test it on a copy first, and confirm that it does what you expect before you use it on a client file.

### Should I use a tool to remove a Word password?

No. Password removal tools can damage the file, and they can break your firm's rules for client documents. Ask the owner for the password or edit permission. If you cannot get it, ask your IT team or matter lead what is allowed.

## Sources

1. [Track changes in Word](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/word/training/track-changes-in-word), Microsoft Support, checked 2026-11-07
2. [Enable editing in your document](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/word/enable-editing-in-your-document), Microsoft Support, checked 2026-11-07
3. [How to turn off track changes and share function on word for MAC tried all the normal things](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5791495/how-to-turn-off-track-changes-and-share-function-o), Microsoft Q&A, checked 2026-11-07
4. [Lawyers: Occupational Outlook Handbook](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/lawyers.htm), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, checked 2026-11-07