When you use Copilot in Word for Mac to generate or rewrite text, the suggestions often appear as Track Changes instead of replacing the original text directly. This behavior differs from the Windows version, where Copilot typically replaces content inline without tracking revisions. The root cause lies in how the Mac version of Word applies Copilot output through the document review framework.
This article explains why Copilot uses Track Changes on the Mac, how to adjust the settings to get direct inline edits, and what to do if you want to keep or remove the tracked modifications.
Key Takeaways: Fix Copilot Track Changes Behavior in Word for Mac
- Word > Preferences > Track Changes > Markup options: Disabling the option to track formatting changes can reduce the number of tracked revisions Copilot creates.
- Review tab > Accept > Accept All Changes: After Copilot generates text, use this command to accept all tracked edits and finalize the document.
- Copilot pane > Draft with Copilot > Settings gear icon: Check if an update is available for the Copilot add-in, as older versions may force Track Changes on Mac.
Why Copilot Uses Track Changes in Word for Mac
Word for Mac behaves differently from the Windows version when processing Copilot output. The core reason is that the Mac version of Word applies all Copilot suggestions through the document review system by default. This is not a bug but a design choice that prioritizes review safety over direct editing.
When you ask Copilot to rewrite a paragraph or generate new content, the app inserts the new text as an insertion and marks the old text as a deletion. Word for Mac also tracks formatting changes, such as font size or color shifts, which Copilot may introduce. This creates a cluttered revision list that can confuse users expecting a clean replacement.
The behavior is controlled by two settings: the Track Changes mode in Word preferences and the Copilot add-in version. If Track Changes is set to For All or For Everyone, every Copilot action gets recorded. If the add-in is outdated, it may ignore the user’s preference and force Track Changes on.
Track Changes Modes and Their Effect on Copilot
Word for Mac offers three Track Changes modes:
- For All: Every change by any user or add-in is tracked. Copilot output will always appear as tracked changes.
- For Everyone Except Me: Changes from Copilot (as an external source) are still tracked because the app treats the add-in as another user.
- Off: No changes are tracked. Copilot should insert text directly without revision marks.
If Track Changes is turned off but Copilot still inserts tracked revisions, the add-in version is likely outdated. Updating the Copilot add-in through the Microsoft 365 update channel resolves this.
Steps to Stop Copilot from Creating Track Changes in Word for Mac
Follow these steps in order. Each step addresses a specific cause.
- Turn Off Track Changes in Word Preferences
Open Word for Mac. Go to the menu bar and click Word > Preferences. Under the Output and Sharing section, click Track Changes. In the Track Changes window, set the mode to Off. Close the preferences window. This stops Word from recording any new changes, including those from Copilot. - Disable Formatting Tracking
Still in the Track Changes preferences, uncheck the box labeled Track formatting. This prevents Copilot from marking font or style changes as revisions. Click OK to save. - Update the Copilot Add-In
Open any document in Word. Click the Copilot icon on the Home tab or the ribbon. In the Copilot pane, click the gear icon in the top-right corner. Select About Copilot. Note the version number. Close the pane. Go to the menu bar and click Help > Check for Updates. Install any available updates for Microsoft 365. Restart Word. This updates the Copilot add-in to the latest version that respects the Track Changes setting. - Test Copilot with a Simple Draft
Create a new blank document. Type a short sentence like “The weather today is sunny.” Open the Copilot pane. Select the sentence and ask Copilot to rewrite it. Check if the new text appears inline without revision marks. If it does, the fix succeeded. If not, proceed to the next step. - Reset Word Preferences
Close Word completely. Open Finder. Press Cmd + Shift + G to open the Go to Folder dialog. Type~/Library/Preferencesand press Enter. Find the file com.microsoft.Word.plist. Move it to the Desktop as a backup. Restart Word. Word will create a new default preferences file. Test Copilot again. This resets any corrupted preference that forces Track Changes on.
If Copilot Still Uses Track Changes After the Main Fix
Copilot Generates Text as Insertions but Does Not Delete Old Text
This happens when the document has multiple authors or when the document is stored in a SharePoint library with versioning enabled. Word may force Track Changes on for collaborative documents. To fix this, save a local copy of the document to your Mac. Open the local copy and repeat the steps above. After Copilot generates the text, manually delete the old text and accept the insertions.
Copilot Creates Strikethrough on Original Text
Strikethrough appears when Track Changes is set to For All or For Everyone Except Me. Even if you turned off Track Changes in preferences, a document-level setting may override it. Go to the Review tab on the ribbon. Click the small arrow in the bottom-right corner of the Tracking group. In the dialog that opens, set the mode to No Markup or Final. This hides the tracked changes without accepting them. Copilot will still insert changes as tracked, but you will not see the strikethrough.
Copilot Add-In Does Not Respond to Track Changes Toggle
If you turned Track Changes off but Copilot still tracks, the add-in may be stuck in a previous state. Quit Word completely. Force quit the Microsoft Word process in Activity Monitor if needed. Reopen Word and immediately turn off Track Changes before opening any document. Then open your document and test Copilot. This ensures the add-in loads with the correct setting.
Copilot Track Changes Behavior: Word for Mac vs Word for Windows
| Item | Word for Mac | Word for Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Default Copilot output | Tracked changes (insertions and deletions) | Inline replacement without revision marks |
| Track Changes setting override | Add-in may ignore user preference | Add-in respects user preference |
| Formatting tracking | On by default in preferences | Off by default for Copilot actions |
| Document-level override | Possible when document is in SharePoint | Rare; local setting takes priority |
| Fix complexity | Requires preference reset or add-in update | Usually fixed by toggling Track Changes off |
The table shows that the Mac version requires more steps to get clean Copilot output. The main difference is the add-in’s default behavior and the persistent formatting tracking setting.
You can now control how Copilot modifies text in Word for Mac. Start by turning off Track Changes in preferences and updating the add-in. If the issue persists, reset the Word preferences file. For documents shared on SharePoint, save a local copy first. Use the Review > Accept > Accept All Changes command to finalize Copilot output quickly. For advanced control, consider using Copilot in Word for Windows, where the inline editing behavior is the default.