Many business users expect a Track Changes feature in PowerPoint similar to Microsoft Word. PowerPoint does not offer real-time change tracking with colored markup. However, PowerPoint includes a Compare and Combine tool that allows you to see differences between two versions of a presentation and merge them. This article explains how the Compare feature works as a Track Changes equivalent. You will learn the exact steps to compare presentations, accept or reject changes, and merge edits from multiple reviewers.
Key Takeaways: Using Compare and Combine as a Track Changes Workaround
- Review > Compare: Opens a side-by-side view showing differences between the original and a revised copy of a presentation.
- Reviewing Pane: Lists every change per slide, including text edits, formatting changes, and slide order modifications.
- Accept or Reject buttons: Apply or discard individual changes, similar to Word’s Accept/Reject in Track Changes.
How the Compare and Combine Feature Replaces Track Changes in PowerPoint
PowerPoint does not include a Track Changes mode that automatically records every edit as you type. Instead, the application provides a Compare and Combine tool. This tool compares two PowerPoint files: an original version and a copy that has been edited by another person. The feature highlights differences in text, formatting, slide layout, and slide order. It then lets you accept or reject each difference individually.
The Compare feature is designed for workflows where multiple people edit a presentation offline or send separate files. You do not need to enable any setting before editing. You simply create a copy of the original file, share it with reviewers, and then use Compare to merge their changes back into the original. This method works for any version of PowerPoint from 2013 onward, including PowerPoint for Microsoft 365.
Steps to Compare and Combine Two PowerPoint Presentations
Before you begin, you need two files: the original presentation and a revised copy. The revised copy must be saved with a different file name. Follow these steps to compare them and merge changes.
- Open the original presentation in PowerPoint
Launch PowerPoint and open the file that you want to merge changes into. This is usually the version you sent to reviewers. - Go to Review > Compare
On the ribbon, click the Review tab. In the Compare group, click the Compare button. A file browser dialog opens. - Select the revised presentation
In the file browser, locate and select the edited copy of the presentation. Click Merge. PowerPoint processes the comparison and opens the Reviewing Pane on the right side of the window. - Review each change in the Reviewing Pane
The Reviewing Pane lists all changes grouped by slide. Expand a slide to see individual edits such as text insertions, deletions, formatting changes, or slide order modifications. Each change shows the reviewer name and timestamp. - Accept or reject a change
Right-click a change in the Reviewing Pane and select Accept or Reject. Alternatively, select the change and click the Accept or Reject button in the Compare group on the ribbon. Accepted changes are applied to the original presentation. Rejected changes are removed. - Move to the next change
Click Next in the Compare group to jump to the next unprocessed change. Repeat steps 4 through 6 until all changes are reviewed. - End the review session
After processing all changes, click End Review in the Compare group. This step finalizes the merge and removes the change tracking marks. Save the presentation with a new file name.
Compare Multiple Revised Versions
You can compare the original presentation with more than one revised file. Open the original file, click Compare, and select the first revised file. After merging those changes, click Compare again and select the second revised file. The Reviewing Pane accumulates changes from all merged files. You can then accept or reject each change as described above.
What You Cannot Do With Compare and Combine
The Compare feature has several limitations that differ from Word’s Track Changes. Understanding these limits helps you avoid workflow problems.
No Real-Time Change Tracking
PowerPoint does not record edits as you make them. You must save a separate copy of the file before editing. If you forget to create a copy, you cannot later compare the edited file with its original state.
Comments Are Not Compared
The Compare tool does not detect differences in comments. If a reviewer adds, edits, or deletes comments, these changes do not appear in the Reviewing Pane. You must manually check comments after merging.
Media and Embedded Objects May Show False Differences
PowerPoint may flag embedded videos, audio files, or OLE objects as changed even when no actual edit occurred. This happens because the Compare tool checks the internal file references. Accept these changes if the media plays correctly in the original file.
Slide Master and Layout Changes Are Not Tracked
Modifications to the Slide Master, layouts, or theme colors are not listed in the Reviewing Pane. If a reviewer changed the master slide, you must manually inspect that area.
PowerPoint Compare and Combine vs Word Track Changes
| Item | PowerPoint Compare and Combine | Word Track Changes |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time recording | No | Yes |
| Requires a separate file copy | Yes | No |
| Shows text changes | Yes | Yes |
| Shows formatting changes | Yes | Yes |
| Shows slide order changes | Yes | N/A |
| Shows comment changes | No | Yes |
| Shows Slide Master changes | No | N/A |
After you finish merging changes, consider using the End Review command to clean up the file. This removes all change markers and prevents confusion for the next editor. If you need to track edits from multiple reviewers simultaneously, ask each reviewer to use a distinct file name and merge them sequentially. For teams that require real-time collaboration, use PowerPoint’s co-authoring feature with OneDrive or SharePoint instead of the Compare tool.