You want to see Track Changes edits while your document is in Web Layout view, but Word hides the markup by default in this view. Web Layout view is designed for reading content on a screen, not for editing, so revision marks such as insertions, deletions, and comments are turned off to keep the layout clean. This article explains how to enable the display of Track Changes markup in Web View so you can review edits without switching to Print Layout or Draft view.
Key Takeaways: Enabling Track Changes in Web Layout View
- Review > Show Markup > Balloons > Show All Revisions Inline: Forces Word to display all insertions, deletions, and formatting changes directly in the text while in any view.
- Review > Show Markup > Balloons > Show Revisions in Balloons: Keeps markup in balloons but does not work in Web Layout view — use inline instead.
- Review > Show Markup > Comments: Toggles comment visibility on or off; comments appear as balloon-like boxes in Web Layout only when set to inline.
Why Track Changes Markup Is Hidden in Web Layout View
Word offers several document views: Print Layout, Web Layout, Draft, Outline, and Read Mode. Web Layout view simulates how the document would appear in a web browser. It removes page breaks, margins, and headers and footers. Because this view prioritizes clean on-screen reading, Word automatically hides Track Changes markup. The markup elements such as strikethrough text, underlined insertions, and colored revision bars are suppressed.
The technical reason is that Web Layout view uses a different rendering engine than Print Layout. The balloon system that displays revisions in the margin is not supported in Web Layout. Balloons require a fixed margin area that Web Layout does not provide. Therefore, even if Track Changes is turned on, you will not see any visual indication of edits until you change a related display setting.
You can still edit and accept or reject changes while in Web Layout view. The edits are recorded but remain invisible. This can cause confusion when you think you are reviewing a final document but changes are still pending. The fix is to switch the revision display mode from balloons to inline.
Steps to Display Track Changes Markup in Web Layout View
Follow these steps to force Word to show all Track Changes markup inline. This method works in Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2021, Word 2019, and Word 2016 on Windows.
- Open the document with Track Changes
Make sure Track Changes is enabled. Go to the Review tab and confirm that Track Changes is highlighted or active. If it is not, click Track Changes to turn it on. Any existing edits will be recorded. - Switch to Web Layout view
Click the View tab on the ribbon. In the Views group, click Web Layout. The document will now display without page breaks. You will notice that no revision marks are visible yet. - Open the Show Markup menu
On the Review tab, locate the Tracking group. Click the Show Markup button. A dropdown menu appears with options for Comments, Ink, Insertions and Deletions, Formatting, Markup Area Highlight, and Balloons. - Set Balloons to Show All Revisions Inline
Hover over Balloons in the Show Markup menu. In the submenu, select Show All Revisions Inline. Word immediately displays all insertions as underlined text and all deletions as strikethrough text directly in the document body. Formatting changes appear with colored font or underline markers. Comments appear as small pop-up icons or boxes within the text area. - Verify that Comments are visible
If you still do not see comments, go back to Show Markup and ensure Comments is checked. In Web Layout view, comments appear as a colored rectangular box with the reviewer’s name and the comment text inside the document flow. You can click the box to edit the comment.
After completing these steps, all Track Changes markup will remain visible as you scroll through the document in Web Layout view. The setting persists for the current document. For new documents, you need to repeat step 4 if you want inline revisions in Web Layout.
Common Problems When Viewing Track Changes in Web Layout
Markup disappears after closing and reopening the document
Word does not save the balloon setting per document. When you reopen the file, the balloon setting resets to the default, which is Show Revisions in Balloons in Print Layout and No Markup in Web Layout. You must go to Review > Show Markup > Balloons > Show All Revisions Inline each time you open the document in Web Layout. To avoid this, consider switching to Print Layout view during review sessions because Print Layout retains the balloon setting.
Inline markup makes the document hard to read
When you set revisions to inline, deleted text is shown with strikethrough and inserted text is underlined. This can clutter the document, especially with heavy editing. To reduce clutter, use the Simple Markup display option instead. On the Review tab, click the Display for Review dropdown and select Simple Markup. This shows a red vertical line in the left margin to indicate that a change exists, but it hides the actual inserted and deleted text. You can click the line to reveal the changes temporarily. Simple Markup works in Web Layout view when Balloons is set to Show All Revisions Inline.
Comments do not appear at all in Web Layout
If comments are missing, check two settings. First, ensure Comments is checked under Review > Show Markup. Second, verify that Balloons is set to Show All Revisions Inline. If Balloons is set to Show Revisions in Balloons, comments will not appear because Web Layout does not support the margin balloon area. If you prefer to keep revisions in balloons, you must switch to Print Layout view.
Web Layout vs Print Layout: Track Changes Behavior Differences
| Item | Web Layout View | Print Layout View |
|---|---|---|
| Balloon support | Not supported | Supported |
| Inline revisions default | Hidden | Visible when Balloons set to inline |
| Comments display | Inline boxes only | Balloons in margin or inline |
| Page breaks visible | No | Yes |
| Markup persistence | Resets to hidden on reopen | Persists based on last balloon setting |
Use Web Layout when you need to review edits without the distraction of page breaks and margins. Use Print Layout when you want to see changes in the margin balloons or need a print-preview representation of the document.
You can now view and manage Track Changes markup directly in Web Layout view by using the inline revisions setting. To speed up future reviews, create a Quick Access Toolbar button for Show All Revisions Inline so you do not need to navigate the ribbon each time. For heavy editing sessions, consider using the Simple Markup option to reduce visual clutter while still knowing where changes exist.