Track Changes Shortcuts in Word: 24 Keys (Free PDF)

Track changes shortcuts in Word let you record edits, add comments and accept or reject revisions without hunting through the Review tab. One combination does most of the work: Ctrl + Shift + E switches tracking on and off. The rest of this set builds on the main Microsoft Word keyboard shortcuts cheat sheet, focused on reviewing documents.

In this guide, you’ll learn 24 Word-tested shortcuts grouped into Track Changes, Comments, Reviewing Pane and Markup Display, how KeyTip sequences work, and how to review a document from the keyboard. The free one-page PDF is ready to print straight away.

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Download the Free PDF Cheat Sheet

This free one-page A4 PDF puts all 24 track changes and comments shortcuts on a single printable sheet, with clickable links back to the full guides. Print it, pin it beside your screen and glance at it during your next review.

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What These Track Changes Shortcuts Cover

Track Changes records insertions, deletions and formatting changes as markup, so the author can decide what stays. Comments are separate notes for questions and suggestions. Accepting a change does not resolve the comment beside it. The sheet covers both jobs, plus the panes and views you use to check them.

These shortcuts are most useful when you:

• Edit someone else’s report, essay or contract and need every change on record.
• Work through a reviewed document and accept or reject each edit in turn.
• Add, post and browse comment threads without reaching for the mouse.
• Switch markup views to read a clean version without losing the recorded revisions.
• Lock tracking so other reviewers cannot switch it off — and if your name appears wrongly on each edit, see how to change your username for Track Changes in Word.

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How to Use KeyTip Shortcuts

Many track changes shortcuts in Word are ribbon KeyTips rather than held combinations. When keys are joined with a plus sign, such as Ctrl + Shift + E, hold them down together. When keys are separated by commas, such as Alt, R, G, press each key in turn: tap Alt, release it, then press R for the Review tab and G for the Track Changes menu.

Press Alt on its own and Word shows small letter badges on the ribbon. That is your map. The sequences on this sheet were tested in Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows. Older versions can use slightly different letters, so follow the badges on screen if a sequence stops early.

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Track Changes Shortcuts in Word

These six shortcuts handle the core review loop: switch tracking on, jump between edits and decide on each one. Ctrl + Shift + E is the one to learn first.

Action	Shortcut
Turn Track Changes on/off	Ctrl + Shift + E
Accept and move to next	Alt, R, A, 2, Enter
Reject and move to next	Alt, R, J, Enter
Next tracked change	Alt, R, H, 1
Previous tracked change	Alt, R, F, 1
Open Track Changes menu	Alt, R, G

👉 Accept and Reject both move to the next change automatically, so you can clear a whole document one decision at a time.

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Comments Shortcuts

Select the text you want to discuss and press Ctrl + Alt + M to open a new comment. Type your note, then press Ctrl + Enter to post it. The arrow-key shortcuts work once the Comments pane has focus — click inside the pane first.

Action	Shortcut
Insert new comment	Ctrl + Alt + M
Next comment thread	Down Arrow (Comments pane focused)
Previous comment thread	Up Arrow (Comments pane focused)
Expand comment thread	Right Arrow (Comments pane focused)
Collapse comment thread	Left Arrow (Comments pane focused)
Post comment or reply	Ctrl + Enter
Discard draft comment	Esc

👉 Changed your mind before posting? Esc discards the draft comment and returns you to the document.

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Reviewing Pane Shortcuts

The Reviewing Pane lists every revision and comment in one place, with a running count. It is the safest way to check that nothing is hiding in a long document before you send it.

Action	Shortcut
Show horizontal Reviewing Pane	Alt, R, T, P, H
Accept all changes	Alt, R, A, 2, L
Reject all changes	Alt, R, J, L
Show vertical Reviewing Pane	Alt, R, T, P, V
Close Reviewing Pane	Alt + Shift + C
Browse Reviewing Pane	Up Arrow / Down Arrow
Accept change (context menu)	Shift + F10, E

👉 Alt + Shift + C only closes the pane. It does not accept changes or delete comments.

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Markup Display Shortcuts

Markup display controls what you see, not what the file contains. No Markup shows a clean reading view, but every tracked revision is still there until you accept or reject it.

Action	Shortcut
Open Show Markup menu	Alt, R, T, M
Open display view menu	Alt, R, T, D
Open Reviewing Pane menu	Alt, R, T, P
Lock tracking on/off	Alt, R, G, L

👉 Lock Tracking asks for an optional password, so other reviewers cannot switch tracking off — for wider protection, see how to make a document read only in Word.

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How to Review a Document With the Keyboard

Put the shortcuts together and a full review takes only a handful of keys:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + E to turn tracking on before you edit.
2. Make your edits and add notes with Ctrl + Alt + M, posting each with Ctrl + Enter.
3. When the document comes back, press Alt, R, H, 1 to jump to the first change.
4. Press Alt, R, A, 2, Enter to accept it or Alt, R, J, Enter to reject it. Word moves to the next one.
5. Open the Reviewing Pane with Alt, R, T, P, V to confirm nothing remains, then close it with Alt + Shift + C.

👉 The document is clean when the Reviewing Pane shows no revisions and no comments you meant to remove.

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Pro Tips for Track Changes Shortcuts

• If Ctrl + Shift + E does nothing, check for a graphics-card overlay. Some, such as AMD Adrenalin, capture Ctrl + Shift combinations before Word sees them.
• Save a copy before using Accept All or Reject All. Both are permanent once the file is saved and closed.
• Switch to All Markup before a final check. Simple Markup can hide formatting changes.
• Use the Reviewing Pane count as your finishing line, not the look of the page.
• Run a final proofread once the markup is gone — and for the last pass, see how to check spelling and grammar in Word.
• Microsoft keeps a full list of keyboard shortcuts in Word if you need a command that is not on the sheet.

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FAQs

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Conclusion

Track changes shortcuts in Word turn a slow, mouse-heavy review into a quick keyboard routine. Start with Ctrl + Shift + E and Ctrl + Alt + M, then add the Accept and Reject sequences once they feel natural.

Print the PDF, keep it beside your keyboard and use it on your next review. When you are ready for another set, move on to reference shortcuts in Word for citations, footnotes and captions.

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Related Tutorials

• Microsoft Word Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Sheet (Free PDF)
• How to Change your Username for Track Changes in Word: 2 Methods
• Word Styles and Headings Shortcuts: 28 Keys (Quick Guide)