Word for Mac track changes shortcuts start with one key combination: ⌘ Cmd + ⇧ Shift + E switches tracking on and off. Add ⌘ Cmd + ⌥ Option + A for a new comment and you can review a whole document from the keyboard. This free cheat sheet lists 19 review, footnote and field shortcuts on one page.
It covers the jobs that come with checking a document: comments, spelling and the thesaurus, footnotes and endnotes, and fields for the date, time and page number.
Download the Free PDF Cheat Sheet
This free cheat sheet groups the 19 shortcuts into Track Changes & Comments, Spelling & Proofing, Footnotes & Endnotes, and Fields. The ZIP file has a US Letter PDF and an A4 PDF.
No Alt KeyTips on a Mac
On Windows, many review commands are ribbon KeyTips: you tap Alt, then a letter for each menu. Word for Mac has no KeyTips, so commands such as Accept and Reject have no keys in Microsoft’s macOS list. Use the Review tab for those, and the shortcuts on this sheet for everything else.
Fields are small pieces of code that Word fills in for you, such as today’s date or the page number. Locking a field stops it updating, which is useful when a date must stay as it was on the day you signed.
Track Changes and Comment Shortcuts
Home and End move to the start or end of the comment you are typing. With Command, they jump to the first or last comment in the Reviewing Pane.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Track changes on/off | ⌘ Cmd + ⇧ Shift + E |
| Insert comment | ⌘ Cmd + ⌥ Option + A |
| Start of a comment | Home |
| End of a comment | End |
| First comment (Reviewing Pane) | ⌘ Cmd + Home |
| Last comment (Reviewing Pane) | ⌘ Cmd + End |
Spelling and Proofing Shortcuts
⌥ Option + F7 jumps straight to the next spelling mistake, so you can fix errors one at a time without opening the full check.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Spelling and grammar | ⌘ Cmd + ⌥ Option + L |
| Next spelling error | ⌥ Option + F7 |
| Thesaurus | ⇧ Shift + F7 |
| Dictionary | ⌥ Option + ⇧ Shift + F7 |
Footnote and Endnote Shortcuts
Word puts the note number at the insertion point and moves you to the note, ready to type.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Insert footnote | ⌘ Cmd + ⌥ Option + F |
| Insert endnote | ⌘ Cmd + ⌥ Option + E |
Field Shortcuts
DATE, PAGE and TIME fields insert the current value and can update later. Show all field codes switches between the codes and their results.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Insert DATE field | ⌃ Control + ⇧ Shift + D |
| Insert PAGE field | ⌃ Control + ⇧ Shift + P |
| Insert TIME field | ⌃ Control + ⇧ Shift + T |
| Insert empty field | ⌘ Cmd + F9 |
| Show all field codes | ⌥ Option + F9 |
| Lock a field | ⌘ Cmd + F11 |
| Unlock a field | ⌘ Cmd + ⇧ Shift + F11 |
Mac Review Keys Compared with Windows
The shortcuts that do exist on both platforms swap Ctrl for Command, and Alt for Option:
| Action | Word for Mac | Word for Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Track Changes on/off | ⌘ Cmd + ⇧ Shift + E | Ctrl + Shift + E |
| Insert footnote | ⌘ Cmd + ⌥ Option + F | Alt + Ctrl + F |
| Thesaurus | ⇧ Shift + F7 | Shift + F7 |
👉 The Windows keys come from our track changes shortcuts in Word and reference shortcuts in Word guides.
Pro Tips for Word for Mac Track Changes Shortcuts
- Turn tracking on with ⌘ Cmd + ⇧ Shift + E before you make any changes, so every edit is recorded.
- If your name shows wrongly on tracked changes, see how to change your username for Track Changes in Word.
- Lock a DATE field in a signed letter so the date does not change when you open it later.
- Function key shortcuts such as the thesaurus need Fn on most Mac keyboards.
FAQs
What are the Word for Mac track changes shortcuts?
The main one is ⌘ Cmd + ⇧ Shift + E, which turns tracking on or off. ⌘ Cmd + ⌥ Option + A inserts a comment. This sheet adds shortcuts for spelling, footnotes and fields in Word for Mac.
How do I accept or reject changes with the keyboard on a Mac?
Microsoft’s macOS list has no shortcuts for Accept or Reject, so use the buttons on the Review tab.
What is the footnote shortcut in Word for Mac?
Press ⌘ Cmd + ⌥ Option + F for a footnote or ⌘ Cmd + ⌥ Option + E for an endnote.
How do I insert today’s date as a field on a Mac?
Press ⌃ Control + ⇧ Shift + D. ⌃ Control + ⇧ Shift + T inserts the time and ⌃ Control + ⇧ Shift + P the page number.
How do I stop a field from updating?
Click in the field and press ⌘ Cmd + F11 to lock it. Press ⌘ Cmd + ⇧ Shift + F11 to unlock it again.
How do I check spelling in Word for Mac?
Press ⌘ Cmd + ⌥ Option + L or F7. See how to check spelling and grammar in Word for the full check.
More Word for Mac Cheat Sheets
The other sheets in the Word for Mac set, each with its own page and free download:
- Word for Mac Keyboard Shortcuts: 26 Essential Keys (Free PDF)
- Word for Mac Formatting Shortcuts: 23 Keys (Free PDF)
- Word for Mac Text Selection Shortcuts: 24 Keys (Free PDF)
- Word for Mac Table Shortcuts: 20 Keys and Mouse Moves (Free PDF)
- Word for Mac Function Keys: 25 F1–F11 Shortcuts (Free PDF)
- Free Word for Mac Keyboard Shortcuts Bundle: 6 Cheat Sheets (PDF): all six sheets in one PDF
Conclusion
Word for Mac track changes shortcuts keep a review moving: switch tracking on, comment as you read, then tidy up spelling, notes and fields. Print the sheet and keep it beside you for your next review.
If you write long documents, the Word for Mac function keys cheat sheet covers the F-keys used for fields and proofing.
Related Tutorials
- How to Change Your Username for Track Changes in Word (Author Name): 2 Easy Methods
- How to Check Spelling and Grammar in Microsoft Word
- Track Changes Shortcuts in Word: 24 Keys (Free PDF)
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