Open Review > Reviewing Pane, then choose Vertical or Horizontal to turn on Word’s built-in review pane for tracked changes and comments.
Working with edits is faster when the change list sits beside your text. In Microsoft Word, the review pane shows every insertion, deletion, and comment in a tidy list. This guide shows how to turn it on in a click, set the view you prefer, and fix common snags on Windows, Mac, and the web app. You’ll also learn simple habits that make the pane feel “always on” without hacks.
What The Reviewing Pane Does
The panel lists edits and notes in the order they appear. You can jump to the next change, scan long notes, and see a live count of open items. The pane doesn’t replace balloons or inline marks; it complements them. Many editors keep the pane open while accepting and rejecting changes so nothing gets missed.
Quick Start: Show The Pane In One Click
Windows (Microsoft 365, Word 2021/2019)
- Open your document.
- Go to Review on the ribbon.
- In the Tracking group, select Reviewing Pane.
- Pick Vertical or Horizontal. Word remembers your pick while that Word session is open.
Mac
- Open the file in Word for Mac.
- Go to Review on the menu bar.
- Select Reviewing Pane, then choose Vertical or Horizontal if your build offers both.
Word On The Web
- Open your document in a browser.
- Choose Review on the toolbar.
- Select Reviewing Pane. Use the arrows at the top of the pane to move between items.
Platform Basics And Where To Click
| Platform | Menu Path | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Review → Tracking → Reviewing Pane | Choose Vertical or Horizontal; the pane shows a summary at the top. |
| Mac | Review → Reviewing Pane | Some versions offer only a side pane; layout options vary by build. |
| Web | Review → Reviewing Pane | Best for quick scans; layout choices are simpler than desktop. |
Turn On The Word Reviewing Pane By Default – What Works
Word doesn’t include a single global toggle that forces the pane open in every document. You can still get close to a default feel with two habits: keep the pane active while you edit, and start review rounds from a template that opens with tracking and the pane visible. Many documents reopen in the same view that was last saved, so this gives you a reliable head start.
Make A Reusable Review Template (Desktop)
- Create a blank file. Turn on Track Changes and open the pane.
- Pick the layout you like: Reviewing Pane Vertical or Reviewing Pane Horizontal.
- Save as Word Template (*.dotx). Name it something like “Review-Ready”.
- When you start a review, open this template and paste in the draft. Many builds reopen with the pane visible.
Speed Moves You’ll Use Often
- Toggle tracking: Ctrl+Shift+E (Windows) or Command+Shift+E (Mac).
- Next/previous change: use the arrows in the Changes group. The pane stays in sync.
- Switch pane side: open the Reviewing Pane drop-down to pick Vertical or Horizontal.
Pick What Shows: Balloons, Inline Marks, And The Pane
The pane lists items; the page still needs a display mode for marks. Use Show Markup to choose what appears as balloons and what stays inline. A tidy setup is to keep comments in balloons and show insertions and deletions in the text. That mix plays well with the pane’s list and count.
A Clean Combo For Team Review
- Display For Review: set Simple Markup while drafting, then All Markup for the sweep.
- Balloons: show comments (and formatting if needed) in the margin.
- Pane: keep it open to track counts, long notes, and your place in the file.
If you want the official menu names and a quick refresher on what the pane shows, Microsoft’s help page lays out the steps and the two layout choices. See Track changes in Word for the full rundown.
Troubleshooting: Pane Won’t Stay Closed Or Won’t Open
Pane Pops Open When You Open A File
A privacy setting can force markup to appear, which also triggers the pane in some cases. If you want the doc to open without showing marks, clear the option that reveals hidden markup and save the file with No Markup selected. Steps: File → Options → Trust Center → Trust Center Settings → Privacy Options → uncheck “Make hidden markup visible when opening or saving.” Then pick No Markup on the Review tab and save the document. A short guide covers this path in detail here: make hidden markup visible setting.
Pane Option Missing On Mac
Mac builds differ. Older versions keep the pane on the left and hide the bottom view. Newer builds add more flexibility. If the drop-down shows only one option, you still get the list and counts; you just won’t move it to the bottom. Update Word to widen your options.
Clicking Next Highlights Text In The Pane, Not The Page
This flows from a display choice. Switch Display for Review to All Markup so the next/previous buttons scroll the page and mirror the item list in the pane.
Comments Show In Balloons And Also In The Pane
That’s expected. Balloons show the conversation bubbles. The pane lists the same notes in order. If you want a tighter page, hide comment balloons with Show Markup → Comments off. Keep the pane open for the list view.
The Pane Shows Nothing
Either tracking is off or markup is hidden. Turn on Track Changes and set the display to show marks. The pane fills as soon as Word detects edits or notes.
Close Variation: Enable The Reviewing Panel In Microsoft Word With A Simple Menu Pick
Search results often say “review panel” or “revisions list.” They point to the same feature. Open Review, choose Reviewing Pane, and pick your layout. If you like a side-by-side view, choose the vertical pane. If you prefer a tracker below the page, choose the horizontal pane.
Practical Workflow Tips
Use The Pane To Clear Every Change
The count at the top shows how many items remain. Work through them until the count hits zero. That habit prevents stray edits from slipping into files you send to clients or teammates.
Skim Long Notes
Balloon width is narrow. Long notes wrap and can be hard to read in the margin. The pane shows the full text, which makes skimming easy. When a thread gets long, reply in the balloon and keep the pane open for context.
Filter By Reviewer
Use Show Markup → Reviewers to turn names on or off. The pane updates to match the filter, which helps when you split review rounds by person or team.
Hide Formatting Noise
To cut clutter, set Show Only Formatting in Balloons. That keeps text edits inline and puts styling tweaks in the margin. The pane still lists everything, so you keep the full audit trail.
Fine-Tuning Pane Behavior
The pane has its own options menu. Look for the small triangle in the panel header. From there you can move or resize the pane. Some desktop builds offer auto-hide so the panel tucks away when you click back into the page.
Choose Vertical Or Horizontal View
Pick the view that matches your screen. A tall display pairs well with the side pane. A laptop in landscape often feels better with the pane below the page. You can switch any time without losing your place.
Make The Pane A Habit Across Sessions
Word doesn’t ship a global “always show” switch. Saving a document while the pane is open often preserves that view on reopen in the same build. When you rely on a template for reviews, you get a similar effect across many files with zero extra clicks.
Common Scenarios And Fixes
| Issue | Likely Cause | What To Try |
|---|---|---|
| Pane does not appear | Tracking view set to “No Markup” | Switch to Simple Markup or All Markup, then click Reviewing Pane. |
| Pane keeps opening | Privacy option forces markup visible | Clear the “Make hidden markup visible when opening or saving” box and save with No Markup. |
| Can’t move pane to bottom (Mac) | Build limit | Update Word; if the option isn’t present, use the side pane. |
Version Notes You Should Know
Windows: Broadest Set Of Options
Word for Windows gives you the most control. You can float between vertical and horizontal panes, decide what shows in balloons, and use keyboard shortcuts during cleanup. The pane’s summary count at the top helps you verify that no edits remain before sending a file.
Mac: Same Core, Slightly Different Layout
Word for Mac mirrors the core feature set. Some builds lock the pane to the left side, while newer builds add more layout choices. If the drop-down lists only one option, you still get the list, the counts, and quick jumps between items.
Web: Light But Handy
Word on the web keeps it simple. You still get the list of changes and comments, the arrows to move through items, and filters for reviewers. For heavy rounds with long files, switch to desktop for deeper layout control.
Short How-To Recipes
Open The Pane And See Only Text Changes Inline
- Open Review → Reviewing Pane.
- Open Show Markup → Balloons → Show Only Formatting in Balloons.
- Set Display for Review to All Markup.
Reopen A File With Marks Hidden
- Open Review → set No Markup.
- Save and close the document.
- If the file still opens with marks shown, clear the privacy setting that reveals hidden markup (path linked above) and save again.
Speed Through Cleanup
- Open the pane and note the count at the top.
- Use the arrows to move change by change.
- Accept or reject with the buttons on the ribbon or a right-click.
- Finish when the count hits zero.
FAQ-Style Clarifications Without The FAQ Block
Is The Pane The Same As The Comments List?
Yes. It shows comments and other tracked edits in one place. Think of it as a dashboard for cleanup.
Do I Need The Pane To Accept Or Reject Changes?
No. You can accept or reject on the ribbon or by right-clicking in the page. The pane gives you a clear list to work through.
Why Do I See Nothing In The Pane?
Either tracking is off or markup is hidden. Turn on Track Changes and switch the display to show marks. The pane fills as soon as Word detects edits or notes.
Recap: Fast Path To A Productive Review
Open the pane from Review → Reviewing Pane, pick a layout, set your markup view, and work down the list. Keep a template on hand so review sessions start with the tools you like. With these steps, you spend less time hunting changes and more time finishing the edit.