Track Changes and Comments in Excel

Have you ever been asked to review someone’s Excel workbook and make edits? Maybe you wanted to highlight mistakes, fix numbers, or add a few notes. Instead of writing everything down or sending endless emails, Excel makes this easy with two amazing tools – Track Changes and Comments.

Let’s go step-by-step and learn how to use these features in Microsoft Excel 2016. Even if you’re a beginner, don’t worry — this guide keeps it simple and clear.

Note: In Excel 2016, the Track Changes option is not visible by default in the Review tab. But you can still turn it on through the Highlight Changes option.

What is Track Changes?

Track Changes highlights every edit made in a worksheet. When you change a cell, Excel draws a colored border around it and adds a small triangle in the corner. When you click that cell, you’ll see who made the change and when.

This is perfect when multiple people are editing a file, as it helps everyone keep track of updates before accepting them.

Important: Track Changes does not work if your workbook contains tables. To fix this, go to Design > Convert to Range before turning on Track Changes.

How to Turn On Track Changes

  • Go to the Review tab.
  • Click Track Changes → Highlight Changes.
  • Check Track changes while editing.
  • Make sure Highlight changes on screen is selected.
  • Click OK.
  • Save your workbook when prompted.

Now Excel will mark any cell you edit. Each user editing the file gets a different color. If your workbook is shared, everyone’s edits can be tracked at once.

View Changes on a Separate Sheet

If you want to see a summary of all changes in one place, Excel lets you list them on a separate sheet.

  • Save your workbook first.
  • Go to Review > Track Changes > Highlight Changes.
  • Check List changes on a new sheet.
  • Click OK.

A new sheet named History will appear showing old and new values, who made them, and when.

Review and Accept Changes

Tracked changes are not final until you accept them. To review them:

  • Go to Review > Track Changes > Accept/Reject Changes.
  • Save the workbook if prompted.
  • In the dialog box, select When: Not yet reviewed.
  • Click OK.

Excel will take you through each change. Click Accept or Reject for each one, or use Accept All or Reject All for faster review.

When finished, you can turn off Track Changes:

  • Go to Review > Track Changes > Highlight Changes.
  • Uncheck Track changes while editing.
  • Click OK and confirm with Yes.

Tip: Turning off Track Changes automatically accepts all changes, so review them carefully before doing so.

Adding Comments in Excel 2016

Sometimes you don’t need to edit data but just leave a note. That’s where Comments come in handy.

How to Add a Comment

  • Select the cell where you want to add a note.
  • Go to Review > New Comment.
  • Type your message in the comment box.
  • Click anywhere outside the box to save it.

Cells with comments show a small red triangle in the corner. Hover over it to read the comment.

Edit or Delete a Comment

  • To edit: Select the cell → Go to Review > Edit Comment.
  • To delete: Select the cell → Go to Review > Delete.

Show or Hide Comments

  • Go to Review > Show All Comments to view or hide all notes.
  • To show or hide one comment, click the cell and choose Show/Hide Comment.
Pro Tip: Use comments for suggestions or explanations without changing the actual data.

5 FAQs about Track Changes and Comments in Excel 2016

1. Why can’t I find Track Changes in my Excel 2016?

In Excel 2016, the Track Changes feature is hidden by default. You can access it under Review > Track Changes > Highlight Changes.

2. Why is Track Changes not working in my workbook?

Track Changes doesn’t work if your worksheet has tables. Convert tables to ranges using Design > Convert to Range first.

3. Can multiple people edit and track changes at the same time?

Yes. When Track Changes is turned on, your workbook becomes shared, allowing others to edit simultaneously.

4. How do I see who made specific changes?

Click the edited cell with the triangle marker. A small box will show the editor’s name, date, and change details.

5. Can I remove all comments from my sheet?

Yes. Go to Review > Delete to remove comments one by one or use VBA for bulk deletion.

Conclusion

Track Changes and Comments in Excel 2016 make teamwork easier and more transparent. Whether you’re reviewing financial data, reports, or project sheets, these tools keep edits organized and easy to follow. Try them in your next Excel project and enjoy smoother collaboration!

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