How to remove your name from tracked changes and comments in Word
Every tracked change and comment in a Word file carries the reviewer's name, initials, and the date and time it was made. Here is what Word can do about that, where it falls short, and how to send a review back with nothing that points to you.
What a reviewed Word file reveals
- Your name and initials on every insertion, deletion and formatting change.
- Your name and initials on every comment and reply.
- The date and time of each change and comment, which can show when you worked.
- The author an AI assistant leaves on comments it helped draft, with its own time.
- Names stored in the file itself, such as the people list and the “last saved by” name.
Option 1: change your name in Word before you review
In Word for Windows, go to File > Options > General and change User name and Initials. On a Mac, go to Word > Preferences > User Information. Word uses the new name only for changes you make afterwards. Changes already in the file keep the old name, and the times stay as they are.
Option 2: remove personal information with Document Inspector
In Word for Windows, go to File > Info > Check for Issues > Inspect Document and remove Document Properties and Personal Information. On a Mac, use Word > Preferences > Security > Remove personal information from this file on save. Word then shows every reviewer as “Author”.
- Everyone becomes the same “Author”, so the editor and the author can no longer tell one reviewer from another.
- You cannot choose what happens to the times.
- It has to be done for every file, and it is easy to forget before saving.
Option 3: blind the file with Veil
Veil rewrites only the author details in your .docx, inside your browser. The file is never uploaded, and the text of your edits and comments stays exactly as written.
- Number the reviewers (Reviewer 1, Reviewer 2), use one name, or keep names.
- Remove every timestamp, spread them over office hours, or keep them.
- Rewrite the author and time an AI assistant left on comments.
- Blind several files at once and name each copy yourself.
Check before you send
- Open the Review pane in Word and look at the name on each change and comment.
- Hover over a few comments and check the time shown.
- Look at File > Info for any author or “last modified by” name.