Allow "All Markup" as a default
Currently, Word opens documents featuring Track Changes in "Simple Markup" by default. Those of us who work with Track Changes for a living need to change every individual file to "All Markup." This gets extremely vexing. Please install a setting that will let us change the default.

Thanks for your feedback! We’re reviewing your suggestion.
64 comments
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Anonymous commented
We are a software development firm and listen to our customers to implement functionality. This is a very easy feature to add with many many users asking for it. Why is this taking so long?
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Michael David Williams commented
Another bump for this. It should be straightforward to change the default.
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Anonymous commented
Since 21 June 2017, "Thanks for your feedback! We’re reviewing your suggestion," everyone hates this feature. I have hated it since I was forced to move into the Office 2010 suite of products. Will this every be fixed?
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hilary commented
Yes, it is SO annoying that we can't set the default so that our documents are as we want them and don't have to reset that every time!!
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Anonymous commented
I agree. This is unacceptable. It is too easy to completely miss that there are comments in a document! At least allow us a way to set the default to our liking.
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Anonymous commented
Disable Tracking in Word Document permanently.
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Donna commented
I also agree. Why would you ever set it to simple markup? It is useless.
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David commented
i agree. SImple markup is useless.
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Anonymous commented
Simple mark up is useless. Why have track changes if you cannot see them? Ability to change useless defaults quickly without having to search the internet for instructions should always be an option for the end user
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AB commented
It's not just the legal field - scientific field also needs "all markup" as a default or as a user preference option in settings.
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Anonymous commented
we are a law firm of 30+ and EVERYONE HATES THIS DEFAULT "SIMPLE MARKUP"
WHY WHY WHY?!?
2010 didn't have this issue!!! -
Peter Hood commented
I will add my voice to the others. It's frustrating to have to change it every time. While your at it, can the navigation pane pop up as a default, too? As it is now, when I open a file, I have to go to the review tab to select "All markup" and then go to the view tab to select the navigation pane. Too many clicks is becoming a pain
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Anonymous commented
Definitely make it a user preference.
And while you're at it, add in another option: "reverse Simple Markup" (ie, All Markup *without* Comments so the margins are normal).
I know you can choose where Comments go, but most of the time having the Comment bubbles in the margin is perfect. But there are times when *not* seeing the comments while continuing to see Track Changes is exactly what you need.
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Todd commented
Not having this default to All MarkUp is untenable for anyone involved in legal or contract work. I expect that many users will simply transfer to a new service rather than continue to use this product. This is a colossal error on the part of Microsoft.
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Rich commented
No thank you Microsoft. Our attorneys want to work in All Markup mode always. Please fix.
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annoymous commented
I agree all markup is what is needed and it is very disappointing that word / microsoft has removed this and made it simple. Makes the system slow and clunky. please revert to all markup as standard
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Anonymous commented
I work as a technical trainer in the legal industry. Nearly 100% of users will want the All Markup option. Microsoft really needs to allow users the option. I've encountered many very annoyed attorneys and staff regarding this.
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Arlene C commented
I know this doesn't solve the problem, which I just learned about because I began using an upgraded version of Windows last week, but I did figure out that when you open a document that has tracked changes and you are, by default, in simple markup, you still see the red line from tracking in the left hand margin. I found if you click on this, you can then see the tracked changes. Click again and you don't. It's not THE answer but telling a client or colleague to please click on the line in the left margin if you cannot see tracked changes is easier than explaining how to change it from the drop down in the Review section.
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David Schrag commented
This continues to be a problem, even on machines with the registry set properly.
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Anonymous commented
This is why I hate microsoft. If it consulted users it would be a better company instead of doing what it wants. I need all markup as a default. This is just stupid.