How to Track Changes in Microsoft PowerPoint

Unlike Word, PowerPoint does not provide a Track Changes reviewing option. If you would like to track changes in a presentation, you should have the reviewer review a working copy of the presentation and then compare the two presentations.

This feature works the same in all modern versions of Microsoft PowerPoint: 2010, 2013, and 2016.

It may be useful to set, in that copy, the reviewer's user name by selecting File > Options, and then on the General tab, under Personalize your copy of Microsoft Office, setting these options.

When the file has been reviewed:

1. Open the reviewed file.


2. Select the Review tab, and in the Compare group, select Compare.
   


3. From the dialog box, locate the original copy, select it, and click Merge.
   


4. The Comments and Revisions panes will open on the right, showing changes and any inserted comments.
   


5. Select the revisions and you will see them noted in the presentation.
   


6. Right-click the revision icon and select Accept Change to keep the change.
   


7. Save the file to save the changes that were made.

Discarding Changes from Specific Users

You can reject a specific user's changes when comparing the two files.

To reject a user's changes:

1. In the copy reviewed by that person, from the Review tab, select Reject and then select Reject All Changes to the Presentation.
   


2. When you are done comparing the copies, select End Review from the Compare group.
   


3. If you are sure all changes you want to make have been saved, select Yes in the pop-up that is displayed to end the review.

Managing Comments

As you are reviewing the changes to the document, you can also manage comments.

To manage comments:

1. In the Comments pane, click the X to delete a comment.
   


2. You can respond to comments and add new ones by clicking New and adding your comment.
   


3. Navigate through the comments using the Previous and Next arrows.