Compare Documents Stopped Working on MacBook.

Question

Compare Documents Stopped Working on MacBook.

Alexander Stiles 0

using a macbok. compare documents has stopped working. When you go Review/Compare/Compare Documents. All documents are shaded out and cannot be selected. No idea how to fix. This feature has worked on this machine for years.

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Answer recommended by moderator

John Korchok 236K Volunteer Moderator

Here's how to work around this bug:

Choose Review>Compare>Compare Documents.
Click on the folder icon to open a file chooser dialog.
Click on the Show Options button.
Change the Enable dropdown from Word Templates to Word Documents (or All Files)
Select the files to compare.

You can report this bug by choosing Help>Feedback>Report a problem in Word.

Alexander Stiles 0 Reputation points

2026-07-09T15:40:41.4266667+00:00

thank you. this has been driving me crazy.
John Korchok 236K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-07-09T15:58:08.0666667+00:00

If my reply worked for you, please mark it as an answer for the benefit of others.
Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP 437.7K Reputation points

2026-07-09T18:01:02.68+00:00

@John Korchok

Hi John – is this a Tahoe compatibility issue? Or something specific to Office 2024? I haven't encountered it running MS 365 on Sequoia & prior regardless of whether using either of the options in the Compare group on the Review tab or selecting from the Tools menu.

I'm finding that the default is for Word Documents. However, once Word Templates [or other option] is selected it persists as the active option until changed by the use.
John Warshawsky 0 Reputation points

2026-07-26T12:30:09.2133333+00:00

This solution seemed to work in the past, but it no longer appears to work. Word crashes now whenever I select "Compare", i.e., I get the spinny wheel of death. I am no longer able to change file types to Word or All documents. I am running OS Sequoia 15.7.7 and Word Version 16.111.1.

1 additional answer

Your answer

Alexander Stiles 0 Reputation points

2026-07-09T15:40:41.4266667+00:00

thank you. this has been driving me crazy.
John Korchok 236K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-07-09T15:58:08.0666667+00:00

If my reply worked for you, please mark it as an answer for the benefit of others.
Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP 437.7K Reputation points

2026-07-09T18:01:02.68+00:00

@John Korchok

Hi John – is this a Tahoe compatibility issue? Or something specific to Office 2024? I haven't encountered it running MS 365 on Sequoia & prior regardless of whether using either of the options in the Compare group on the Review tab or selecting from the Tools menu.

I'm finding that the default is for Word Documents. However, once Word Templates [or other option] is selected it persists as the active option until changed by the use.
John Warshawsky 0 Reputation points

2026-07-26T12:30:09.2133333+00:00

This solution seemed to work in the past, but it no longer appears to work. Word crashes now whenever I select "Compare", i.e., I get the spinny wheel of death. I am no longer able to change file types to Word or All documents. I am running OS Sequoia 15.7.7 and Word Version 16.111.1.

Answer 1

IGYQ 22,055 Independent Advisor

Hi!

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A Forum.

This might happen if your files are stored in OneDrive or iCloud (any cloud storage). Ensure you locate both documents in Finder. Ensure they are physically downloaded to the Mac like in to a local folder then close Word and do the compare again.

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