# Show Merge Changes by Author in Word

> A merged document opens in Word with every change in one color. Change one setting and each author’s changes get their own.

## Overview

When you merge documents in Version Story, we show the changes from each version/author in a different color in our document viewer:

![Merged document in the Version Story viewer with each author’s changes in a different color](https://www.versionstory.com/help/show-merge-changes-by-author-in-word/1-merged-document-in-version-story.1c63970c.jpg)

When you download the merged document and open it in Microsoft Word, you may find yourself taken aback to see all the changes in a single color:

![The same merged document opened in Microsoft Word showing all changes in a single color](https://www.versionstory.com/help/show-merge-changes-by-author-in-word/2-merged-document-in-word.11752faa.png)

Word decides the colors from its own settings. Adjust them by following these steps:

(1) Navigate to the **Review** tab.

(2) Select the expand button in the **Markup** section:

![The expand button in the Markup section of Word’s Review tab](https://www.versionstory.com/help/show-merge-changes-by-author-in-word/3-expand-markup-options.772d05e2.png)

(3) Choose **Advanced Options...** in the popup window that opens:

![Choosing Advanced Options in Word’s Track Changes settings popup](https://www.versionstory.com/help/show-merge-changes-by-author-in-word/4-choose-advanced-options.24a5ebdc.jpg)

(4) Select the dropdown menu for **Color** next to **Insertions**:

![The Color dropdown next to Insertions in Word’s Advanced Track Changes Options](https://www.versionstory.com/help/show-merge-changes-by-author-in-word/5-select-color-dropdown.7247ac30.jpg)

(5) Choose the **By author** option, and do the same for **Deletions**:

![Selecting the By author color option for insertions and deletions](https://www.versionstory.com/help/show-merge-changes-by-author-in-word/6-choose-by-author.d803b190.jpg)

(6) Close the settings window. You will now see the changes from different versions/authors appear in different colors in Word:

![The merged document in Word with each author’s changes now shown in different colors](https://www.versionstory.com/help/show-merge-changes-by-author-in-word/7-done.8417c388.jpg)

### Related Articles

#### Merge Documents

[Click here if you need a refresher on how to merge documents.](/help/merging-documents)