Fix: Compare Documents Not Working in Word

Das Problem

Word’s Compare Documents feature isn’t working. You try to go to Review > Compare > Combine, select two Dateis, but nothing happens or an Fehler appears. The Vergleich Dialogfeld hangs or closes without creating Vergleich. You need to see all Unterschieds between two Versions but Word’s Compare feature is broken. Files are incompatible format or the feature can’t find them.

Schnelle Behebung

Ensure both Dokumente are saved and closed:

1. Save both Dokumente you want to compare: Drücken Sie Ctrl+S in each
2. Close all Word Dokumente: Datei > Close All
3. Gehen Sie zu Review Registerkarte in ribbon
4. Klicken Sie auf Compare (dropdown arrow next to Compare Schaltfläche)
5. Wählen Sie Compare or Combine (Combine is for merging edits)
6. In the Dialogfeld:
   • Original Dokument: Browse to your first Dokument
   • Revised Dokument: Browse to your second Dokument
7. Klicken Sie auf OK (not “More Optionen” for now)
8. Wait 10-30 seconds (Vergleich takes time for large Dokumente)
9. A new Dokument opens showing all Unterschieds as tracked changes

If this doesn’t work, proceed to Schritt-für-Schritt-Lösung.

Schritt-für-Schritt-Lösung

Step 1: Close All Öffnen Sie Word Documents

Öffnen Sie Dokumente interfere with Compare function.

1. Close all Word Dokumente:
   • Datei > Close All or close each individually
2. Verify Word Fenster is empty
3. Don’t close Word itself—keep the application open
4. Now open Compare function: Review > Compare > Compare

Step 2: Choose Correct Document Locations

Files must be saved before comparing.

1. In Compare Dialogfeld, click “Original Dokument” Ordner icon
2. Navigate to where your first Dokument is saved
3. Double-click the Datei to select it (or click once and click “Öffnen Sie”)
4. Important: Don’t open the Datei—just select it
5. The Dateiname appears in the “Original Dokument” Feld
6. Now click “Revised Dokument” Ordner icon
7. Navigate to your second Dokument
8. Wählen Sie it the same way
9. Both Dateinames now show in the Dialogfeld
10. Klicken Sie auf OK

Step 3: Markieren Sie Datei Compatibility

Documents must be in compatible formats.

1. Both Dateis should be:
   • Word Dokumente (.docx, .doc, .docm)
   • Not PDF, not image, not other format
2. Verify Datei extensions:
   • Klicken Sie mit der rechten Maustaste auf each Datei > Properties
   • Markieren Sie the “Geben Sie ein” Feld
   • Both should say “Microsoft Word Document” or ähnlich
3. If one is PDF:
   • You can’t compare directly to PDF
   • Convert PDF to Word first (special tools required)
   • Or use alternative Vergleich method (Step 10)

Step 4: Verify Files Are Not Öffnen Sie or Locked

Files in use can’t be compared.

1. Markieren Sie if Dokumente are open:
   • If they are, close them (Datei > Close)
   • Don’t save if you don’t want to
2. Markieren Sie if Dateis are locked by another user:
   • Klicken Sie mit der rechten Maustaste auf the Datei
   • If read-only or locked icon appears, wait for other user to close
3. Try Compare again once Dateis are closed

Step 5: Save Unsaved Documents First

Unsaved Dokumente can’t be compared reliably.

1. If you want to compare an unsaved Dokument:
   • Save it first: Ctrl+S or Datei > Save
   • Give it a Dateiname
   • Choose a location
   • Klicken Sie auf Save
2. Repeat for the second Dokument
3. Close both Dokumente
4. Now try Compare again with the saved Versions

Step 6: Use Datei Path if Documents Won’t Wählen Sie

Sometimes Datei browser doesn’t show Dokumente.

1. In Compare Dialogfeld, instead of using Ordner browser
2. Klicken Sie mit der rechten Maustaste auf in the “Original Dokument” Feld
3. Paste Dokument path if you have it
4. Or type the full path: C:\Users\YourName\Documents\Document1.docx
5. Do same for “Revised Dokument”
6. Klicken Sie auf OK

Step 7: Try Combine Instead of Compare

Combine is sometimes more reliable.

1. Gehen Sie zu Review > Compare > Combine (instead of Compare)
2. Combine is designed for merging edits from multiple reviewers
3. Wählen Sie Dokumente same as Compare
4. Combine shows Unterschieds but is optimized for merging tracked changes
5. Some users find Combine works when Compare fails

Step 8: Aktivieren More Optionen If Basic Compare Fails

Erweitert Options can help with difficult Dokumente.

1. Öffnen Sie Compare Dialogfeld: Review > Compare > Compare
2. Wählen Sie Dokumente as usual
3. Before clicking OK, click “More Optionen” or “Show More Optionen” (bottom left)
4. Additional settings appear:
   • Ignore formatting: Checks only text, not formatting changes
   • Ignore spacing: Ignores space/Registerkarte Unterschieds
   • Ignore punctuation: Ignores punctuation changes
5. Deaktivieren Sie Options that aren’t relevant (focus on actual Unterschieds)
6. Klicken Sie auf OK
7. Comparison might now succeed

Step 9: Compare Documents in Different Order

Sometimes order matters.

1. If Compare fails, try reversing which Datei is “Original” and which is “Revised”
2. Swap them and try again
3. This occasionally fixes strange Fehlers
4. Result shows Unterschieds either way, just direction might differ

Step 10: Use Alternative Comparison Method

If Word Compare absolutely won’t work:

1. Manual side-by-side view:
   • Öffnen Sie both Dokumente
   • Gehen Sie zu View > View Side by Side
   • Scroll through and manually note Unterschieds
2. Use Word Online Vergleich:
   • Upload both Dokumente to SharePoint
   • Use SharePoint web interface > Compare Versions
3. Export to Google Docs and compare:
   • Convert both to Google Docs
   • Google Docs has built-in Vergleich
4. Use third-party Vergleich tool:
   • DeltaView, Diff utilities, or ähnlich
   • These often work when Word Compare fails

Step 11: Repair Office if Compare Persistently Fails

Compare feature might be beschädigt.

1. Gehen Sie zu Systemsteuerung > Programs > Programme und Funktionen
2. Finden Sie Microsoft Office
3. Klicken Sie auf Change
4. Wählen Sie Schnellreparatur
5. Wait for completion (2-5 minutes)
6. If Compare still fails, repeat and select Online-Reparatur
7. Online-Reparatur rebuilds all Office components
8. Try Compare again

Warum das passiert

1. Documents still open — Öffnen Sie Dokumente interfere with Compare
2. Datei not saved — Unsaved Dokumente can’t be compared
3. Incompatible format — One Datei is PDF, image, or non-Word format
4. Datei locked by another user — Datei in use prevents Vergleich
5. Corrupted Dokument — One or both Dateis have internal corruption
6. Compare feature bug — Older Office Versions have Compare bugs
7. Path or Dateiname issues — Special characters or very long paths break Datei selection
8. Insufficient Festplattenspeicher — Comparison creates temporary Dateis; needs space

So verhindern Sie es

1. Save both Dokumente first — Never compare unsaved Dateis
2. Close Dokumente before comparing — Don’t compare open Dateis
3. Verify compatible format — Both must be .docx, .doc, or .docm
4. Use meaningful Dateinames — Avoid special characters in Dateinames
5. Keep Office Aktualisierungd — Updates fix Compare bugs
6. Test Compare early — Don’t wait until critical moment
7. Maintain Sicherung copies — Keep originals before making changes
8. Use Version control — For extensive revisions, use Track Changes instead of Compare

Still Not Working? Alternative Lösungen

1. Side-by-side view — View > View Side by Side shows both Dokumente at once
2. Track Changes approach — Instead of Compare, use Track Changes on one Dokument
3. Google Docs Vergleich — Upload to Google Docs, use their Vergleich feature
4. Diff/patch tools — Command-line tools like diff (Windows/Mac) for comparing text
5. Visual Vergleich software — Beyond Compare, Araxis Merge, or WinDiff
6. Manual line-by-line review — Öffnen Sie both Dokumente, read each line carefully
7. Neu installieren Office — Complete uninstall and fresh install
8. Contact Microsoft Support — For persistent feature failures

Wichtigste Erkenntnisse

• Close all Dokumente before comparing (don’t compare open Dateis)
• Save both Dokumente first (unsaved Dateis can’t be compared)
• Verify both are Word format (.docx, .doc), not PDF
• Use Review > Compare > Compare to select Dokumente
• Compare creates new Dokument with tracked changes showing all Unterschieds
• Combine is optimized for merging edits from multiple reviewers
• Use View > View Side by Side as alternative to Compare
• If Compare fails repeatedly, reinstall Office or use third-party Vergleich tools