Fix: Compare Documents Not Working in Word

O problema

Word’s Compare Documents feature isn’t working. You try to go to Revisar > Compare > Combine, select two files, but nothing happens or an error aparece. The comparison dialog hangs or closes without creating comparison. You need to see all differences between two versions but Word’s Compare feature is broken. Arquivos are incompatible format or the feature can’t find them.

Correção rápida

Certifique-se both documents are saved and closed:

1. Save both documents you want to compare: Press Ctrl+S in each
2. Close all Word documents: Arquivo > Close All
3. Vá para Revisar tab in ribbon
4. Clique Compare (dropdown arrow next to Compare button)
5. Selecione Compare or Combine (Combine is for merging edits)
6. In the dialog:
   • Original document: Browse to your first document
   • Revised document: Browse to your second document
7. Clique OK (not “More Options” for now)
8. Wait 10-30 seconds (comparison takes time for large documents)
9. A new document opens showing all differences as tracked changes

If this doesn’t work, proceed to Solução passo a passo.

Solução passo a passo

Step 1: Close All Open Word Documents

Open documents interfere with Compare function.

1. Close all Word documents:
   • Arquivo > Close All or close each individually
2. Verify Word window is empty
3. Don’t close Word itself—keep the application open
4. Agora open Compare function: Revisar > Compare > Compare

Step 2: Choose Correct Document Locations

Arquivos must be saved before comparing.

1. In Compare dialog, click “Original document” folder icon
2. Navigate to where your first document is saved
3. Clique duas vezes the file to select it (or click once and click “Open”)
4. Important: Don’t open the file—just select it
5. The filename aparece in the “Original document” field
6. Agora click “Revised document” folder icon
7. Navigate to your second document
8. Selecione it the same way
9. Both filenames now show in the dialog
10. Clique OK

Step 3: Verifique Arquivo Compatibility

Documents must be in compatible formats.

1. Both files should be:
   • Word documents (.docx, .doc, .docm)
   • Not PDF, not image, not other format
2. Verify file extensions:
   • Clique com o botão direito each file > Properties
   • Verifique the “Type” field
   • Both should say “Microsoft Word Document” or similar
3. If one is PDF:
   • You can’t compare directly to PDF
   • Convert PDF to Word first (special tools required)
   • Or use alternative comparison method (Step 10)

Step 4: Verify Arquivos Are Not Open or Locked

Arquivos in use can’t be compared.

1. Verifique if documents are open:
   • If they are, close them (Arquivo > Close)
   • Don’t save if you don’t want to
2. Verifique if files are locked by another user:
   • Clique com o botão direito the file
   • If read-only or locked icon aparece, wait for other user to close
3. Tente Compare again once files are closed

Step 5: Save Unsaved Documents First

Unsaved documents can’t be compared reliably.

1. If you want to compare an unsaved document:
   • Save it first: Ctrl+S or Arquivo > Save
   • Give it a filename
   • Choose a location
   • Clique Save
2. Repita for the second document
3. Close both documents
4. Agora try Compare again with the saved versions

Step 6: Use Arquivo Path if Documents Won’t Selecione

Sometimes file browser doesn’t show documents.

1. In Compare dialog, instead of using folder browser
2. Clique com o botão direito in the “Original document” field
3. Cole document path if you have it
4. Or type the full path: C:\Users\YourName\Documents\Document1.docx
5. Do same for “Revised document”
6. Clique OK

Step 7: Tente Combine Instead of Compare

Combine is sometimes more reliable.

1. Vá para Revisar > Compare > Combine (instead of Compare)
2. Combine is designed for merging edits from multiple reviewers
3. Selecione documents same as Compare
4. Combine shows differences but is optimized for merging tracked changes
5. Some users find Combine works when Compare fails

Step 8: Ative More Options If Basic Compare Fails

Advanced options can help with difficult documents.

1. Open Compare dialog: Revisar > Compare > Compare
2. Selecione documents as usual
3. Before clicking OK, click “More Options” or “Show More Options” (bottom left)
4. Additional settings appear:
   • Ignore formatting: Verifiques only text, not formatting changes
   • Ignore spacing: Ignores space/tab differences
   • Ignore punctuation: Ignores punctuation changes
5. Uncheck options that aren’t relevant (focus on actual differences)
6. Clique OK
7. Comparison might now succeed

Step 9: Compare Documents in Different Order

Sometimes order matters.

1. If Compare fails, try reversing which file is “Original” and which is “Revised”
2. Swap them and try again
3. This occasionally fixes strange errors
4. Result shows differences 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:
   • Open both documents
   • Vá para Exibir > Exibir Side by Side
   • Scroll through and manually note differences
2. Use Word Online comparison:
   • Upload both documents 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 comparison
4. Use third-party comparison tool:
   • DeltaExibir, Diff utilities, or similar
   • These often work when Word Compare fails

Step 11: Repair Office if Compare Persistently Fails

Compare feature might be corrupted.

1. Vá para Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features
2. Find Microsoft Office
3. Clique Change
4. Selecione Quick Repair
5. Wait for completion (2-5 minutes)
6. If Compare still fails, repeat and select Online Repair
7. Online Repair rebuilds all Office components
8. Tente Compare again

Por que isso acontece

1. Documents still open — Open documents interfere with Compare
2. Arquivo not saved — Unsaved documents can’t be compared
3. Incompatible format — One file is PDF, image, or non-Word format
4. Arquivo locked by another user — Arquivo in use prevents comparison
5. Corrupted document — One or both files have internal corruption
6. Compare feature bug — Older Office versions have Compare bugs
7. Path or filename issues — Special characters or very long paths break file selection
8. Insufficient disk space — Comparison creates temporary files; needs space

Como evitar

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

Ainda não funciona? Soluções alternativas

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

Pontos-chave

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