How to Switch Between Editing, Suggesting, and Viewing in Google Docs

Google Docs has three modes: Editing, Suggesting and Viewing. To switch, click the mode button near the top-right corner of the toolbar (it shows a pencil icon and the current mode) and pick a different one. If your changes show up in a new color with a note in the margin, you’re in Suggesting mode; switch to Editing to make normal changes.

These steps follow Google’s Docs Editors Help articles Suggest edits in Google Docs and Keyboard shortcuts for Google Docs, which also list a shortcut for each mode. Which modes you can pick depends on your access to the file: editors see all three, while people with comment access can only suggest.

How to switch modes in Google Docs

1. Open your document in Google Docs on a computer.
2. Find the mode button on the right side of the toolbar. It says Editing, Suggesting or Viewing.
3. Click it to open the list.
4. Choose the mode you want.

Result: the button shows your new mode, and Docs behaves accordingly:

• Editing: your changes go straight into the document.
• Suggesting: your changes appear in a new color, deleted text is crossed out, and the owner can accept or reject each one.
• Viewing: you can read and print, but you can’t change anything by accident.

Keyboard shortcuts for each mode

Google lists these shortcuts:

Mode	Windows / ChromeOS	Mac
Editing	Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Z	Cmd + Option + Shift + Z
Suggesting	Ctrl + Alt + Shift + X	Cmd + Option + Shift + X
Viewing	Ctrl + Alt + Shift + C	Cmd + Option + Shift + C

Why are my edits showing up as suggestions?

This happens when the document is in Suggesting mode. Per Google, suggested text appears in a new color, deleted text is crossed out, and the owner gets an email about your suggestions. There are two common causes:

• You switched to Suggesting by mistake. Change the mode back to Editing, or press Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Z.
• You only have comment access. You won’t see Editing in the list. Google says you can click Request edit access or ask the owner to share the file with you as an Editor.

How to accept or reject suggestions

1. Click Tools > Review suggested edits. A box appears at the top right.
2. To preview the document with or without the changes, click the Down arrow and choose an option.
3. Click Accept all or Reject all, or work through them one at a time.

Result: accepted suggestions become part of the document, and rejected ones disappear. To handle a single suggestion, click it in the margin and click Accept or Reject.

Good to know

• Word compatibility: Google says tracked changes in Microsoft Office become suggestions in Docs, and suggestions in Docs become tracked changes when you convert to Office.
• Let others suggest: people can suggest edits when you give them comment or edit permission. To remove someone’s access, see how to stop sharing a Google Docs file.
• Add context: click your suggestion and type a comment, then click Reply, so the owner knows why you made the change.

Frequently asked questions

Does Viewing mode stop other people from editing?

No. Viewing only changes what you can do in your own window. Other people’s access depends on the file’s sharing settings.

Can I switch modes in the Google Docs app on my phone?

Google’s help article has separate Android and iPhone steps for suggesting edits; the toolbar mode button described here is for Docs on a computer.

What else can I adjust while reviewing?

You can change the zoom level, search for a word, or add page numbers before you share the final version.