Sometimes you want to recommend changes to a Google Docs document without directly replacing the original text.
That is what Suggesting mode is for. Your edits appear as suggestions, and the document owner can decide whether to accept or reject each change.
On a computer, open your Google Doc, click Editing near the top right, and choose Suggesting. Changes you make will appear as suggestions instead of immediately replacing the original text.
How to Turn On Suggesting Mode
If you select text first, Google Docs may also show a Suggest edits button in the right margin. You can use it to begin suggesting changes to that text.
What Happens When You Edit in Suggesting Mode?
Once Suggesting mode is active, your changes do not immediately replace the original document content.
Suggesting Mode vs Editing Mode
How to Add a Comment to a Suggestion
Sometimes the suggested edit itself is not enough to explain why you want the change.
Click the suggestion and add a comment to provide more context. This can be useful when reviewing a report, school assignment, proposal, or shared work document.
How to Accept or Reject a Suggestion
2. Click the suggestion you want to review.
3. Click Accept to keep the change.
4. Click Reject to discard it.
If you accept a suggestion, the proposed change becomes part of the document. If you reject it, the original content remains.
How to Accept or Reject All Suggestions
You do not have to review every suggestion individually when a document contains many changes.
2. Select Review suggested edits.
3. Preview the document with or without the proposed changes.
4. Choose Accept all or Reject all.
When several people have reviewed the same document, previewing the suggested edits before choosing Accept all can help you avoid keeping a change you did not intend to use.
Who Can Suggest Changes?
People who have permission to comment on or edit a document can make suggestions.
This makes Suggesting mode useful when you want someone to review a document without allowing their proposed changes to immediately become the final text.
Is Suggesting Mode the Same as Track Changes?
Google Docs calls the feature Suggesting. It serves a similar purpose to tracked changes in Microsoft Word by showing proposed edits that can later be accepted or rejected.
When files are converted between Microsoft Office and Google Docs, tracked changes in Microsoft Office become suggestions in Google Docs, while Google Docs suggestions become tracked changes in Microsoft Office.
How to Use Suggesting Mode on Android
Suggesting mode is also available in the Google Docs Android app.
2. Tap More.
3. Turn on Suggest changes.
4. Make your suggested edit and tap Done.
To review a suggestion on Android, tap the highlighted text and then choose Accept or Reject.
How to Use Suggesting Mode on iPhone or iPad
The iPhone and iPad apps use a similar process.
2. Tap More.
3. Turn on Suggest changes.
4. Make your suggestion and tap Done.
You can tap highlighted suggested text and choose Accept or Reject directly from the mobile app.
Why Can I Not Turn On Suggesting Mode?
If you cannot find Suggesting mode, you may not have the required access. Ask the document owner to give you Commenter or Editor permission, or use the Request edit access option when it is available.
When Is Suggesting Mode Useful?
Related Google Docs Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Switch from Editing to Suggesting when you want to propose changes without immediately replacing the original text. The document owner can then accept or reject each suggestion before making it part of the final document.
This guide is based on current Google Docs Editors Help documentation for suggesting edits, accepting or rejecting suggestions, permissions, mobile apps, and Microsoft Office tracked changes. Last checked: October 2026.