Document Editing Problems

Fix Power Automate Removing Comments in Word Documents

Huma Ashraf Ch Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

Populating a Word template using Power Automate overwrites the existing content and deletes user comments in the document.

How to Fix Power Automate Removing Comments in Word Documents

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Using Microsoft Power Automate to dynamically populate data into a Microsoft Word template.
Observed behavior: The automation flow replaces the complete Word document body, which unintentionally removes existing comments and other embedded document features.

Before you start

Ensure you have saved a backup copy of your original Word document template with all comments intact before adjusting your Power Automate flows.

Solution 1Recommended

Update Specific Content Controls Instead of the Entire Body

Modify your Word template and flow design to target specific content controls, preventing the complete document body and its comments from being overwritten.

When Power Automate is configured to replace the entire body of a Word document, it treats comments and other features as part of the original body to be discarded. To retain comments, you must design your template to accept targeted updates.

Enable the Developer Tab in Word

Open your Word document, go to File > Options > Customize Ribbon, and check the 'Developer' box to enable advanced controls.

Insert Plain Text Content Controls

Navigate to the Developer tab, highlight the specific text area you want to populate, and click 'Plain Text Content Control'. Assign a clear title to this control in its Properties.

Map Data in Power Automate

In your Power Automate flow, use the 'Populate a Microsoft Word template' action. Map your dynamic data exclusively to the newly created content controls rather than replacing the entire document body.

Update Specific Content Controls Instead of the Entire Body

Data Preservation: By updating only designated content controls, all peripheral document elements, including comments and headers, will remain completely untouched.

Solution 2

Seek Advanced Guidance in the Power Platform Community

Consult Microsoft Power Automate experts for complex flow configurations that require updating specific document sections without data loss.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

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1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS website and download the free version of WPS Office for your operating system.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Power Automate delete my Word document comments?

When a Power Automate flow is set up to replace the entire body of a Word document with a populated template, it completely overwrites all existing content within the body. Since comments are anchored to the text being replaced, they are deleted along with the original text.

Can I update a Word document via flow without removing Track Changes or comments?

Yes. Instead of overwriting the whole document, you must insert specific 'Plain Text Content Controls' into your Word template. You can then configure your Power Automate flow to inject data only into those exact controls, leaving the rest of the document, including comments and Track Changes, perfectly intact.

Is there a specific action in Power Automate designed for safe document updates?

The 'Populate a Microsoft Word template' premium action is designed for this. However, it requires the Word document to be properly prepared with Developer Content Controls beforehand to ensure that only the targeted fields are updated while the surrounding content is preserved.

Document & File Issues