'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Fix Word Comment Balloons Missing with Track Changes
Question details
Users need to restore the visibility of comment balloons in the document margin when using Track Changes, as they currently only appear in the Reviewing Pane.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Reviewing and editing a document with Track Changes and All Markup enabled.
- Observed behavior
- Commented text is highlighted, but the comment balloons are missing from the side margin. They are only visible when opening the Reviewing Pane.
Ensure that your document is set to 'All Markup' in the Review tab, and navigate to Show Markup > Balloons to confirm that 'Show Revisions in Balloons' is selected.
Revert to Classic Comments
Switching back to classic comments often resolves margin display issues caused by the newer modern comments interface.
Microsoft introduced modern comments to streamline collaboration, but this feature can sometimes cause display glitches where comments fail to appear alongside tracked changes. Disabling this feature forces Word to use the reliable classic balloons.
Click on the 'File' tab in the top left corner and select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.
In the General tab, scroll down to the 'User Interface options' section and uncheck the box for 'Enable modern comments'.
Click 'OK' to save your changes, then completely close and restart Microsoft Word for the classic comments to take effect.
Increase Balloon Width
If comments are being hidden behind formatting balloons or getting truncated, increasing the margin width dedicated to balloons can reveal them.
Check for Comments on Deleted Text
Comments attached directly to text that has been marked for deletion may not display normally in the margin.
Review Documents Seamlessly with WPS Office
If Microsoft Word's modern comments and track changes are frequently causing display glitches, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative with an intuitive reviewing interface that displays comments and tracked changes flawlessly.
- 1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office Free from the official website and install it on your device.
- 2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your .docx file containing the tracked changes and comments.
- 3. View Comments Clearly: Navigate to the Review tab to easily manage tracked changes and view all comment balloons clearly in the margin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my Word comments only show in the Reviewing Pane?
This typically occurs if 'modern comments' are enabled, the comment balloon margin width is set too narrow, or the comment is attached to text that has been deleted while Track Changes was active.
How do I force comment balloons to show in the margin?
Go to the Review tab, click 'Show Markup', select 'Balloons', and ensure 'Show Revisions in Balloons' is checked. If they still do not appear, reverting to classic comments via File > Options > General usually forces them into the margin.
Can formatting balloons hide comment balloons?
Yes. In certain views, formatting change balloons can overlap and completely hide comment balloons. Increasing the preferred balloon width in the Advanced Track Changes Options can resolve this overlap.
