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How to Find Missing Comments in Word 365 Desktop App
Question details
Users are unable to see certain comments in the main document view of the Word 365 desktop app, despite those same comments being visible when the document is opened in Word for the web.
- Product
- Word 365 Desktop
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Collaborating or reviewing a document where some comments do not display in the standard desktop view.
- Observed behavior
- Certain comments that show up perfectly in Word for the web are completely missing from the standard margin view in the Word 365 desktop application.
Ensure your document is fully synced to your local desktop application if you recently made changes in Word for the web, as sync delays can occasionally cause comments to temporarily disappear.
Check the Reviewing Pane for Missing or Resolved Comments
Use the built-in Reviewing Pane to reveal all markup and comments, including those that are resolved or hidden by the modern comments view.
Word 365 features modern comments settings that can sometimes hide specific comment types from the main document layout. The Reviewing Pane bypasses these display settings to provide a comprehensive, uninterrupted list of every comment and revision made in the document.
Open your document in the Word 365 desktop application and click on the 'Review' tab located in the top menu ribbon.
Look for the 'Tracking' group and click on 'Reviewing Pane' (it may also be labeled as 'Revisions Pane' depending on your exact Office version). You can choose to dock it vertically or horizontally.
Scroll through the pane that appears. You will be able to see all comments, including the ones that are missing from the main document margin view.
Edit Documents and Manage Comments Seamlessly with WPS Office
If you are frustrated by inconsistent comment displays and syncing discrepancies between the web and desktop versions of Word 365, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly compatible, straightforward environment for tracking changes and managing document comments without complex display bugs.
- 1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS website to download and install the free WPS Office suite on your device.
- 2. Open Your Word Document: Launch WPS Writer and directly open your existing .docx file. No format conversion is required.
- 3. View Comments Easily: Go to the Review tab where all comments and tracked changes are displayed consistently in the standard margin view.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do comments show in Word for the web but not in the desktop app?
Word for the web handles 'Modern Comments' and resolved comments slightly differently than the desktop app. In the desktop version, specific Tracking view settings or the act of resolving a comment often hides it from the standard margin layout to reduce clutter.
How do I unresolve a comment in Word 365?
Open the Reviewing Pane from the Review tab to locate the hidden resolved comment. Click on the comment, and select 'Reopen' to make it an active comment again. It will then reappear in the main document margin.
Will deleted comments appear in the Reviewing Pane?
No. The Reviewing Pane only shows active and resolved comments. If a comment was permanently deleted, it will not appear in the pane or anywhere else in the document.
