How to Fix Excel Comments Not Showing or Stuck in Edit Mode
Question details
Users are experiencing issues in Microsoft Excel where comments disappear after submission, cannot be edited, or become stuck with an 'Another comment is in progress' message.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel 365
- Device & OS
- Windows 11
- Scenario
- Adding, viewing, or editing cell comments in new or existing Excel workbooks.
- Observed behavior
- Comments disappear immediately after being submitted, become completely uneditable, or display a continuous error message stating 'Another comment is in progress'.
Ensure you save your current workbook and completely close all running instances of Microsoft Excel before attempting to modify your Microsoft 365 installation.
Roll Back Microsoft Office 365 to an Earlier Version
Since this behavior is caused by a known bug in recent Microsoft 365 updates, reverting to a previous stable build is the most effective workaround until an official patch is released.
Microsoft frequently releases background updates that can sometimes introduce unexpected bugs affecting features like cell comments. Reverting to the last known working version restores normal comment behavior.
Open Excel, go to File > Account > Update Options, and click 'Disable Updates'. This prevents Office from automatically reinstalling the buggy version after you roll it back.
Press the Windows Key, type 'cmd' in the search bar, right-click on 'Command Prompt', and select 'Run as administrator'.
Type the specific rollback command provided by Microsoft Support for your update channel (e.g., cd %programfiles%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun and then officec2rclient.exe /update user updatetoversion=16.0.xxxxx.xxxxx) and press Enter.
Edit Spreadsheets Without Comment Bugs Using WPS Office
If Microsoft Excel bugs are disrupting your workflow, try WPS Office. It is a highly compatible, free alternative that handles spreadsheet comments smoothly without the glitches found in recent Microsoft 365 updates.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Download and install the free version of WPS Office from the official website.
- 2. Open Your Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open your existing .xlsx workbook.
- 3. Manage Comments Effortlessly: Right-click any cell and select 'Insert Comment' to easily add, view, and edit comments without encountering the 'Another comment is in progress' error.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Excel say 'Another comment is in progress'?
This error usually occurs due to a glitch in the background synchronization of Microsoft 365, or when a previous comment's edit state gets stuck in the application's memory. Rolling back the Office update typically clears this stuck state.
Will I lose my existing comments if I roll back Microsoft 365?
No, your comments are saved directly within the spreadsheet data file (.xlsx), not within the application program files. Rolling back your Office version simply restores the software's ability to display and edit them properly.
How can I view all comments in an Excel workbook at once?
You can view all comments by navigating to the 'Review' tab on the Excel ribbon and clicking on 'Show Comments'. This action opens a dedicated side pane displaying all active comments in your workbook.
How do I know when Microsoft has fixed the comment disappearing bug?
You can monitor the official Microsoft 365 release notes online. Alternatively, you can periodically re-enable updates by going to File > Account > Update Options > Enable Updates to test if the newest patch resolves the comment issue.
