Document Editing Problems

How to Fix Missing Comments from Other Users in Word for Mac

Steve K Oct 12, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is unable to view comments made by other collaborators in a Microsoft Word document on a Mac.

How to Fix Missing Comments from Other Users in Word for Mac

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: Mac
Scenario: Collaborating on a shared document or reviewing a file where other users have left feedback.
Observed behavior: Comments are missing in the local copy of the document, but they appear correctly when the document is returned as an email attachment.

Before you start

Verify that you are opening the exact file returned by your collaborator, as sending a document via email creates a completely separate copy from your local version.

Solution 1Recommended

Enable Specific Reviewers in Show Markup Settings

Check your tracking settings to ensure Word is configured to display comments from all reviewers rather than hiding specific authors.

Sometimes, Word is set to only show changes and comments from specific users, which can make it seem like other comments have disappeared.

Go to the Review tab

Open your document in Word for Mac and click on the 'Review' tab located in the top menu ribbon.

Access Show Markup options

In the Tracking group, click on 'Tracking', then select 'Show Markup' from the dropdown menu.

Select All Reviewers

Hover over 'Reviewers' and ensure that 'All Reviewers' is checked, or manually select the specific users whose comments you want to see.

Enable Specific Reviewers in Show Markup Settings

Tip: Make sure 'Comments' is also checked under the 'Show Markup' dropdown to ensure the comment bubbles are visible on the right sidebar.

Solution 2

Open the Correct Email Attachment or Switch to OneDrive

Open the specific file returned via email, or transition to cloud-based sharing to prevent version control issues.

WPS Office Solution

View and Manage Comments Effortlessly in WPS Writer

WPS Office offers a fully compatible, free, and intuitive platform for document collaboration on Mac. You can easily view, add, and manage comments from multiple users without struggling with complex markup settings.

1. Open your document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office on your Mac and open the .docx file containing the comments.
2. Navigate to the Review tab: Click on the 'Review' tab located in the main ribbon at the top of the window.
3. Ensure comments are visible: Click the 'Show Comments' button to display all annotations and feedback left by your collaborators on the right side of the page.

100% compatible with Microsoft Word formats (.docx, .doc) so you never lose comments.Lightweight, fast, and runs smoothly on macOS.Clear, easy-to-use Track Changes and Comment interface for seamless team collaboration.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my colleague's edits not showing up in my Word document?

If you shared the document via email, your colleague edited a separate copy of the file. You must open the specific attachment they emailed back to you to see their edits. For real-time updates, share the document using a OneDrive link.

How do I show all markup in Word for Mac?

Go to the Review tab, click on Tracking, select Show Markup, and make sure that 'Comments', 'Insertions and Deletions', and 'All Reviewers' are fully checked in the dropdown list.

Can I recover comments if I accidentally saved over the emailed file?

If you have AutoSave enabled or the file is hosted on OneDrive, click the file name at the top center of the Word window and select 'Browse Version History' to restore a previous version that contains the comments.

Does WPS Office display Microsoft Word comments correctly on Mac?

Yes, WPS Office provides full compatibility with Microsoft Word's .docx format. Any comments, tracked changes, or formatting added in Word will display accurately and can be edited in WPS Writer.

Document & File Issues