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How to Fix Word Comment Hidden by Tracked Deletion
Question details
The user is unable to view or navigate to a document comment because the text it is associated with has been marked for deletion using Track Changes.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Reviewing a collaborative document with Track Changes enabled where comments overlap with deleted text.
- Observed behavior
- The comment becomes completely hidden in the document view and is bypassed when clicking the Next Comment command.
Ensure that the Track Changes feature is toggled on and verify that your document is set to 'All Markup' in the tracking display options to ensure revisions are not hidden.
Open the Reviewing Pane to View All Markup
The Reviewing Pane lists all revisions and comments chronologically, allowing you to read comments even if they are hidden in the main print layout view.
Since Microsoft Word sometimes hides comments attached to deleted text to save space on the page margins, the Reviewing Pane acts as a master list for all document markup.
Open your affected document in Microsoft Word and click on the 'Review' tab in the top ribbon.
Locate the 'Tracking' group and click on 'Reviewing Pane'. You can choose either the vertical or horizontal display based on your preference.
Scroll through the list in the pane to find the comment associated with the deleted text. You can read its full contents here.
Copy Document Content to a New File
Pasting the text into a fresh Word document can reset the visual layout engine and force hidden markup to display correctly.
Report the Problem to Microsoft
Since this hidden comment behavior is a known recent glitch in Microsoft Word, reporting it directly helps Microsoft developers prioritize a fix.
Switch to WPS Writer for Reliable Document Collaboration
If Microsoft Word glitches like hidden comments are slowing down your editing process, try WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, free alternative with seamless Microsoft Word format compatibility, ensuring your tracked changes and comments work perfectly without unexpected visual bugs.
- 1. Download and install WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download the free office suite and install it on your device.
- 2. Open your Word document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing .docx file. All formatting, tracked changes, and comments will be preserved.
- 3. Manage comments seamlessly: Go to the Review tab in WPS Writer to view, reply to, and resolve comments without encountering the hidden text bug.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do comments disappear when I delete text in Word?
When text associated with a comment is deleted while Track Changes is turned on, Word attempts to hide the comment from the main page view to prevent margin clutter. However, recent software glitches have caused these comments to become completely inaccessible in the standard view.
Does the Next Comment button skip deleted text comments?
Yes, due to a known Microsoft Word bug, the 'Next Comment' navigation command skips over comments that are attached to text marked for deletion.
How can I view deleted comments without using the Reviewing Pane?
Changing your document view to 'Draft' mode or 'Outline' mode (found under the View tab) can sometimes force Microsoft Word to display hidden markup and comments inline rather than in the margins.
