Document Editing Problems

How to Hide Only One Author's Name in Word Comments

Steve K Oct 1, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to hide or anonymize their own author name in Word comments without affecting the names of other authors in the document.

How to Hide Only One Author's Name in Word Comments

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Collaborating on a shared document where the user wants to add anonymous comments or comments under a specific alias, while keeping other reviewers' names intact.
Observed behavior: Using Word's Document Inspector removes all author information from every comment in the document, which ruins the tracking for other contributors.

Before you start

Before modifying your author settings, note that this method only applies to new comments you create going forward. It will not automatically alter the author name on existing comments you or others have already made.

Solution 1Recommended

Temporarily Change Your Word User Name and Initials

Modify your default author information in Word settings so that any new comments you add will appear under an anonymous or alias name, leaving other authors' comments untouched.

Since the built-in Document Inspector strips personal information from the entire document indiscriminately, the best workaround is to change your local application user name before making your comments. This ensures only your new contributions use the hidden or alternate name.

Open Word Options

Click on the 'File' tab located in the top-left corner of the Microsoft Word interface, then select 'Options' at the bottom of the left-hand menu.

Locate Personalize Settings

In the Word Options window, ensure the 'General' tab is selected on the left pane. Scroll down until you see the section labeled 'Personalize your copy of Microsoft Office'.

Change User Name and Initials

In the 'User name' field, replace your name with 'Author', 'Unknown', or any preferred alias. Update the 'Initials' field accordingly.

Force the New Name

Check the box that says 'Always use these values regardless of sign-in to Office'. This step is crucial. Click 'OK' to apply the changes and return to your document.

Temporarily Change Your Word User Name and Initials

Setting Applied Successfully: Comments created while this setting is active will use the new author information. Existing comments from other users will remain entirely unchanged.

Seamless Document Collaboration

Easily Manage Comment Authors in WPS Writer

WPS Office Writer offers a highly compatible and lightweight environment for handling Microsoft Word documents. You can easily manage your comment author identity directly within the software, ensuring your privacy while collaborating with others.

1. Open WPS Writer Options: Open your document in WPS Writer, click the 'Menu' button in the top-left corner, and select 'Options' from the drop-down list.
2. Access User Information: In the Options dialog box, navigate to the 'User Information' tab on the left-hand side.
3. Update Author Name: Enter your desired alias or 'Unknown' in the 'Name' and 'Initials' fields, then click 'OK' to apply it to all future comments.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formats and comment structures.Easily customize user information for new comments and track changes.Lightweight, free, and features a familiar user interface for seamless migration.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Document Inspector remove only my name from comments?

No, Word's Document Inspector removes personal information from all comments and properties across the entire document, turning all author names into 'Author'. It cannot selectively target just one person.

How can I change the author name on comments I've already made?

To change the name on existing comments without affecting others, you would have to manually edit the document's underlying XML, or use a VBA macro to find and replace your specific author name. Otherwise, the settings adjustment only applies to new comments.

Will changing my username affect my Microsoft account?

No, checking the 'Always use these values regardless of sign-in to Office' box ensures that the custom name only applies locally to the Office applications on that specific device, without altering your actual Microsoft account details.

Do these steps work on Word for Mac?

Yes, but the interface is slightly different. You can change your user information on a Mac by going to Word > Preferences > User Information and updating the name and initials there.

Document & File Issues