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How to Hide the Word Review Pane When Printing to PDF
Question details
The user wants to export or print a Word document to PDF without showing the comments review pane, while still keeping the highlighted tracked changes visible.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Printing or exporting a document with markups to PDF format.
- Observed behavior
- A software update causes the comments review pane to appear in the PDF output automatically. Standard methods like clearing Print Markup hide the review pane but also unintentionally remove the required tracked changes.
Verify that your tracked changes and comments are properly saved in the document, and check if you are running the latest version of Microsoft Word, as printing behaviors can change with recent updates.
Disable Modern Comments in Word Options
Reverting to the classic comments feature can bypass the recent update's printing limitations, allowing you to hide comments while preserving tracked changes.
Microsoft's introduction of modern comments altered how review panes are handled during PDF export. Disabling this feature often restores traditional printing controls.
Click on 'File' in the top-left corner of the Word window and select 'Options' from the bottom of the sidebar menu.
In the Word Options dialog box, ensure you are on the 'General' tab. Scroll down to find the 'Enable modern comments' checkbox and uncheck it.
Click 'OK' to save your changes. You must close and reopen Microsoft Word for the old comments display settings to take effect.
Go to 'File' > 'Print' or 'Export', configure your markup settings to hide comments, and print to PDF. The review pane should no longer appear.
Clear Print Markup Settings
If you do not strictly need the highlighted tracked changes, you can completely remove the review pane by turning off Print Markup.
Submit Detailed Feedback to Microsoft
Since this printing behavior is tied to a specific Word update, reporting it directly to Microsoft helps their engineering team address the issue in future patches.
Try WPS Office for Precise PDF Export Control
If Microsoft Word updates have disrupted your PDF printing workflow, WPS Office offers a highly compatible, reliable alternative. It provides precise control over document markups, allowing you to export PDFs with exactly the layout and tracked changes you need.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office Free on your device.
- 2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing Word document containing the tracked changes.
- 3. Export to PDF: Go to 'Menu' > 'Export to PDF', adjust your preferred markup visibility settings, and export without unexpected review panes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the review pane appear automatically when I export to PDF?
Recent updates to Microsoft Word introduced a 'Modern Comments' feature. This update altered how markups are processed during printing or exporting, sometimes forcing the review pane to appear in the PDF even if you attempted to hide it in the document view.
Can I hide comments but keep tracked changes in standard Word settings?
Normally, you can achieve this by going to the Review tab, clicking 'Show Markup', and unchecking 'Comments'. However, if a recent update overrides this during the PDF export process, you may need to disable 'Modern Comments' in File > Options > General.
Does turning off 'Print Markup' also hide my tracked changes?
Yes. Disabling 'Print Markup' in the print settings removes all review information from the printed or exported file. This includes both the comments review pane and your highlighted tracked changes, leaving you with a completely clean document.
