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How to Stop Word Comment Balloons Changing Color in PDF Export
Question details
The user wants to prevent Word comment balloons from automatically changing to a red background when printing the document or exporting it to a PDF file.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- Exporting a document containing comments to PDF or printing it.
- Observed behavior
- Modern Word comments unexpectedly appear with a red background in the printed document or exported PDF, overriding the user's preferred color settings.
Before proceeding, please ensure your current document is saved, as you will need to completely quit and restart Microsoft Word to apply the preference changes.
Disable Modern Comments and Adjust Track Changes Settings
Since this color change is a known rendering issue with Modern Comments in Word for Mac, disabling the feature allows you to manually customize the comment color before printing or exporting.
By reverting to classic comments, Microsoft Word will respect your custom color choices in the Track Changes preferences during the PDF export or printing process.
Click on 'Word' in the top menu bar of your Mac and select 'Preferences'. From the menu, click on 'General'.
Locate and uncheck the box next to 'Enable Modern Comments'. Once unchecked, completely quit and restart Microsoft Word for the change to take effect.
After restarting Word, go back to 'Word' > 'Preferences'. This time, select 'Track Changes' located under the Output and Sharing section.
In the Markup section, click the color dropdown next to Comments and choose your preferred color, such as black or gray.
Go to 'File' > 'Save As' and choose PDF, or go to 'File' > 'Print'. Your document comments will now export in the color you selected.
Try WPS Office for Bug-Free PDF Exports and Document Review
If you are tired of formatting bugs and unexpected color changes when exporting documents, WPS Office is a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative. It exports documents to PDF exactly as they appear on your screen, with full support for Microsoft Word formats.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Install WPS Office Free on your Mac or PC.
- 2. Open Your Document: Open your existing .docx file directly in WPS Writer; all comments and formatting will remain intact.
- 3. Export Flawlessly: Go to the Menu and select 'Export to PDF' to generate a flawless PDF with correct comment colors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my Word comments turn red when exporting to PDF?
This is a known behavior in certain versions of Microsoft Word, particularly on Mac, related to the 'Modern Comments' feature. During the print or export process, Word defaults the background color of these modern balloons to red regardless of your display settings.
Can I permanently change the comment color in Microsoft Word?
You can change comment colors by navigating to Preferences > Track Changes and selecting a specific color under the Markup section. However, if 'Modern Comments' are enabled, this setting may still be overridden during printing or PDF export.
Will the red background show up if I just share the Word document as a .docx file?
Usually, no. If you share the actual .docx file, other users will see the comments as they are displayed based on their own Word application settings. The red background primarily appears when the file is forced into a fixed layout format like PDF or printed to paper.
