Office Settings & Configuration

Fix the Ctrl+Alt+M Comment Shortcut Not Working in Microsoft Word

Maira Mehtab Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to restore the Ctrl+Alt+M keyboard shortcut for inserting comments in Word, which stopped functioning properly.

How to Fix the Ctrl+Alt+M Shortcut for Comments in Microsoft Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: Windows 11 Pro
Scenario: Attempting to insert a text comment in a document using the default keyboard shortcut.
Observed behavior: Pressing Ctrl+Alt+M does not insert a comment because another background application is intercepting the key combination globally.

Before you start

Close Microsoft Word completely and press Ctrl+Alt+M on your desktop to see if it triggers an action in another application, which is a strong indicator of a shortcut conflict.

Solution 1Recommended

Identify and Modify the Interfering Application

Find the background application hijacking the global hotkey and change its shortcut settings to release Ctrl+Alt+M back to Word.

Third-party applications running in the background, such as Upwork, NVIDIA GeForce Experience, or screen recording tools, often register system-wide global hotkeys. If they use Ctrl+Alt+M, Word will not receive the command.

Test outside of Word

Minimize or close Microsoft Word. Press Ctrl+Alt+M on your Windows desktop and observe if any application launches, opens a menu, or responds.

Check common background apps

Open the settings of common background applications running in your system tray (e.g., Upwork, communication apps, or graphics control panels).

Change the conflicting shortcut

Locate the keyboard shortcut settings within that specific application. Change the shortcut assigned to Ctrl+Alt+M to an alternative combination, such as Alt+M.

Verify in Microsoft Word

Restart Microsoft Word, highlight a word, and press Ctrl+Alt+M to verify that the comment function is restored.

Identify and Modify the Interfering Application

Conflict Resolved: Changing the global hotkey in the intercepting application instantly returns the default shortcut functionality to Microsoft Word.

Solution 2

Reassign the InsertAnnotation Command in Word

If you cannot identify the conflicting application, you can assign a brand new custom shortcut to the comment feature directly inside Word.

Efficient Document Collaboration

Easily Add and Manage Comments with WPS Writer

Avoid complex shortcut conflicts by using WPS Writer. You can easily insert, manage, and collaborate using comments with a highly intuitive interface that is fully compatible with Microsoft Word documents.

1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing Word document.
2. Select the text: Highlight the specific word, sentence, or paragraph you wish to comment on.
3. Navigate to the Review tab: Click on the 'Review' tab located in the top ribbon menu.
4. Insert the comment: Click the 'New Comment' button (or use the built-in shortcut) and type your feedback into the comment box.

100% compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formatsInsert comments instantly without worrying about background app conflictsLightweight, fast, and free office suiteClean UI for tracking changes and reviewing document annotations

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the specific command for inserting comments in Word?

In Microsoft Word's customization settings, the internal command name for inserting a comment is called 'InsertAnnotation'. You must search for this exact name when reassigning shortcuts.

Why do my Word keyboard shortcuts suddenly stop working?

Keyboard shortcuts typically stop working due to a newly installed third-party application overriding the key combination globally, a recent Windows or Office update that reset custom configurations, or a corrupted Normal.dotm template.

How can I reset all custom keyboard shortcuts in Word back to default?

You can restore default settings by going to File > Options > Customize Ribbon, clicking 'Customize' next to Keyboard shortcuts, and then selecting the 'Reset All' button at the bottom of the dialog box.

Is it possible to have multiple keyboard shortcuts for the same action in Word?

Yes, Microsoft Word allows you to assign multiple different key combinations to a single command like InsertAnnotation, giving you alternative ways to perform the same task.

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