How to Change Word Comment Display from Bubbles to Full Comments
Question details
The user wants to switch the comment display in a Word document from collapsed bubbles to full balloons that show the complete text on the right side.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Reviewing or editing a document that contains comments.
- Observed behavior
- Comments are currently displaying as collapsed bubbles that only open when clicked, rather than showing the full text constantly.
Ensure you are viewing your document in Print Layout view, as comment balloons and markup settings may not display properly in Draft or Web Layout views.
Adjust Markup and Comment Settings in the Review Tab
Modify the document's tracking and markup view settings to expand collapsed bubbles into full comment balloons.
Microsoft Word provides different markup views to help you focus on your document. The 'Simple Markup' view typically collapses comments into small bubbles to keep the reading interface clean. Switching your markup settings and enabling the 'Show Comments' feature will permanently display the full text of the comments in the margin.
Open your document and navigate to the Review tab located on the top ribbon.
Locate the Tracking group and check your current markup display. If it is set to Simple Markup, click the drop-down menu and change it to All Markup.
In the Comments group, click on the Show Comments button to enable it. Ensure the button remains highlighted to keep comments expanded; clearing this selection will collapse them back into bubbles.
View and Manage Comments Easily with WPS Office
WPS Writer offers an intuitive and distraction-free interface for reviewing documents. You can seamlessly switch between different comment views, ensuring perfect compatibility with Microsoft Word's formatting while making annotations easier to read.
- 1. Open your Document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open the document containing the comments you wish to view.
- 2. Navigate to the Review Tab: Click on the Review tab located in the top menu bar to access all document tracking and annotation tools.
- 3. Toggle Comment Visibility: Click the Show Comments button to instantly display all comments as full balloons on the right side of your page. You can customize the balloon display preferences under the Track Changes menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my Word comments keep reverting to collapsed bubbles?
Word often defaults to 'Simple Markup' to provide a cleaner reading experience. You must manually select 'All Markup' and ensure 'Show Comments' is toggled on to view the full comment text.
Can I print the document with the full comment balloons visible?
Yes. Before printing, make sure 'Print Markup' is selected in your Print settings. The document will print exactly as it appears in the 'All Markup' view with the comment balloons situated on the right margin.
How do I hide all comments completely without deleting them?
Navigate to the Review tab, click on the 'Show Markup' drop-down menu in the Tracking group, and uncheck 'Comments'. This hides them from your screen without removing them from the file.
