Office Settings & Configuration

How to Display Word Comments in the Document Margin

Huda Qurayshi Oct 7, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to display comments in the document margin instead of as floating balloons.

How to Display Word Comments in the Document Margin

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Reviewing, editing, or tracking changes in a document with comments.
Observed behavior: Comments continue to appear as floating balloons outside the document layout even after the modern comments feature is disabled.

Before you start

Ensure you have saved your current document and are prepared to restart the Word application, as changing the modern comments setting requires a restart to fully take effect.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable Modern Comments and Adjust Markup Settings

This is the primary method to revert to classic margin comments by turning off the modern comments feature and adjusting the Tracking settings in the Review tab.

In newer versions of Word, the default 'Modern Comments' feature pushes comments into floating balloons. Disabling this and explicitly setting your markup preferences will restore the classic margin view.

Disable Modern Comments

Go to File > Options > General. Clear the check box next to 'Enable modern comments', click OK, and then restart Microsoft Word.

Select All Markup

After restarting, open your document and navigate to the Review tab on the ribbon. In the Tracking group, select 'All Markup' from the Display for Review drop-down menu.

Configure Balloon Settings

Still in the Tracking group, click on 'Show Markup', point to 'Balloons', and select 'Show Revisions in Balloons' (or your preferred margin display option) to anchor comments to the margin.

Success Check: If configured correctly, comments will now align neatly in the right margin of your document instead of floating independently.

Solution 2

Show Comments Inline or Repair Office

If margin balloons fail to display correctly, you can switch to an inline comment view or repair the Office installation to fix underlying application issues.

Review Documents Seamlessly with WPS Writer

WPS Writer offers an intuitive and classic interface for reviewing documents, displaying comments clearly in the document margins by default without the need for complex configuration or toggling modern features.

1. Open your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your Word document (.doc or .docx).
2. Access the Review Tab: Navigate to the 'Review' tab on the top navigation ribbon to access all markup tools.
3. Add or View Comments: Click 'New Comment' to add a note. It will automatically and clearly appear in the right document margin for easy reading and replying.

Classic and intuitive comment display securely anchored in the document marginFully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formats and comment metadataLightweight application with robust, easy-to-use review and collaboration tools

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my Word comments showing as floating balloons instead of in the margin?

This usually happens because the 'Modern Comments' feature is enabled in newer versions of Word, or because your Tracking settings under the Review tab are set to show revisions as floating balloons rather than classic margin annotations.

How do I turn off Modern Comments in Word?

You can turn off Modern Comments by going to File > Options > General, unchecking the 'Enable modern comments' box, and then restarting the Word application to apply the change.

Will changing my comment display settings affect how others see the document?

No, comment display settings (like Balloons or Inline) are specific to your local Word application preferences. When you send the document to other users, they will see the comments according to their own software's display settings.

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