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How to Fix Show or Hide Comments Missing in Excel 2013
Question details
The user is unable to find the Show or Hide Comments command in the drop-down menu of Excel 2013.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel 2013
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Trying to view or manage legacy cell comments in a spreadsheet.
- Observed behavior
- The 'Show or Hide Comments' command is missing from the expected drop-down menu.
Ensure that your spreadsheet actually contains legacy comments, which are indicated by a small red triangle in the top right corner of the cells.
Locate Comments via the Review Tab
Since Excel 2013 handles legacy comments differently, checking the primary Review ribbon is the most direct way to access them.
In legacy versions of Excel, comments are treated as sticky notes attached to cells. If they are missing from the right-click menu, they can still be managed through the main ribbon.
Launch Excel 2013 and open the document containing your comments. Look for cells with a red triangle indicator in the corner.
Click on the 'Review' tab located on the top ribbon of the Excel window.
Locate the 'Comments' group within the Review ribbon.
Click on the 'Show All Comments' button to toggle the visibility of all legacy comments on the active sheet.
Check Advanced Display Options
Sometimes comment indicators are disabled globally in Excel's advanced settings.
Upgrade Your Spreadsheet Experience with WPS Office
Since Microsoft ended support for Excel 2013 in April 2018, it no longer receives updates or bug fixes, which can lead to missing features or security vulnerabilities. WPS Office is a modern, lightweight, and completely free alternative that flawlessly opens your older Excel files and manages all comment types with an intuitive interface.
- 1. Download and install: Get WPS Office for free from the official website and run the quick installer.
- 2. Open your legacy files: Open your existing .xls or .xlsx files directly in WPS Spreadsheet with perfect formatting retention.
- 3. Manage comments easily: Navigate to the Review tab to easily view, insert, and manage all your comments without hunting for hidden menus.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a legacy comment in Excel?
In older versions like Excel 2013, comments were essentially text boxes attached to a cell (often called legacy comments), indicated by a red triangle. Newer Excel versions use threaded conversations for comments and refer to the old style as 'Notes'.
Why did my comments disappear in Excel?
Comments can disappear if the display settings are inadvertently changed to 'No comments or indicators'. You can change this back by navigating to File > Options > Advanced, and updating the settings under the Display section.
Is it safe to continue using Excel 2013?
Because Microsoft officially ended support for Excel 2013 on April 10, 2018, it no longer receives security updates or bug fixes. Continuing to use it makes your system vulnerable to newer threats, so upgrading to a modern software alternative is highly recommended.
