Office Settings & Configuration

How to Request Comments or Annotations in Microsoft OneNote

John Wilson Oct 14, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to add comments or annotations to specific text or locations in Microsoft OneNote, similar to the comment feature available in Microsoft Word.

How to Request Comments or Annotations in Microsoft OneNote

Product: Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to collaborate or leave notes on specific parts of a OneNote page.
Observed behavior: OneNote lacks a dedicated comment feature for specific text, requiring users to rely on manual workarounds or request the capability from Microsoft.

Before you start

Ensure you have a Microsoft account ready so you can log into the Feedback Portal to submit or vote on feature requests.

Solution 1Recommended

Submit a Feature Request to the OneNote Feedback Community

Since the feature is not natively available, submitting a request or voting on existing threads helps prioritize it for future Microsoft updates.

Microsoft actively monitors the Feedback Portal to understand what features users need the most. By adding your voice to the community, you increase the chances of a Word-style commenting system being implemented in OneNote.

Navigate to the Feedback Portal

Open your web browser and go to the official Microsoft Feedback Portal specifically for OneNote (feedbackportal.microsoft.com).

Search for Existing Requests

Type 'comments' or 'annotations' into the search bar to see if other users have already requested this capability.

Vote or Add a New Suggestion

If you find an existing request, click the 'Vote' button. If not, click 'Send feedback' to create a new post detailing your need for Word-like comments in OneNote.

Submit a Feature Request to the OneNote Feedback Community

Current Workaround: While waiting for this feature, you can temporarily use text highlighting, different font colors, or insert a two-column table to use the right column as a mock 'Comments' section.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Need Robust Document Commenting? Try WPS Office

While OneNote lacks dedicated text comments, WPS Office provides full-featured, Word-compatible commenting and collaboration tools absolutely free. It is lightweight, offers a highly familiar interface, and makes team document annotations effortless.

1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office for free and install it on your PC or mobile device.
2. Open Your Document: Open WPS Writer and create a new document or open an existing Microsoft Word file.
3. Add a Comment: Highlight the specific text you want to annotate, navigate to the 'Review' tab, and click 'New Comment' to leave your notes.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) comment and track changes features.Lightweight installation and a familiar interface for a seamless migration.Free built-in collaboration tools for precise text and paragraph annotations.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use tracked changes in Microsoft OneNote?

No, OneNote does not support the Track Changes feature found in Microsoft Word. When collaborating, changes made by others are simply marked by author initials next to the modified text blocks.

Is there any built-in workaround for adding comments in OneNote?

Yes, you can manually type comments in brackets, apply a distinctive font color, or insert a simple table where one column holds the content and the adjacent column is used strictly for your annotations.

How long does it typically take for Microsoft to add requested features?

Microsoft reviews feedback regularly, but there is no guaranteed timeline for implementation. Features that accumulate high vote counts in the Feedback Community are generally prioritized in the development roadmap.

Does WPS Office support document commenting?

Yes, WPS Writer includes a robust commenting system that allows you to attach notes to specific text selections, and it is entirely compatible with Microsoft Word's commenting format.

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