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How to Restore Comment Connector Lines in Word (All Markup)
Question details
The user needs to restore visual connector lines that link comment balloons to the referenced text in Microsoft Word.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Reviewing and editing a document with comments enabled under the 'All Markup' view.
- Observed behavior
- Comment balloons appear detached from the related text because connector lines are missing, which is a common behavior of Word's Modern Comments feature.
Save your current document, as you will need to restart Microsoft Word (and potentially your computer) for the settings changes to take full effect.
Disable the Modern Comments Feature
Reverting from Modern Comments to classic comments restores the visible connector lines between the document text and the comment balloons.
Microsoft Word recently introduced 'Modern Comments', which visually detaches the comment balloons from the text in the standard editing view. Disabling this feature forces Word to use the classic comment layout.
Launch Microsoft Word. Click on 'File' in the top-left corner of the ribbon, then select 'Options' at the bottom of the left-hand menu.
In the Word Options dialog box, ensure the 'General' tab is selected on the left pane.
Scroll down the General settings page to find the 'Enable modern comments' checkbox. Clear this checkbox to turn the feature off.
Click 'OK' to save the changes. Close Microsoft Word completely and reopen it. In some cases, a full computer restart may be required for the change to take effect.
Try WPS Office for a Classic and Clear Reviewing Experience
If you are frustrated by forced UI changes like missing comment connector lines in Microsoft Word, WPS Writer provides a highly compatible, free alternative with a familiar and intuitive traditional comment interface.
- 1. Download and Install: Get the free WPS Office suite from the official website and install it on your device.
- 2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing .docx file containing the comments.
- 3. View Clear Comments: Navigate to the 'Review' tab. Comments and their traditional connector lines will be clearly visible by default, making editing straightforward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my comment connector lines disappear in Word?
This is typically caused by Microsoft Word's 'Modern Comments' feature, which changes the layout of document markups and intentionally hides connector lines in the standard editing view for a cleaner interface.
Will comment lines print if Modern Comments are enabled?
Yes. Even if the connector lines are visually hidden in the normal editing view due to Modern Comments, they still appear in Print Preview and will print out on your physical document.
What if the option to disable Modern Comments is missing?
Microsoft has been gradually phasing out the classic comments interface. If the 'Enable modern comments' checkbox is no longer in your General settings, your specific version of Word has made Modern Comments mandatory, and you cannot restore the lines in the editing view.
