Office Settings & Configuration

How to Restore Traditional Notes Instead of Threaded Comments in Excel

Elise Williams Sep 30, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to use traditional cell notes instead of the newer threaded comments feature in Microsoft Excel.

How to Restore Traditional Notes Instead of Threaded Comments in Excel

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Trying to add or edit annotations on spreadsheet cells without using the collaborative threaded comments interface.
Observed behavior: Excel defaults to threaded comments designed for collaborative conversations, making it unclear how to access or restore classic yellow sticky notes.

Before you start

Ensure you are using the desktop version of Excel, as Excel for the Web prioritizes threaded comments for online collaboration and may limit traditional note functionalities.

Solution 1Recommended

Insert Traditional Notes via the Right-Click Context Menu

The quickest way to add a classic note is by using the right-click menu directly on the selected cell.

Microsoft distinguishes between threaded comments (for conversations) and traditional notes (for simple annotations). While comments are the new default, notes can still be accessed easily through the context menu.

Select the target cell

Click on the specific cell in your spreadsheet where you want to add a traditional note.

Open the context menu

Right-click the selected cell to reveal the context menu options.

Select New Note

Choose "New Note" from the menu list instead of "New Comment".

Enter your annotation

Type your text into the yellow sticky note box that appears, then click anywhere outside the cell to save it.

Insert Traditional Notes via the Right-Click Context Menu

Quick Shortcut: You can bypass the right-click menu entirely by pressing Shift + F2 on your keyboard to instantly insert a traditional note.

Solution 2

Add Traditional Notes Using the Review Tab

You can also manage and insert traditional notes using the dedicated Notes section in the Excel ribbon.

Easy Cell Annotations

Use WPS Spreadsheet for Classic Cell Comments

WPS Spreadsheet offers a familiar, classic interface for cell annotations, allowing you to easily add traditional notes without the confusion of forced threaded collaborative features.

1. Open your workbook: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open your existing spreadsheet document.
2. Right-click the cell: Select the target cell, right-click, and choose "Insert Comment" from the context menu.
3. Type your note: Enter your annotation into the classic sticky note box.
4. Save the note: Click any other cell in the worksheet to save and collapse the note.

Familiar and classic interface for inserting cell notesFully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) formatsLightweight, fast, and completely free to useStreamlined offline work without forced collaborative threads

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I convert threaded comments back to traditional notes in Excel?

Yes. Right-click a cell containing a threaded comment and select "Convert to Note". Be aware that doing this will permanently remove any replies and conversation history attached to that comment.

Why did my Excel notes suddenly change to threaded comments?

Microsoft updated Excel (especially in Microsoft 365) to use threaded comments by default to improve co-authoring and collaboration. Classic annotations were retained but rebranded as "Notes".

How can I view all traditional notes at once?

Go to the Review tab, click the "Notes" dropdown button, and select "Show All Notes". This will display all traditional yellow notes simultaneously across your active worksheet.

Do traditional notes show up when printing the spreadsheet?

Yes, but you need to configure the print settings. Go to the Page Layout tab, click Print Titles, navigate to the Sheet tab, and under the Comments and notes dropdown, select either "At end of sheet" or "As displayed on sheet".

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