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How to Show All Word Comments in the Sidebar
Question details
The user wants to display all reviewer comments in a single sidebar pane rather than as floating text bubbles.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Reviewing a document with multiple comments and needing to see all reviewer feedback simultaneously in a dedicated layout.
- Observed behavior
- Newer versions of the software display comments as floating bubbles by default, which can hide resolved comments and make reviewing a high volume of feedback difficult.
Ensure you have a document open that actually contains reviewer comments or tracked changes, otherwise the Comments pane will appear entirely blank.
Use the Review Tab to Open the Comments Pane
This is the primary method to display the complete Comments sidebar and adjust your tracking views so no feedback is hidden.
By adjusting the default settings in the Review tab, you can force the application to display all feedback in a structured sidebar rather than as modern floating bubbles.
Click on the 'Review' tab located in the main ribbon menu at the top of your application window.
Locate the Comments group within the ribbon and click the 'Show Comments' button. This action opens the dedicated sidebar pane on the right side of your screen.
To ensure no comments are hidden, look for the Tracking group in the ribbon. Click the display dropdown and change the setting from 'Simple Markup' to 'All Markup'.
Open the Comments Pane via the Ribbon Corner Shortcut
A faster alternative to access the comments sidebar without having to manually switch tabs.
View and Manage All Comments Seamlessly in WPS Writer
WPS Writer offers a highly intuitive interface for reviewing documents. You can easily display all reviewer comments in a dedicated, clearly organized sidebar, making collaboration smooth and distraction-free.
- 1. Open your document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open the document containing the reviewer feedback you wish to read.
- 2. Navigate to the Review tab: Click on the 'Review' tab found in the top navigation ribbon.
- 3. Activate the Reviewing Pane: Click on the 'Reviewing Pane' or 'Comments' button to display a clear, organized list of all comments in the side panel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are some of my comments hidden even when the sidebar is open?
This usually happens if the tracking view is set to 'Simple Markup' or if specific comments have been marked as resolved. To fix this, switch your tracking view to 'All Markup' in the Review tab.
How do I switch back to the bubble view for comments?
To return to the modern bubble view, go to the Review tab, click on 'Show Markup', navigate to 'Balloons', and select 'Show Revisions in Balloons' or toggle off the sidebar.
Can I print my document with the comments sidebar visible?
Yes, you can print comments. Go to File > Print, click on the print settings drop-down (usually labeled 'Print All Pages'), and verify that the 'Print Markup' option is checked.
Does WPS Office properly show comments made in Microsoft Word?
Yes, WPS Office is fully compatible with Microsoft Word files. Any comments or tracked changes added in Word will accurately display in WPS Writer's reviewing pane.
