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How to Show Word Comments in Boxes Instead of the Comment Pane
Question details
The user wants to view document comments in traditional margin boxes rather than the new modern comment pane.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Reviewing and editing a document with comments.
- Observed behavior
- Comments are currently displayed in a dedicated comment pane instead of appearing as classic boxes or balloons in the document margins.
Save your current document, as changing the global comment display settings requires you to restart Microsoft Word to take full effect.
Disable Modern Comments in Word Options
Revert to the classic comment boxes by turning off the modern comments feature in Microsoft 365.
Microsoft 365 recently introduced 'Modern Comments' which moves comments to a side pane. If you prefer seeing comments right next to your text in the margins, you can disable this feature in the application settings.
Launch Microsoft Word and click on 'File' in the top-left corner, then select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.
In the Word Options dialog box, ensure the 'General' tab is selected on the left sidebar.
Scroll down to the 'User Interface options' section and clear the checkbox next to 'Enable modern comments'.
Click 'OK' to save your changes, then completely close and reopen Microsoft Word to restore the classic comment boxes in the margins.
Adjust Tracking and Markup Settings
Use the Review tab to temporarily hide the comment pane or change how markup is displayed without altering global settings.
View and Edit Document Comments Easily with WPS Office
If you prefer the traditional, intuitive way of handling document comments without confusing forced interface updates, try WPS Office. It provides a familiar classic interface for reviewing documents and is highly compatible with Microsoft Word files.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my Word comments suddenly change to a pane?
Microsoft 365 introduced 'Modern Comments' as an automatic update. This feature moves comments from traditional margin balloons into a unified side pane designed to streamline real-time collaboration.
Can I print the document with the comment boxes showing in the margins?
Yes. Once you have disabled modern comments and reverted to classic balloons, go to File > Print, click the Settings drop-down menu, and ensure 'Print Markup' is checked to print the comments visible in the margins.
Will disabling modern comments affect other users collaborating on the same document?
No, unchecking the 'Enable modern comments' setting only affects how comments are displayed locally on your computer. Other collaborators will still see the comments according to their own Microsoft Word settings.
