Fix Word for Mac Not Showing Comments or Markup in PDF
Question details
The user needs to include comments and tracked changes when saving or printing a Word document to PDF on a Mac, but the markup does not appear or the print function is entirely unresponsive.
- Product
- Microsoft Word for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Exporting or printing a Word document containing unresolved tracked changes and comments to a PDF file.
- Observed behavior
- The resulting PDF document lacks the expected markup, or clicking the Print option results in no response from the Word application.
Ensure that your document actually contains unresolved tracked changes or comments by viewing it in 'Markup' mode, and verify if the printing issue occurs in all documents or just a specific file.
Reset the macOS Printing System
Use this solution if clicking 'Print' does nothing or causes Word to freeze, as the macOS printing spooler directly handles PDF creation in Word for Mac.
Word for Mac relies heavily on the native macOS printing system to generate PDFs. If the printing system encounters a spooler error or corrupted printer configuration, the 'Save as PDF' or 'Print' dialogs may fail entirely or omit necessary document elements like markup.
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, select 'System Preferences' (or 'System Settings' on newer macOS versions), and open 'Printers & Scanners'.
Control-click (or right-click) anywhere in the list of devices on the left side of the window, then choose 'Reset printing system' from the context menu.
Confirm the action by entering your administrator password if prompted. Once the list is cleared, restart your Mac.
Go back to 'Printers & Scanners', click the '+' button to re-add your default printer, and try saving your Word document as a PDF again.
Ensure 'Document Showing Markup' is Selected
Verify that Word is actively instructed to include tracked changes and comments during the PDF export process.
Update Word for Mac to the Latest Version
Software bugs in older builds (such as 16.61) can prevent features like PDF export from working correctly.
Use WPS Office to Export Documents with Markup to PDF
If Microsoft Word for Mac continues to struggle with the macOS printing system, WPS Office offers a built-in, standalone PDF converter. It natively preserves all your comments, tracked changes, and complex formatting without relying on background macOS print spoolers.
- 1. Open Document in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office on your Mac and open the Word document containing your tracked changes and comments.
- 2. Access the PDF Export Tool: Navigate to the 'Menu' or 'Tools' tab at the top of the interface and click on 'Export to PDF'.
- 3. Include Markup in Settings: In the export dialog box, ensure that the option to include document comments and tracked changes is checked.
- 4. Export the PDF: Click the 'Export' button to instantly generate a high-quality PDF with all markup correctly displayed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Word for Mac completely freeze when I try to print or save as PDF?
This is typically caused by a corrupted macOS printing system. Word relies on the Mac print spooler to generate PDFs, and if the spooler hangs, Word becomes unresponsive. Resetting the printing system in your Mac's System Preferences usually resolves this.
How do I show tracked changes in a PDF without printing it?
You can use the native 'Save As' dialogue in Word. Choose 'PDF' as the file format, and make sure you select the option 'Best for printing' or explicitly configure the print settings to output 'Document showing markup' before saving.
Will resetting my Mac printing system delete my printers?
Yes, resetting the printing system will remove all current printer and scanner queues. You will need to re-add your devices manually using the '+' button in the Printers & Scanners settings.
Does WPS Office handle Word documents with tracked changes accurately?
Yes, WPS Office offers excellent format compatibility with Microsoft Office. It accurately reads, displays, and exports documents with tracked changes and marginal comments to PDF natively.
