Forum Discussion
Can I remove Modern Comments and revert back?
Send feedback to Microsoft to let them know what you think about the so-called modern comments; for instructions, see https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/how-do-i-give-feedback-on-microsoft-office-2b102d44-b43f-4dd2-9ff4-23cf144cfb11.
Microsoft's rationale about "posting" is mentioned in the support article at https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/using-modern-comments-in-word-edc6ae71-0a2d-49fe-8faa-986f1e48136a (which you may have seen already).
Finally, you should see an option to temporarily revert to the previous, more user-friendly interface at File > Options > General. Clear the check box next to "Enable modern comments."
I agree. Please provide the option to revert. This change has stuffed up my workflow. It has reduced functionality and increased the clunkiness of comments in so many different ways (as outlined in other posts.
It is clear that an extensive community of people use MS Word in a variety of ways that do not require collaboration.
Also, please in the future ask the community of members who use MS products for feedback on intended changes. It isn't clear that this has been done before rolling out such features that actually erode functionality.
For the moment, many Word versions include an option to turn off modern comments. In Word for Windows, click File > Options > General and clear the check mark next to "Enable modern comments." Restart Word to get classic comments back.
You can let Microsoft know what you think about modern comments. Use the Feedback facility available within Word.
- Bless you! I made a special point of registering for this forum only to find a solution to this Modern Comments mess that has made my academic workflow so difficult. In Word for Mac, there is a checkbox for Modern Comments in Word/Preferences/General. I un-checked that box, closed Word, reopened Word and presto, back to classic commenting. Phew.
Remember to send Feedback to Microsoft about this. They have indicated an intention to remove this option in the future.
Charles_Kenyon I did send feedback! I hope everyone on this thread does.
Hi Stefan,
I am a Mac user. I appreciate all of the work Microsoft has put into bringing the Mac version up to speed over recent years. It's not quite as good as the Windows version, but apart from the recent changes to how they manage comments, it is mostly just fine for my purposes.
I have sent feedback several times using the in-app feedback button. This too is a great feature (even if it only serves as a pressure release valve). I use this feature to give positive feedback as well.
Darren
- Yes, most of us on this thread are well aware of this possibility for SOME users. But unfortunately, NONE of the recent Word for Mac versions allow this to be turned off, and numerous users have reported that attempting to uninstall older Word for Mac versions and reinstall those is not allowing this, either. Further, MS reps on various forums have indicated that the checkbox for turning off this crap feature in other versions of Word is temporary only.
I wasn't aware that the "Enable modern comments" option had been removed from Word for Mac. It used to be in the Preferences dialog box. 😞
I can still use it in version 16.67. Every time there's an upgrade I check it's still available – dreading the day it's removed entirely!
