Forum Discussion
Can I remove Modern Comments and revert back?
My Word (on Microsoft 365) has updated to Modern Comments. I have a number of problems with the useability of these comments, based on the way I have used them in the past (for context, I am an educator and primarily use them when marking student assignments).
The main issue is that autotext is no longer supported in a comment. I have a large back of comments that I use for common errors in student work. Some of these comments are up to a paragraph, or contain URLs to instructions for certain things. It's incredibly helpful to be able to insert these quickly and will increase my marking time substantially if I can't use them.
Comments are slow to open. If I open a comment using a keyboard shortcut (on a Windows computer) and start typing, the first one or two letters often gets inserted into the main text
They don't use the same autocorrect tools as the main text. My typing has evolved to use those features. Two capital letters at the start of a comment don't get corrected, and simple typos don't get corrected
There are more steps to use them than before. I don't share my documents, so being able to edit comments and post when they're finalised is not particularly useful for me, as no one else is looking at them until I send the document. However, I can't click out of it to finish, I have to click or ctrl+Enter to post. I also can't just click INTO it to edit, I have to click on more buttons.
It doesn't make sense to only be allowed to edit one comment at a time, particularly if the idea is to not post them until you're ready to share with others. Sometimes in the course of writing one comment, I want to comment on something else first and then come back to the previous comment. You're forced to finish one first, to the standard you're happy for others to see, defeating the purpose of not having to post until it's finished. Why not allow multiple to be in draft?
If I forget to post and try to type a new comment, it pulls me back to my previous comment and starts typing, making me lose my spot where I wanted the next comment
It has added an extra space to the side of the document, which wouldn't be an issue except that making any formatting changes under tracked change, which I often also do when marking assignments, goes into the ORIGINAL pane where comments use to be, widening the document even further (extra space for formatting, then another extra space for comments). My computer screen isn't large enough to cope with the extra width.
Once I post a comment, it's still selected. There have been a number of times I've posted a comment then tried to ctrl+F something in the document, but it won't respond to my ctrl+F. Not something that is necessarily a huge issue but it is annoying and I can't see the purpose for keeping a comment selected when it's posted and non-responsive.
Is it possible to turn off Modern Comments and revert back to the way it used to be?
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."
220 Replies
- I have posted feedback on the Modern Comment issue. But since it is only a temporary fix and that temporary fix still opens another panel that is awkward and annoying, I am now using pdf to do all my editing and commenting for my colleagues and students.
- For me, it works just like it always has. For that to happen, I had to close Word after I made the change and reopen it.
- 100% agree. This "upgrade" is frustrating and awful. I work with Word everyday reviewing documents from students and it has become a pain.
- Update: File > Options > General, then clear the checkbox next to Enable modern comments. It works, as long as you close all opened Word documents and reopen Word. Thank the lord, this suffering is over.
- Yes, but Microsoft still says this is a temporary fix, Alex253212 -- Make sure that you post feedback, if you haven't already done so. See https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/how-do-i-give-feedback-on-microsoft-office-2b102d44-b43f-4dd2-9ff4-23cf144cfb11
Yep, you crystallized the frustrations here beautifully. I thought I was accepting this since it was pointed out that you can avoid the modern comments, BUT I am still incredibly frustrated this morning that it is STILL not possible (as far as I can see) to change the font in comments -- it defaults to 12-point Arial and I want it in 9-point TimesNR, for example, to 'squeeze more in'. Unbelievable that there is no way to change this (that I can see).
Also, although I have a decent-sized screen, like you I am frustrated by the amount of screen real-estate occupied by these danged Track-Changes now -- it is ludicrous that this is a default (and gosh knows how it works on a small screen) and that you can not, again, change it. Nope, color me seriously disappointed with this 'advance' in MS Word. I do hope the message is getting back to Microsoft and that it will be addressed at some point (soon) -- yes, I know this is NOT the forum to report issues to MS.
That's an interesting comment you make, JR_UW1552.
I was quite sure you could change the way the comments look, as there is a style for it. BUT - as I tried, in this version of Word, my Comment Text style says 20pts, and there are still showing in their original size, unfazed ;-).
In our version, the comments are 8pts, Ariel. No matter what changes I make to the style, the Comments don't accept it. It seems like a bug worth following.
Have you tried to raise a ticket with Microsoft for this? If not, I can.
L.
I have NOT, Lenka -- only recently became aware that this was really NOT the forum to get to MicroSoft (directly). Please DO if you can. following other comments, I shall also try and look at these feedback comments. [It IS frustrating, though, ay, when it used to work really quite nicely and now...]
It's interesting how many 'hates' this feature received here, but when one goes to the place, where it actually matters:
modern comments · Community (microsoft.com)
There are not that many votes.
Please vote to change the way modern comments look where it matters, or it will never be changed.
Thank you. L.
- Lenka_Kerumova Where do you "vote"? Your link leads to a discussion thread pages long -- if there is a specific place to post, I want to do it -- HATE modern comments!
Microsoft Tech suggested that concerns be posted here:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/how-do-i-give-feedback-on-microsoft-office-2b102d44-b43f-4dd2-9ff4-23cf144cfb11I am asking my students to submit their work as a pdf and using Adobe to make comments. I have given up on using Word for anything where I need to give feedback.
chiara369 100% Agree with all you've listed. This change makes a teacher's job (and any others who are reviewing & providing comments to individuals just harder -- ridiculous that paying customers cannot have the choice of using what works best for them.
For now, it is possible to turn off the modern comments. Clear the check mark next to "Enable modern comments" at File > Options > General (or the corresponding location in Preferences in Word for Mac).
Stefan_Blom I had already done research and cleared the check before posting; however, this is presented as a temporary fix. I want it to be a permanent choice -- I NEVER want to be forced to the modern comment style.
Modern Comments has a slew of problems: no numbering, extra clicks needed, no autocorrect. Every time they let the youngsters tinker with Word, it gets harder and harder for real writers to use. I long for the old Word, but my tech-support team says you can't go back. I guess Faulkner was right (in this very ridiculous sense).
Note that when you print the document, or convert it to PDF, the comments will still be in the Markup area, with comment numbers. (You will have to select the option to display revisions in balloons.)
I recommend that you post feedback for Microsoft on the new comments design.
JWriter Go to File >>> Options >>> and uncheck "Enable modern comments." Then you'll need close Word entirely. A big sigh of relief to have the old comments back . . . for the time being.
- I completely agree with all of this. Comments are not meant to resemble real-time chat. Big fail, Microsoft!
This new comment system is a disaster. I too have lost years of shortcuts in comments, and macros designed to enable me to quickly make comments that I would now be required to write in full. It would be quicker for me to write the comments by hand. Also, because I can no longer use symbols, much of what I need to do, teaching involving mathematical notation, I can no longer do. Last, just a set of simple macros enabling me to highlight with better, clearer, more obvious colours than Microsoft's rather primitive highlighting colours, are now prevented.
Why in the name of all reason would you make a system that was less user friendly, more restrictive, and requires some kind of "posting". My comments are for the student only, not for discussion or "posting". They are not a conversation.
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."
- Thanks for this suggestion, like the writer you responded to I am totally fed up with "modern comments"--but I'm not finding the "enable" option under File etc. when I open a Word document (this is where I should be per your instructions, correct?) Purchased Word 2021 in I think Nov. 2021... Did MS remove the option?
Does anyone have a solution for OSX users?
After refusing to update for a while, I got kind of tricked into this update and immediately could not believe my eyes when I saw this new "feature." I cannot agree more with everyone. This is so unbelievably useless. I can no longer use word now since this is one of the key features I use. I am just baffled at this update, and infuriated! It seems that in OSX there is not yet a patch for opting out of their unbelievably dumb idea. Any suggestion would be much appreciated.
