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."
Apparently, those geniuses at MS figured simply referring to the reviewing pane to continue using previously simple functionality of comments is a perfectly sensible design soution, as you can read here:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/using-modern-comments-in-word-edc6ae71-0a2d-49fe-8faa-986
Sure let's add yet another pane in addition to the nonsensical separation of margin and comments into two columns, and jump back and forth between them because you basically need the comments pane to navigate the reviewing pane. This mess is not convoluted enough yet and there's still too much space on the screen left for the aactul document. I'll gladly take that fancy new cinemascope ultrawide monitor if MS wants to gift me one!
Another issue is that, of course unless someone decides to open the reviewing pane on a whim, they'll never know what else is hidden in the comment...
At the moment, the only way seems to be rolling back to an older version of Word and to shut off updates entirely, unless enough voices make MS realise that perhaps giving users OPTIONS instead of arrogantly pressing them into disruptive surprises like this might be the right thing to do... (as if!)
I'll also direct your attention to another post in this community, where a couple of us voice our feedback since the celebratory introduction of ths "modern" feature for some time now. Might be worth a look, and an opportunity to pool criticism in one place. (I already recognised one or two names in here from there)
https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-365-blog/introducing-modern-comments-in-microsoft-word/bc-p/2329433/emcs_t/S2h8ZW1haWx8dG9waWNfc3Vic2NyaXB0aW9ufEtPQzhFUktINVNHNlNCfDIzMjk0MzN8U1VCU0NSSVBUSU9OU3xoSw#M1742
To remove the modern comments feature try deleting the following two keys from the registry. You should make the usual backup first.
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\ExperimentConfigs\Ecs\word]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\ExperimentConfigs\FirstSession\word]
Bgwilson : Thankyou so much ❤️ this totaly worked, youre a life saver man
- Bless you for this. quick and easy fix and even retained my comments in the new bubbles into the original version.
I wonder if there is also a non RegEdit solution to this. My problem is in my personal computer so no problem deleting those two keys, but if I had this issue with work, I wouldn't be able to do this. Is there any other more straightforward solution?@dmikailov; @Bgwilsom -- For now, it is possible to turn off the modern comments by clearing the check mark next to "Enable modern comments" at File > Options > General (or the corresponding location in Preferences in Word for Mac).
Microsoft tech guy also told me, "Make sure that you post feedback, if you haven't already done so. See 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-4dd2-9ff4-23cf144cfb11To turn off modern comments on Windows and MacOS, go to File > Options > General, then clear the checkbox next to Enable modern comments. This allows you to temporarily revert the comments experience to the legacy comments model as the new experience continues to improve and evolve.@lsilvlsilvernail
Can you outline the steps to remove keys? Bgwilson
- Is this possible on a macbook?
See the previous reply from mwarner77: "For the Mac users: Preferences > General > Enable modern comments (un-check this box)."
- Thank you!
- Good idea but it did not work for me. I delete the strings and it works. Then if I restart Word the "modern" commenting comes back.
- Oh, just realized that this must be Windows -- thought it was a great suggestion but don't think it helps us Mac users!?
- Oooh, I will try this -- thanks -- at my wits end here!!!
- Since the Mac doesn't have a registry file, I'm wondering if someone could help me delete these? Anyone have an easy, low-tech approach? Also, do we know which version of Office is the one to go back to? Thanks so much!
