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."
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]
Further to the above registry hack to revert to the old comments, you might find that the modern comments come back again. If that is the case, you need to delete the keys and then remove your Full Control from the key above by first disabling inheritance so Word cannot recreate it. You might need your IT department to help. Bgwilson
- Sorry--missed your update when I added my question about modern comments resurfacing. Can you explain how to disable inheritance? I'm working on a personal laptop--no IT department to deal with. Thanks!!
- To stop the modern comments returning after a reatrt of Word you need to stop the keys from coming back. Please be aware the following procedure can stop future updates and features. After to you delete the following keys again
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\ExperimentConfigs\Ecs\word
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\ExperimentConfigs\FirstSession\word
you need to right-click on the two parent folders one at a time and select Permissions
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\ExperimentConfigs\Ecs
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\ExperimentConfigs\FirstSession
The new screen will show you what access you have to the keys. You need to remove your Full Control from the permissions, you can keep the Read permission, but it will be greyed out. At this point click on Advanced and then you will have another option to Disabled inheritance. Click this and select the Convert option then click ok to return to the permissions screen. Now you should be able to untick your Full Control permission and then click OK. This will stop the keys from returning. You should keep note of this change because at some point you will want to change this back.- Thank you so much! That seems to have done the trick. My old reliable visible-in-the-margin comments are back. You made my day!
