Comments let you leave feedback, questions, or to-dos on specific parts of a Google Doc without changing the text itself. Collaborators can reply, and you can mention people, assign tasks, and resolve threads when they are done. This guide covers how to add a comment on a computer, Android, and iPhone, plus replying, assigning, resolving, deleting, and finding old comments.
Quick Answer
Highlight the text you want to comment on, then click the Add comment button that appears in the right margin (or press Ctrl + Alt + M, Cmd + Option + M on Mac). Type your comment and click Comment. On mobile, select the text and tap Comment or the comment icon.
Add a Comment on a Computer
- Open the document in Google Docs. You need Commenter or Editor access.
- Highlight the word, sentence, image, or table cell you want to comment on.
- Click the Add comment button in the right margin. You can also use Insert > Comment, right-click and choose Comment, or press Ctrl + Alt + M.
- Type your comment.
- Click Comment.
The text you commented on is highlighted in yellow, and the comment appears beside it in the margin.
Add a Comment on Android or iPhone
- Open the document in the Google Docs app.
- Tap Edit (pencil icon) if you have edit access, or stay in view mode if you are a commenter.
- Double-tap a word and drag the handles to select text.
- Tap Comment in the menu that appears, or tap the Add comment icon at the top. On some versions, tap the three-dot menu and choose Add comment.
- Type your comment and tap the send button.
Mention Someone or Assign a Task
- In a new comment, type @ or + followed by the person's name or email.
- Select the person from the list. They receive an email notification.
- To assign the comment as a task, check Assign to [name] before clicking Assign.
If the person does not have access to the document, Google Docs asks whether to share it with them. Assigned comments appear in their task list, and they can mark them done.
Reply to, Edit, or React to a Comment
- Reply: click the comment and type in the Reply box, then click Reply.
- Edit your comment: click the three-dot menu on your comment and choose Edit.
- React: hover over a comment and click the emoji button to add a reaction.
Resolve or Delete a Comment
- Resolve: click the checkmark on the comment. It disappears from the margin but stays in comment history, where you can reopen it.
- Delete: click the three-dot menu on your comment and choose Delete. The document owner and editors can delete any comment; commenters can delete their own.
See All Comments and Comment History
Click the Open comment history icon (a speech bubble near the top-right) to see all open and resolved comments. You can filter by All, For you, Open, or Resolved, and reopen resolved threads.
Comments vs. Suggestions
| Comment | Suggestion | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Feedback, questions, notes | Proposed edits to the text |
| Changes the document? | No | Only when accepted |
| How to create | Add comment button or Ctrl + Alt + M | Switch to Suggesting mode (pencil menu, top-right) |
| How to close | Resolve | Accept or reject |
Manage Comment Notifications
Click the Open comment history icon, then the notification bell (or go to Tools > Notification settings) and choose All, Only yours (comments involving you), or None.
Troubleshooting
The Add comment button does not appear
You may have Viewer access. Ask the owner to change your access to Commenter or Editor.
Comments are hidden
Go to View > Mode and make sure you are not in a mode that hides comments, and check that the comments pane is not collapsed. Resolved comments only appear in comment history.
Comments are missing after downloading
When you download as a Word document, comments are included. PDF and plain text downloads do not include them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the shortcut to add a comment in Google Docs?
Ctrl + Alt + M on Windows and ChromeOS, or Cmd + Option + M on Mac.
Can people see who left a comment?
Yes. Comments show the author's name and profile picture. Anonymous viewers appear as anonymous.
Can I comment on an image?
Yes. Click the image and use the Add comment button or shortcut.
Do resolved comments get deleted?
No. Resolved comments are kept in comment history until deleted.
Summary
- Select text and click Add comment or press Ctrl + Alt + M.
- Type your comment and click Comment.
- Use @ to mention and assign tasks to collaborators.
- Resolve finished comments with the checkmark and find them later in comment history.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.