To hide comments in Word, click the Review tab and turn off Show Comments, or open Show Markup and uncheck Comments. The comments stay in the document but disappear from view. To hide all comments and tracked changes at once, change Display for Review to No Markup. If you want to make sure comments don’t print, go to File > Print, open the first box under Settings, and uncheck Print Markup.
This guide covers hiding comments on screen, when printing or saving as PDF, hiding one reviewer’s comments, and deleting comments permanently before you share a document.
Hide comments on screen
Option 1: Show Markup
- Click the Review tab.
- Click Show Markup.
- Uncheck Comments.
Option 2: Show Comments button
In Word for Microsoft 365, click Show Comments on the Review tab (or the Comments button at the top right) to close the comments pane. In Simple Markup, comments may still appear as small icons in the margin; uncheck them in Show Markup to hide those too.
Option 3: No Markup
On the Review tab, set Display for Review to No Markup. This hides comments and tracked changes so you see the final text.
Hide comments from one reviewer
Click Show Markup > Specific People and uncheck the names whose comments you want to hide.
Print or save as PDF without comments
- Click File > Print.
- Click the first box under Settings (usually Print All Pages).
- Uncheck Print Markup.
When saving as PDF with File > Save As > PDF, click Options and choose Document (not Document showing markup) under Publish what.
Delete comments permanently
Hiding comments doesn’t remove them; anyone who opens the file can show them again. To remove them before sharing:
- One comment – right-click it and choose Delete Comment.
- All comments – on the Review tab, click the arrow under Delete and choose Delete All Comments in Document.
- Check for leftovers – use File > Info > Check for Issues > Inspect Document to find and remove comments, tracked changes, and hidden data.
Resolve instead of hiding
In Word for Microsoft 365, click Resolve on a comment thread to mark it done. Resolved comments collapse but remain in the file.
Word for Mac and the web
- Mac – use Review > Markup Options and uncheck Comments, or turn off Show Comments.
- Web – click Comments at the top right to hide the comments pane; use Review > Delete to remove them.
Related: Move a comment in Word.
Frequently asked questions
Why do comments come back when I reopen the document?
Display settings aren’t always saved with the file. Delete comments if you want them gone for good.
Can other people see hidden comments?
Yes. They can turn comments back on unless you delete them.
Does hiding comments hide tracked changes?
No. Uncheck Insertions and Deletions in Show Markup, or choose No Markup, to hide those too.
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.