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Why is it now impossible to edit my own comments in a Word document?

Anonymous
2023-03-30T22:47:48+00:00

This problem arose after a Microsoft update on 3.28.23:

The comment box is now missing the pencil icon and three dots where one can choose to edit, resolve, or delete the open comment. Once a comment is posted, only 'Reply' and 'Resolve' show below it. In the ribbon to the left of the 'track changes' section, the 'Delete comment' icon becomes active (I note, mystified by the necessity for this change) once comment is made but there is no 'edit comment' choice. Here's what Microsoft support tells me I will see:

Here's what I see instead:

Top right is what you see when you open any comment. Reply. Delete. Nothing more.

I have tried turning the hilariously titled 'Modern Word' on and off in my settings under Options, General. Makes no difference. I have scoured all the Track Changes settings...to no avail.

I use Windows 11 and Word in Microsoft 365 (automatically updated) on my Surface laptop 2.

I suspect this 'update' is related to the Microsoft preference for multiple people editing documents in the cloud (OneDrive) to prevent one user from editing other users' comments. Whether that's the cause or not, this is an extremely annoying problem for one making a living as an editor. I edit desktop and transmit documents to client scholars without using OneDrive, as is most often their preference.

Have I missed something or has Word become one step less user-friendly and two-steps less controlled by user preference?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-07-27T22:14:27+00:00

    Once I clicked on the comment text in the reviewing pane, the edit button and trash can re-appeared on the comment bubbles. Sidenote: Microsoft, please stop changing your products. The latest version of Word is a complete nightmare - I can barely read and often now miss comments added to documents. It was much easier the way you had it before. Do you even talk to non-Microsoft employees or folks not beholden to Microsoft about the changes you plan to implement before doing so? Half the stuff you add is complete nonsense and makes no marked improvement - only serving at best to cause confusion or worse (and most often) making your wretched products even more difficult to use.

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  2. Stefan Blom 340.9K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2023-03-31T00:38:20+00:00

    I am not sure what has happened to your document, but note that you can always edit your comments in the Revisions pane.

    Display the pane via Review tab > Tracking group > Reviewing Pane. Click in the comment text and make your edits. See the screen shot below.

    Note that turning off modern comments might be a good option. The change will apply after you have restarted Word.

    Image

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-03-31T19:17:16+00:00

    Thanks but: That's it? I saw that workaround, of course (though I neglected to mention it in my post; mea culpa) and considered it a crappy holding action eating up a lot of screen space.

    Fact remains: As my screen shots show, what MIcrosoft claims Word does...it simply does not do, at least not for me.

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-03-31T19:25:27+00:00

    No. It's in every one of my documents.

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  5. Anonymous
    2023-03-31T19:30:04+00:00

    Sneha, thanks. I will try three of your suggestions: the how to repair an Office app from your first resource, resetting Word to default values, and, if it comes to it, un- and reinstalling Microsoft 365, although that fills me with trepidation.

    By the way, it now makes no difference whether 'Modern Comments' are off on on. No pencil. No 'edit' selection.

    Carin

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