How to shift from classic mode to modern mode and vice versa for comments in Powerpoint 2021?

Question

Hi,

I had send the following issue to the Microsoft Community. Mr. Jonathan, Z. (Microsoft Community Support Specialist) did send me the reply for the same but the issue has not been resolved. So, he further suggested to post the question on Microsoft Learn.

I am using Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2021. I am not able to shift from classic mode to modern mode and vice versa in Powerpoint, since the comments option is not available under File > Options > General tab. I have attached a screenshot for the same.

Actually, this option I require during for my proofreading projects. When I create an edited version of the original ppt presentation, I am able to key in the comments and view the comments in the edited ppt. But the same comments I am not able to view in the original ppt after merging the edited version with the original version through compare option.

One of my colleagues suggested me to view the comments in the classic mode for the comments to be able to view in the original version after merging with the edited version (through File > Options > General) which is not available in the Powerpoint 2021 version which I am using (screenshot attached above).

Can anybody please help me with this? Earnestly waiting for a reply.

Thanking you,

With regards,

Suresh Murthy

Answer 1

Hi,

Did you have installed other version Office before?

If yes, I suggest you check the the status of Office license in PC, maybe this problem is related to not completely uninstalling older versions of Office product keys, please follow these steps:

Search CMD, right-click the Command Prompt and run as administrator.

Then copy and paste the command, click Enter at last:

cscript.exe "%ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\Office16\ospp.vbs" /dstatus

If you are running 32-bit Office on a 64-bit operating system:

cscript.exe "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft Office\Office16\ospp.vbs" /dstatus

If you can find the older Office product key in list, try to remove it by typing the following command with the Last 5 characters of installed product key (I replace it with XXXXX, but what you type in is what you see on your computer) in this interface:

cscript.exe "%ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\Office16\ospp.vbs" /unpkey:XXXXX

If the 32bit version of Office installed on a 64bit operation, run the following command:

cscript.exe "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft Office\Office16\ospp.vbs" /unpkey:XXXXX

Just checking in to see if the information was helpful. Please let us know if you would like further assistance.

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Answer 2

Hi,

I think I find the reason, please refer to this article:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/using-modern-comments-in-word-edc6ae71-0a2d-49fe-8faa-986f1e48136a

It seems this feature can only available for:

Word for Microsoft 365 Word for Microsoft 365 for Mac Word for the web

This feature is currently available in Word for the web for all users. In Word for Windows and MacOS, it's available in Beta Channel and rolling out to Current Channel (Preview) and Production.

For PowerPoint please refer to this support article:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/modern-comments-in-powerpoint-c0aa37bb-82cb-414c-872d-178946ff60ec#:~:text=In%20PowerPoint%20for%20Windows%2C%20go%20to%20File%20%3E,to%20turn%20them%20on%2C%20select%20Use%20modern%20comments.

The comment modern mode feature can only available for:

PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 for Mac PowerPoint for the web Word 2021 PowerPoint 2021 PowerPoint 2021 for Mac PowerPoint for iPad PowerPoint for iPhone PowerPoint for Android tablets Microsoft Office PowerPoint for Android phones

For Excel please refer to this support article:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/office/the-difference-between-threaded-comments-and-notes-75a51eec-4092-42ab-abf8-7669077b7be3

In Excel for Microsoft 365 Excel for Microsoft 365 for Mac Excel for the web the Comment is new feature, other versions called Note in Excel.

It seems your problem is related to your Office version, if you want to use the comment modern mode you need to change from Office 2021 to Office 365.

Hope the information is helpful.

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