Unable to format comment object in Excel

Question

For some reason, I cannot format the comment as an object in Excel 2016 (Mac), e.g. changing fill color or shape of the comment. I used to be able to do this, but one day this feature simply disappeared. I'm sure it's an easy fix, but I can't for the life of me figure it out, even after searching google inside-out!

• If I right-click the comment border, options to 'format object' is grayed out.

 

• If I try 'format' > 'format comment', the object editing is also limited. Unchecking the boxes under 'properties' has no effect.

Also of note,

• I have an Office365 Student subscription that is still active.
• This is not a shared workbook.
• There are absolutely no editing/sharing restrictions or permissions.
• This problem applies to all past and new workbooks I create.
• This problem occurs whether I create a workbook using the default template or my own.

Anyway, thank you in advance to anyone who posts reply!

Answer 1

The last version on which formatting for comments worked was Office 2011 build 14.7.7 (the final update to Office 2011).

Formatting of comments was discontinued in Office 2016. Obviously Ran does not use comments in Excel or he would know this. Ran would save himself and Microsoft embarrassment by not putting BS out as an answer.

The formatting comment issue has come up constantly since Office 2016 came out. Ran is not paying attention.

In the UserVoice forum, Microsoft stated that the existing comment feature is going to be replaced by an entirely new comment feature. How Microsoft will support Type 1 comments in the future is not known. It appears that existing comments will continue to display, and perhaps that will be all.

If you want the ability to format your comments, I suggest using ordinary text boxes or shapes and abandon Comment boxes.

If you want Microsoft to restore the ability to format Type 1 comment boxes, please send feedback to Microsoft using the Smile button in Excel. You're going to have to do a lot of convincing, because Microsoft has already said, "No."

There needs to be a way to change the default formatting for comment boxes

Answer 2

Hi Yuchm,

Which version of Office are you using now? I can repro the issue in Excel 2016 version 16.11.1.

For further investigation, could you please provide the following information?

1. Do you remember in which version it worked?
2. How do you want to format the comment?
3. Your OS version and Office version.

Thanks,

Ran

Answer 3

Thank you so much for your reply!

1. Unfortunately, I don't know which version it worked. But I can tell you:

The last time it worked was Feb 12, 2018. At this time my Office autoupdate was set to "automatically check," otherwise I never manually installed updates. I noticed it stopped working mid-March. So then I signed up for Office Insider and manually updated. At the time, I didn't check the version #, but today I have version 16.12 (180314).

2. I would like to format it like any object - change the background color, shape, etc. Really my purpose is to insert picture annotations in different cells.

3. OS = macOS High Sierra version 10.13.3 ; Office = version 16.12 (180314)

Answer 4

The last version on which formatting for comments worked was Office 2011 build 14.7.7 (the final update to Office 2011).

Formatting of comments was discontinued in Office 2016. Obviously Ran does not use comments in Excel or he would know this. Ran would save himself and Microsoft embarrassment by not putting BS out as an answer.

The formatting comment issue has come up constantly since Office 2016 came out. Ran is not paying attention.

In the UserVoice forum, Microsoft stated that the existing comment feature is going to be replaced by an entirely new comment feature. How Microsoft will support Type 1 comments in the future is not known. It appears that existing comments will continue to display, and perhaps that will be all.

If you want the ability to format your comments, I suggest using ordinary text boxes or shapes and abandon Comment boxes.

If you want Microsoft to restore the ability to format Type 1 comment boxes, please send feedback to Microsoft using the Smile button in Excel. You're going to have to do a lot of convincing, because Microsoft has already said, "No."

There needs to be a way to change the default formatting for comment boxes

Thanks so much for your reply Jim! I actually did see that post in your link earlier, but I didn't think on it because it talked about changing default settings, and not about formatting the comment itself. I thought I was the only one who suddenly lost ability to format comments! I could've sworn that I was able to format my comment in early 2018, but maybe that was me remembering the distant past.

Anyway, thanks again for your answer..even though it wasn't the answer I wanted to hear. :(  Best wishes

Answer 5

Hi Yuchm,

I can reproduce the issue on my side.

In Excel 15.41, I can format the comment as an object. But in the latest version, I can only format the size and properties.

Screenshot in 15.41:

![](https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/ac926328-9725-4e47-95a7-30f060554bb3?platform=QnA"https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/fbdc4f96-0bc5-4288-baf8-2a4e1f67de52?platform=QnA" rel="ugc nofollow">![](https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/fbdc4f96-0bc5-4288-baf8-2a4e1f67de52?platform=QnA