- Deleting a single comment in Word
- Deleting all comments in a Word document at once
- Resolving versus deleting comments in Word
- Deleting comments in Word on iPhone and iPad
- A final check for hidden comments with Document Inspector
- When to keep Word comments instead of deleting them
- Sending a clean Word document to clients
- When Word comments refuse to go
- Frequently asked questions
To delete comments in Word, open the Review tab, select the arrow next to Delete and choose Delete All Comments in Document. To remove one, select it and click Delete. Resolving a comment only hides it from the margin; it stays in the Comments pane until you delete it.
Comments are brilliant while a document's being shaped and embarrassing once it isn't. Nobody wants a client opening the final version of a proposal and finding "is this number right?" in the margin, or a note from a colleague that was never meant for them.
The good news is that Word lets you delete comments one at a time, all at once, or with a final sweep that catches anything you've missed. There's also a big difference between deleting a comment and resolving it, which trips a lot of people up. I'll cover all of it.
Deleting a single comment in Word
If you only want to clear one or two, work through them individually.
- Open the Review tab.
- In the Comments group, select Next until the comment you want is highlighted, or simply click on it.
- Select Delete on the Review tab.
In the newer comment style, you can also do it from the comment itself. Select More thread actions, the three dots at the top of the comment, and choose the delete option. Microsoft's modern comments help says the same menu lets you resolve or get a link to the thread.
Deleting all comments in a Word document at once
This is the one most people are searching for, and it's tucked behind a small arrow.
- Go to the Review tab.
- Find the Delete button in the Comments group.
- Select the small arrow next to it, not the button itself.
- Choose Delete All Comments in Document.
Every comment and reply vanishes in one go. Before you do this on something important, save a copy with comments intact. Once you've sent the clean version, you may want the old notes back to check what was agreed.
Resolving versus deleting comments in Word
Resolving is not the same as deleting, and this is the bit that catches people out. According to Microsoft, a resolved comment no longer appears in the margin but stays in the Comments pane, and nobody can add replies unless it's reopened.
| Action | What happens to the comment | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Resolve | Hidden from the margin but kept in the Comments pane | Marking a point as dealt with while the document's still in progress |
| Delete | Removed from the document | Clearing feedback before the file goes out |
Microsoft explains that in Contextual view resolved comments are hidden, while List view shows all active and resolved ones. You switch between them from the drop-down arrow on Show Comments in the Review tab. So if you send a document thinking it's clean because the margin is empty, the resolved comments can still be sitting there for the reader to find.
Deleting comments in Word on iPhone and iPad
- Tap the comment you want to remove.
- Tap the three dots.
- Tap Delete thread.
To clear everything at once on a tablet or phone, open the Review tab and use the Delete control, which Microsoft says includes a Delete All option.
A final check for hidden comments with Document Inspector
For anything going to a client or being published, I'd run one more sweep. Microsoft's Document Inspector looks for hidden information, including comments, and can remove it.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
- Save a separate copy of the document first, using File and Save As.
- In the copy, go to File, then Info.
- Select Check for Issues, then Inspect Document.
- Make sure Comments, Revisions, Versions, and Annotations is ticked, then select Inspect.
- Select Remove All next to the results you want cleared.
Microsoft is blunt about why you should use a copy: it isn't always possible to restore what Document Inspector removes, and Undo may not bring it back. The same check also clears revision marks, so if your file still has edits waiting for a decision, deal with those first. My guide to tracking changes in Word explains how edits and comments work together.
When to keep Word comments instead of deleting them
Not every comment should go. If a client asked a question in the margin and you answered it, that thread is a record of what was agreed. I'd keep an archived copy with all the comments intact, named clearly with the date, and send a clean copy out. That way, if a question comes up later about why a section changed, you've got the answer in writing without digging through emails.
Sending a clean Word document to clients
Once the comments are gone, think about how you'll send it. A PDF fixes the layout and makes it much less likely anyone sees leftover editing clutter, and my walkthrough on converting Word to PDF covers the settings to use. If you want to double-check nothing changed in the text while you cleared the notes, comparing the two versions in Word shows every difference.
When Word comments refuse to go
- Delete is greyed out. You haven't selected a comment. Click on one, or use Next, first.
- The margin is empty but people still see comments. They're probably resolved, not deleted. Switch to List view to find them.
- Only the replies went. You may have deleted a reply rather than the whole thread. Select the first comment in the thread and delete that instead.
- Comments come back. Someone with the shared file may still be adding them. Check you're editing the latest version.
- You can't find the Delete arrow. It's the small arrow beside the Delete button on the Review tab. Clicking the main button only deletes the selected comment.
Frequently asked questions
How do I delete all comments in Word at once?
Go to the Review tab, select the small arrow next to Delete in the Comments group, and choose Delete All Comments in Document.
Is resolving a comment the same as deleting it?
No. Microsoft says resolved comments disappear from the margin but stay in the Comments pane. Delete them if you don't want anyone to see them.
How do I delete a comment in Word on my phone?
Tap the comment, tap the three dots, then tap Delete thread. The Review tab also has a Delete All option.
Can I get deleted comments back in Word?
Undo may work straight away, but Microsoft warns that Document Inspector removals can't always be restored. Keep a copy with comments before clearing them.
Why can others still see comments in my Word file?
They may be resolved rather than deleted. Switch to List view under Show Comments on the Review tab to see every comment, including resolved ones.
