Word Remove All Comments? How to Strip Them

This guide explains how to remove all comments from a Microsoft Word document, covering built-in tools for both Windows and Mac, plus methods for deleting comments without losing tracked changes. You can strip every comment in a few clicks using the Delete drop-down in the Review tab, or use the Comments pane for more control.

Why You Need to Remove Comments

Comments are a collaboration feature in Word that lets reviewers ask questions, suggest edits, or leave notes without changing the text. They are stored separately from the document body, attached to specific words or ranges. When you finalize a document—whether for submission, publication, or sharing with someone who shouldn’t see internal feedback—you need to remove them. Leaving comments visible can expose private notes, confuse readers, or make a document look unfinished. Word treats comments and tracked changes as separate systems, so you can delete one without affecting the other.

How to Delete All Comments in Word (Windows)

In current versions of Word for Windows (2016, 2019, 2021, Microsoft 365), the process is straightforward:

1. Open the document containing the comments.
2. Go to the Review tab in the ribbon.
3. In the Comments group, click the small arrow under Delete.
4. Choose Delete All Comments in Document.

This removes every comment instantly. There is no undo after you close the document, so consider saving a backup copy first. If you want to delete only comments from a specific reviewer, you can filter by reviewer in the Comments pane, but the “Delete All� option ignores filters and removes everything.

How to Delete All Comments in Word (Mac)

Word for Mac uses a slightly different interface:

1. Open the document.
2. Click the Review tab.
3. Find the Delete button in the Comments section.
4. Click the drop-down arrow next to it and select Delete All Comments in Document.

If you don’t see the drop-down, try right-clicking a comment and choosing “Delete All Comments� from the context menu. Older versions of Word for Mac may only have a “Delete� button that removes one comment at a time; in that case, you can use the Comments pane to select all and delete, or use a macro (see below).

Using the Comments Pane for Selective Removal

If you want to review comments before deleting, the Comments pane is useful:

• Go to Review > Comments > Show Comments (or click the Comments button in the right margin).
• The pane lists all comments in order. You can click each one to jump to its location.
• To delete a single comment, click the comment and press the Delete key, or use the Delete button in the pane.
• To delete multiple comments, hold Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) and click each comment, then press Delete.

This method gives you control but is slow for documents with dozens of comments. For a full cleanup, the “Delete All� option is faster.

Removing Comments Without Losing Tracked Changes

A common misconception is that deleting comments also removes tracked changes. It doesn’t. Comments and tracked changes are independent. If you have tracked insertions, deletions, or formatting changes, they remain intact when you delete comments. To remove tracked changes separately, use Review > Changes > Accept or Reject. If you want to keep the tracked changes but hide them temporarily, you can change the markup view to “No Markup� in the Review tab—this hides comments and changes without deleting them.

Alternative Method: Macro to Delete All Comments

For users comfortable with macros, a quick VBA script can remove all comments. This works in both Windows and Mac versions of Word:

1. Press Alt+F11 (Windows) or Option+F11 (Mac) to open the VBA editor.
2. Insert a new module (Insert > Module).
3. Paste the following code:

Sub DeleteAllComments()
    Dim doc As Document
    Set doc = ActiveDocument
    doc.DeleteAllComments
End Sub

4. Run the macro (F5).

This is essentially what the built-in “Delete All� does, but it can be useful if the ribbon option is missing or you want to assign a keyboard shortcut. Be aware that macros can’t be undone, so save a copy first.

What About Comments in Google Docs or PDF?

If your document originated in Google Docs and you opened it in Word, comments may appear as “resolved� or “unresolved.� Word’s “Delete All� will remove them, but if they were resolved in Google Docs, they might come in as a separate type. In that case, you may need to delete them manually or use the “Delete All Comments� after accepting all. For PDFs, comments are annotations; you can remove them with PDF editors, but Word’s comment deletion only applies to .docx files.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can’t I find the “Delete All Comments� option?

This option is available in Word 2013 and later. If you’re using an older version, you may need to delete comments one by one. Also, ensure you’re on the Review tab; the Delete button is in the Comments group. If the document is protected or shared, you might need to stop protection first.

Does deleting comments remove tracked changes?

No. They are separate features. Deleting comments only removes the comment balloons and notes. Tracked changes remain in the document until you accept or reject them.

Can I delete comments from only one reviewer?

Yes. In the Comments pane, click the “Reviewers� drop-down and uncheck all except the one you want. Then delete those comments individually. There’s no built-in “Delete All from Reviewer� button, but you can use a macro to filter by author.

Will deleting comments affect the text or formatting?

No. Comments are stored separately from the document content. Deleting them does not change any text, images, or formatting.

How do I delete comments in Word Online?

Word for the web has a simpler interface. Go to the Review tab, click the comment icon, and you’ll see a trash can icon to delete each comment. There is no “Delete All� button in the web version, so you must delete each one individually.

Can I print a document without comments?

Yes. When printing, go to File > Print, then under Settings, choose “Print Markup� to uncheck it. This prints the document without comment balloons or tracked changes, but doesn’t delete them.

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