How to See Comments in PowerPoint: View and Manage Feedback Easily

I spent last week reviewing a client presentation with 47 comments hidden across slides. PowerPoint buries feedback by default, but there’s a one-click way to expose every note.

The Review tab holds the key—just hit “Show Comments” and watch the sidebar populate. This works in 2016, 2019, and 365 without any version gymnastics. No special tools, no add-ons.

You’ll see who left each comment, when, and exactly where it applies. Reply, resolve, or delete right from the pane. The workflow is faster than email ping-pong for sure.

Between you and me, this saved me two hours of back-and-forth last project. Here’s how to set it up.

What Youll Need

Instructions

Here’s the procedure I follow to locate and manage feedback without missing a single note.

Launch PowerPoint and open the presentation containing comments. Click the Review tab in the ribbon at the top of the window. This is where all comment-related functions are grouped together for easy access.

If you don’t see the Review tab, ensure you’re not in Reading View or Slide Show mode—these hide the ribbon. Switch back to Normal View or Slide Sorter View to restore full functionality.

In the Review tab, locate the Comments group. Click Show Comments to open the Comments Pane on the right side of the window. This pane displays all comments in the presentation, organized by slide.

If the pane appears empty, ensure comments exist in the file. Some users confuse Notes (speaker notes) with Comments (feedback). The Comments Pane only shows the latter, which are tied to specific text or objects on the slide.

Use the Previous and Next buttons in the Comments group to cycle through each comment. The active comment will be highlighted on the slide, and its text will appear in the Comments Pane.

For a quick overview, click the Comment icon in the Comments Pane to jump directly to its location on the slide. This is especially useful in long presentations with multiple reviewers.

Once you’ve addressed a comment, mark it as resolved by clicking the Resolve button in the Comments Pane. This grays out the comment but keeps it visible for reference. To hide resolved comments, click the Show Revisions dropdown and uncheck Show Resolved Comments.

To permanently remove a comment, click the three dots next to it in the Comments Pane and select Delete. Be cautious—this action cannot be undone, and the feedback will be lost from the file.

At the top of the Comments Pane, use the dropdown menus to filter comments by reviewer, status (e.g., resolved vs. unresolved), or date. This helps prioritize feedback from specific team members or focus on pending items.

If you’re collaborating in PowerPoint for the web, these filters are even more critical, as multiple users may add comments in real time. Refresh the pane occasionally to ensure you’re viewing the latest updates.

Tips and Common Mistakes

Mastering PowerPoint comments becomes effortless once you know these workflow secrets.

Navigation Efficiency: In Step 3, use the Previous and Next buttons to cycle through comments rather than manually scrolling. This is especially valuable in presentations with 50+ slides, where hunting for feedback becomes tedious. I’ve saved hours using this method on collaborative projects.

View Mode Awareness: The most common frustration in Step 1 comes from being in Reading View or Slide Show mode, which hides the Review tab. Always switch to Normal View or Slide Sorter View first—this simple check resolves 80% of “missing Review tab” issues I encounter when helping colleagues.

Comments vs Notes Clarity: Many users confuse speaker Notes with feedback Comments in Step 2. Remember: Notes appear below slides in Normal View, while Comments are tied to specific text or objects and only appear in the Comments Pane. This distinction is crucial for accurately tracking feedback.

Real-Time Collaboration Tip: When working in PowerPoint for the web as mentioned in Step 5, refresh the Comments Pane every few minutes. I learned this after missing several time-sensitive comments during a live review session with remote team members.

Frequently Asked Questions

Now you know how to view and manage comments in PowerPoint with ease! 🎯 Whether you’re reviewing feedback or collaborating with others, these simple steps will help you stay organized. Try practicing with a sample presentation to get even more comfortable with the process.