The fastest way to add a comment
To add a comment in Google Docs, highlight the text you want to comment on, then click the comment button in the toolbar — it looks like a speech bubble with lines in it. A box will open on the right side of the screen where you can type your message. Press Enter or click "Comment" to post it. The highlighted text will turn blue, and your comment will appear in a sidebar that stays visible until you resolve it.
If you're using a keyboard shortcut, you can press Ctrl+Alt+M on Windows or Cmd+Option+M on Mac after selecting your text. This opens the comment box immediately without clicking the toolbar button.
Key Takeaways
- Highlight text first, then click the comment button in the toolbar or use Ctrl+Alt+M (Windows) or Cmd+Option+M (Mac) to open the comment box.
- Comments appear in a sidebar on the right and show who wrote them, when they were written, and what text they refer to.
- You can reply to someone else's comment by clicking inside their comment box and typing your response.
- Resolving a comment hides it from the sidebar but keeps it in the document's history, so you can see what was discussed.
Where comments appear and who can see them
Comments live in a sidebar on the right side of the document. Each comment shows your name or email, the date and time you wrote it, and the exact text you commented on. If someone else has already commented on the same text, your comment will stack below theirs in the same thread.
Everyone with access to the document can see all comments, unless the document owner has turned off commenting permissions. If you're viewing a document but don't have edit access, you won't be able to add comments — you'll only see the ones that are already there.
Replying to and editing comments
To reply to someone else's comment, click inside their comment box where it says "Reply" and type your message. Your reply will appear directly below theirs in the same thread. This is useful for back-and-forth conversations about a specific part of the document without cluttering the main text.
You can edit your own comments by clicking the three dots in the top right corner of your comment and selecting "Edit." You cannot edit someone else's comment, but you can reply to it. If you want to remove a comment you wrote, click those same three dots and select "Delete."
Resolving comments when you're done discussing
Once you've addressed a comment and don't need to see it anymore, click the checkmark icon in the top right corner of the comment. This marks it as resolved and moves it out of the main sidebar into a separate "Resolved" section. The comment doesn't disappear — it stays in the document's history so you can see what was discussed if you need to refer back to it.
To see resolved comments again, click "All comments" at the top of the sidebar and select "Resolved." You can also reopen a resolved comment by clicking the checkmark icon again, which will move it back to the active comments list.
Commenting on text you haven't selected
Sometimes you want to comment on something general about the document rather than a specific phrase. Click anywhere in the document where you want the comment to attach, then click the comment button. Instead of highlighting text first, you can just start typing your comment. This creates a comment that floats near that location in the document rather than highlighting specific words.
This type of comment is useful for feedback about formatting, structure, or overall tone — things that don't apply to one particular sentence.
Turning comments on and off
The document owner can control whether people can add comments. If commenting is turned off, the comment button will be grayed out in the toolbar and you won't be able to add new comments. You'll still see existing comments, but you can't create new ones or reply to old ones.
If you're the document owner and want to turn commenting back on, click the "Share" button in the top right, then click "Restricted" or "Anyone with the link." Look for the option that says "Commenter" or "Editor" and make sure commenting is not disabled in the sharing settings.
Viewing all comments at once
If a document has many comments scattered throughout, you can see a list of all of them by clicking the comment button in the toolbar and selecting "Show all comments." This opens a panel that lists every comment in order, along with the text it refers to. You can click any comment in this list to jump directly to that location in the document.
This view is especially useful when you're reviewing feedback from multiple people or trying to make sure you haven't missed any comments in a long document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I comment on a Google Doc if I only have view-only access?
No. View-only access means you can read the document but cannot add comments or make changes. You can see comments that others have already written, but the comment button will be grayed out. The document owner would need to give you "Commenter" or "Editor" access for you to add your own comments.
What happens to comments when I download or print a document?
Comments do not appear in a downloaded copy of the document. If you download as a Word file or PDF, you'll get only the main text. Comments stay in Google Docs only. If you want to preserve comments, leave the document in Google Docs or take screenshots of the sidebar.
Can I mention someone in a comment to get their attention?
Yes. Type the @ symbol followed by their name or email address in your comment, and Google Docs will suggest their name. Click to select them, and they'll receive a notification that you mentioned them. This works even if they haven't opened the document yet.
Do resolved comments disappear from the document?
Resolved comments don't disappear — they move to a separate section. You can view them anytime by clicking "All comments" at the top of the sidebar and selecting "Resolved." The document owner can also see the full history of all comments, resolved or not, by checking the version history.
What's the difference between a comment and a suggestion?
A comment is feedback or a question about the text. A suggestion is a proposed change — you highlight text and click the "Suggest edits" button to propose a specific edit. The document owner can accept or reject suggestions, while comments are just for discussion.