Collaborating on documents is easier than ever with Google Docs. The ability to comment directly in the document streamlines feedback and revisions. However, with multiple collaborators adding suggestions, questions, and edits, comments can quickly pile up. Fortunately, Google Docs makes managing comments simple with tools to view, reply to, and resolve comments right in the document.
Why Use Comments in Google Docs
Before jumping into the specifics on viewing comments, let’s look at why comments are so useful for collaboration:
Targeted Feedback – Rather than flooding the document with edits that may conflict, comments allow collaborators to call out specific passages, offer feedback, ask questions, or suggest changes.
Context Retention – Unlike separate email or chat messages, in-document comments retain context by attaching directly to the relevant text.
Revision Tracking – Comments create a trail of feedback and revisions so you can see the evolution of the document.
Communication Stream – Collaborators can reply directly to comments, creating a threaded conversation tied to the specific section.
Unobtrusive – Comments don’t interfere with the flow of reading. The original text remains untouched until changes are accepted.
Now let’s look at the ways to view comments based on your needs…
View All Comments in the Sidebar
The sidebar on the right provides an overview of all comments in the document. Here you can quickly scan comments, see who contributed each, and jump to specific sections.
To open the sidebar, click the comment icon in the upper right corner (it will display the number of comments). This opens a panel listing all comments and replies.
You can filter by collaborator using the dropdown menu at the top of the panel. For example, filter to just your comments or comments from a certain person.
Clicking on a comment jumps the cursor to the tagged location in the document text. Use this to rapidly navigate comments.
The sidebar is ideal for getting a bird’s-eye view of all feedback. Next, we’ll go over more focused ways to view comments.
View Comments in the Document with Comment Mode
To dive into the specifics of comments and revisions, switch to Comment Mode. Here you can scroll through the document to view comments overlaid on the text they reference.
Activate Comment Mode by:
- Clicking the comment icon and selecting “Comment mode”
- Using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Alt+C (Windows) or ⌘+Option+C (Mac)
- Going to Tools > Comment mode
In Comment Mode, comments appear in the right margin, connected by a colored line to their tagged location.
Replies are indented, allowing you to follow comment threads.
You can also see changes made to the document, with additions marked in green and deletions crossed out in red.
Use Comment Mode when reviewing specific feedback or weighing proposed revisions. The contextual overlay makes it easy to evaluate comments and changes.
View Comments in Reading Mode
Reading Mode provides another helpful perspective for absorbing comments in context. As the name suggests, Reading Mode optimizes the layout for reading through a document.
Activate Reading Mode by:
- Clicking the Reading Mode icon that appears at the top when hovering over the document
- Using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Alt+R (Windows) or ⌘+Option+R (Mac)
- Going to View > Reading Mode
In Reading Mode, comments are overlaid but dimmed, avoiding distraction while still keeping them accessible.
Hover over a comment to make it fully visible. Click to open the comment’s thread. This allows reviewing comments without the clutter of editing mode.
Use Reading Mode to proofread a document and assess whether comments can be resolved or require follow up discussion.
Manage Comments with Keyboard Shortcuts
Google Docs offers keyboard shortcuts to help you navigate between comments:
| Shortcut (Windows) | Shortcut (Mac) | Action |
|-|-|-|
| Ctrl + Alt + M | ⌘ + Option + M | Move to next comment |
| Ctrl + Alt + Shift + M | ⌘ + Option + Shift + M | Move to previous comment |
| Ctrl + Enter | ⌘ + Enter | Open comment discussion thread |
| Ctrl + Alt + R | ⌘ + Option + R | Reply to comment |
| Ctrl + Alt + Resolve | ⌘ + Option + Resolve | Resolve comment |
These shortcuts keep your hands on the keyboard, allowing rapid cycling through open comments.
Pro tip: Use them in combination with Comment Mode for efficiency.
Check Comment Status and Details
When you have a trail of back and forth conversations on a passage, you may wonder if the comment has been addressed or requires further action.
Comment status and details provide clarity.
In both Editing and Comment Mode, resolved comments are crossed out and dimmed. Pending comments remain highlighted.
Click a comment’s timestamp to expand details such as:
- Status – Resolved or Action needed
- Number of replies – Helps gauge if discussion is ongoing
- Last reply – Shows most recent activity
Use status indicators and details to catch up on resolved comments versus those still in progress.
Find and Filter Comments
With multiple collaborators and revisions over time, comment volume can spike. Finding a specific comment among dozens can be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Fortunately, Google Docs has search and filter options:
Search comments – Use Ctrl/⌘ + F to open search within the document. Type keywords to surface relevant comments.
Filter by user – The sidebar menu allows filtering to comments from specific people.
Filter by status – Choose “Show resolved” or “Show unresolved” to filter based on status.
Filter by date – Sort chronologically to find recent comments.
Search and filters enable homing in on comments based on collaborator, content, status, or timing.
Resolve Outdated Comments
Ideally every comment gets addressed, but sometimes discussions go stale. Old resolutions may no longer apply. Outdated comments create clutter and confusion.
Here are two ways to clear the decks:
Resolve individual comments
Click the resolve icon on the comment or press Ctrl/⌘ + Alt/Option + Resolve. This crosses out the comment and removes highlighting.
Clear all resolved comments
Use the menu to clear all resolved comments in one step:
- Windows: Tools > Clear resolved comments
- Mac: Comment > Clear resolved comments
Pro tip: First resolve any comments you still want to revisit. Clearing is permanent.
Keeping only open, actionable comments makes ongoing collaboration more efficient.
Wrap Up
With Google Docs’ array of viewing options, managing comments is no longer a barrier to seamless collaboration.
Use the techniques in this guide to streamline providing, absorbing, and resolving feedback:
- Scan all comments in the sidebar
- Review contextually in Comment or Reading Mode
- Navigate efficiently with keyboard shortcuts
- Filter and search to pinpoint relevant comments
- Resolve outdated comments to reduce noise
Soon you’ll be leveraging comments to improve team documents instead of feeling overwhelmed.
So pull together your collaborators on that next project using Google Docs’ robust yet user-friendly commenting tools.
