Erin Wright Writing

Writing-Related Software Tutorials

How to Change the Font Color of Modern Comments in Microsoft Word

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This tutorial shows how to change the font color of all existing Modern comments in Microsoft Word.

Unlike classic comments, Modern comments have limited customization options. In fact, when you are working in Modern comments, the Styles group in the Home tab is disabled. However, the workaround below allows us to change the font color without turning off Modern comments.

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These steps are for Word for Microsoft 365 on a PC. These steps don’t apply to Word for Mac.

Please see “How to Change the Font and Font Size of Comments in Microsoft Word” if you are using classic comments in Word 2021, Word 2019, Word 2016, Word 2013, or Word 2010.

For more information about working with Modern comments, please see “How to Use Comments in Microsoft Word (Modern Comments).

How to Change the Font Color of Modern Comments

Important Note: The following steps are for changing the color of all existing Modern comments.

You can still change the font color of your own individual comments by selecting the Home tab and then choosing a color in the Font Color menu just as you would regular text.

Individual font color choices will override the global color choice selected in the steps below.

  1. Click in the body of the text so the Modern comments are no longer active.
  2. Select the Home tab in the ribbon.
Home tab in Word 365
Figure 1. Home tab
  1. Select the Styles dialog box launcher. (Alternatively, press the keyboard shortcut Alt + Ctrl + Shift + S.)
Styles dialog box launcher in Word 365
Figure 2. Styles dialog box launcher
  1. Select the Manage Styles button in the Styles pane.
Manage Styles button in the Styles pane in Word 365
Figure 3. Manage Styles button
  1. Select Alphabetical in the Sort order menu in the Manage Styles dialog box.
Alphabetical option in the Manage Styles dialog box in Word 365
Figure 4. Alphabetical option
  1. Select Comment Text in the Select a style to edit menu.
Comment Text style in the Manage Styles dialog box in Word 365
Figure 5. Comment Text style
  1. Select the Modify button.
Modify button in the Manage Styles dialog box in Word 365
Figure 6. Modify button
  1. Select a color in the Font Color menu in the Modify Style dialog box.
Font Color menu in the Modify Style dialog box in Word 365
Figure 7. Font Color menu
  1. Select the OK button in the Modify Style dialog box.
OK button in the Modify Style dialog box in Word 365
Figure 8. OK button
  1. Select the OK button in the Manage Styles dialog box.
OK button in the Manage Styles dialog box in Word 365
Figure 9. OK button
  1. Select the closing X in the Styles pane.
Styles pane closing X in Word 365
Figure 10. Closing X
  1. Save, close, and then reopen the document.

The comments should now appear in the new color.

Modern comment with custom font color in Word 365
Figure 11. Modern comment with custom font color.

Updated September 12, 2023

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