Anonymize Comments in Word

For various reasons, you may wish to anonymize comments made in Microsoft Word. This help article outlines the methods to do so.

Detailed Information

  1. Open the Word document

  2. Go to File> Info > Inspect Document, then click on Check for Issues, then Inspect Document.

  3. Clear all the check boxes except Document Properties and Personal Information and click Inspect. To remove all authorship from comments, click Remove All. Click that and then Close. Your comments will be there, but the creator will be called "Author."

  4. Alternately, you may alter your commenting name at will by clicking File > More... > Options > General, and change the User Name.

  5. For older versions of Word, you may also need to click Tools or Review instead of File, then Protect Document, which will have a checkbox to remove personal information. You would ensure that is checked, save and close the document, and reopen, and the comment creator will be changed to "Author."

Environment

  • Mac or Windows
  • Microsoft Word application