Comments and Co-authoring
Learn how to add, edit, delete, and manage comments, collaborate in real time, and restore previous versions of a workbook.
Video
Watch the lesson video, then complete the reading and challenge.
Lesson Notes
Read through the key concepts before you try the challenge.
Sharing a Workbook
To collaborate with others, click the Share button in the top-right corner of Excel.
Upload the workbook to OneDrive if prompted. Then enter the recipient’s email address and choose whether they Can edit or Can view.
Adding Comments
Comments allow you to leave feedback without changing the contents of a cell. Select a cell, go to the Review tab, and click New Comment.
Cells with comments display a red indicator in the corner. Select the cell to view the comment.
Editing Comments
To edit a comment, select the cell and click Edit Comment on the Review tab.
Showing and Hiding Comments
To display every comment at once, click Show All Comments on the Review tab.
You can also show or hide a single comment by selecting the cell and clicking Show/Hide Comment.
Deleting Comments
To remove a comment, select the cell and click Delete in the Comments group on the Review tab.
Real-Time Co-authoring
When a workbook is shared through OneDrive, multiple users can edit at the same time. Each collaborator appears with a unique color indicator.
Restoring a Previous Version
If changes were made that you want to undo, click the clock icon next to the Share button to open Version History.
Knowledge Check
What allows multiple people to edit an Excel file at the same time?
Practice File
Download this file and follow along with the lesson.
Challenge
Apply what you've learned in this lesson.
Complete the following tasks:
- Add four comments to different cells.
- Edit one of the comments.
- Delete one comment.
- Use Show All Comments to display every comment.
- Open Version History and review a previous version.
