How to Delete All Comments in Excel? (4 Easy Methods)

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Microsoft Excel allows users to add comments to cells, making it easier to annotate data and collaborate with others. However, there may be times when you need to remove all comments from a worksheet or an entire workbook. Excel provides several methods to delete comments efficiently, including built-in options and VBA macros for automation.

In this guide, we will explain different ways to delete all comments in Excel, suitable for various scenarios. We will also cover additional tips to ensure your data remains structured and clean.

Methods to Delete All Comments in Excel

1. Using the “Go To Special” Function

The “Go To Special” feature helps you select all commented cells and delete them quickly.

1. Open your Excel worksheet.
2. Press F5 to open the “Go To” dialog box.
3. Click Special….
4. Select Comments and click OK.
5. All commented cells will be selected.
6. Right-click on any of the selected cells and choose Delete Comment.

This method is useful when you need to delete comments from a specific worksheet rather than the entire workbook.

Tip: If you mistakenly select a range, press Esc to cancel the selection and try again.

2. Using the “Review” Tab

The Review tab allows users to manage comments easily. This method is suitable for users who prefer using Excel’s built-in features.

1. Select a cell that contains a comment.
2. Navigate to the Review tab on the Excel ribbon.
3. Click Delete in the Comments group.
4. Repeat this for all comments manually.

Tip: If you want to delete all comments at once, select all cells by pressing Ctrl + A, then follow the steps above. However, this method is not ideal for large datasets.

3. Using VBA Macro (Best for Deleting Comments from All Worksheets)

If you need to remove all comments from an entire workbook, VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) is the most efficient method. This method is best suited for users who frequently work with Excel automation.

Steps to Run VBA Code:

1. Press Alt + F11 to open the VBA Editor.
2. Click Insert > Module.
3. Copy and paste the following VBA code:

Sub DeleteAllComments()
    Dim ws As Worksheet
    For Each ws In ThisWorkbook.Worksheets
        ws.Cells.ClearComments
    Next ws
End Sub

4. Click Run or press F5.

This macro will remove all comments from every worksheet in your Excel file.

Best for: Removing comments from multiple worksheets quickly and efficiently.

Additional VBA Tip: If you want to remove comments only from the active sheet, modify the code to:

ActiveSheet.Cells.ClearComments

4. Using the “Home” Tab for a Single Worksheet

Another simple way to delete comments is by using the Clear function under the Home tab. This method is useful for users who prefer a quick, menu-driven approach.

1. Select all cells in the worksheet by pressing Ctrl + A twice or clicking the top-left corner where the row and column headers meet.
2. Go to the Home tab.
3. In the Editing group, click Clear.
4. Choose Clear Comments and Notes.

Note: This method only works for the active worksheet and does not remove comments from other sheets. Repeat the process for each sheet if needed.

Comparison of Different Methods to Delete All Comments in Excel

Best Practices for Managing Comments in Excel

To avoid the hassle of deleting comments in bulk frequently, consider these best practices:

• Use Comments Sparingly: Only add comments where necessary to keep the spreadsheet organized.
• Review Periodically: Regularly check and remove outdated comments to maintain clarity.
• Use Notes Instead: If you need persistent annotations, consider using Notes instead of Comments.
• Automate with VBA: If you frequently need to clear comments, save the VBA script as a macro-enabled workbook.

Final Thoughts

Deleting comments in Excel can be done using several methods, depending on your needs. If you need to remove a few comments, the Go To Special or Review Tab methods are simple and quick. However, if you want to delete all comments across multiple sheets, using a VBA macro is the most efficient approach.

Additionally, methods like Find & Select can help you identify comments before deletion. By following this guide, you can clean up your Excel worksheets and maintain a clutter-free spreadsheet with ease.

Vaishvi Desai

Vaishvi Desai is the founder of Excelsamurai and a passionate Excel enthusiast with years of experience in data analysis and spreadsheet management. With a mission to help others harness the power of Excel, Vaishvi shares her expertise through concise, easy-to-follow tutorials on shortcuts, formulas, Pivot Tables, and VBA.