Print a Google Doc With Comments Showing

This method is useful when you need a paper copy that shows reviewer feedback alongside the document. You’ll need access to the Google Doc and a desktop word processor that can display and print comments, such as Microsoft Word. The exact menu names can vary slightly by app version.

What You’ll Need

A computer with access to the Google Doc and permission to download it.
Microsoft Word, or another word processor that supports comments and printing markup.
A printer, or a way to save the print job as a PDF.

Step-by-Step

Open the document. In a desktop browser, open the Google Doc that contains the comments. Check that you are signed in to an account with permission to view and download the file.
Download a Word copy. In Google Docs, choose File > Download > Microsoft Word (.docx). Menu labels may differ slightly by version. Save the downloaded copy somewhere you can find it. This makes a separate copy; it does not change the original Google Doc.
Open the downloaded file in Word. Open the .docx file in Microsoft Word rather than printing it directly from the browser. If your computer asks which app to use, select Word or another editor that can show Word comments.
Check that comments came through. Look at the document for comment markers or the comments pane. In Word, comments may appear in a pane or in the margins. If you do not see them, use Word’s Review tab and check the display options for markup and comments. The exact controls vary by Word version.
Set the markup display. In Word, open File > Print, then inspect the print preview. If comments are missing, return to the document and make sure markup is displayed. In Word’s print settings, enable Print Markup if that option is available. Do not choose a view that hides comments or shows only the clean document.
Preview and print. Confirm that the page preview includes both the document text and the comments. Choose the printer, paper size, and orientation, then print. To make a shareable file instead, select the system’s PDF printer or save-as-PDF option and check the resulting PDF before sending it.

Google Docs can print the document itself, but comments may not appear in its regular print output. Exporting to Word and printing with markup is the practical workaround when the comments must be visible on paper. Keep in mind that a Word copy is a snapshot: later edits or comments in Google Docs will not automatically update it.

Common Mistakes

Printing straight from Google Docs: The standard print view or a PDF made directly from Docs may leave out comments. Use the Word export route and verify the preview.
Hiding markup in Word: A clean or “No Markup” view can make comments disappear from the preview. Check the Review display settings and print-markup option.
Assuming the download failed: Comments can be present in the file but not visible in the current view. Open the comments pane or change the markup display before deciding they were lost.
Printing without checking layout: Long comments may wrap, move to another page, or use extra margin space. Review every page in print preview, especially if the document has many comments.
Editing the wrong copy: Changes made in the downloaded .docx do not sync back to Google Docs. Treat it as a separate file and return to the original document for shared editing.

Tips

Make a copy of the Google Doc first if you want to preserve a particular review state. You can also note the date or version in the downloaded filename.
If the comments are difficult to read, try landscape orientation or a larger paper size, if available. Check that the document text remains legible and that no content is clipped.
For a digital handoff, save as PDF from Word after confirming comments appear in its preview. Open the PDF afterward to make sure the comments are actually included.
Use a test page or a small print range before printing a long document. This helps catch missing markup or awkward comment placement without producing the full set first.
Comments can include names or other details about reviewers. Before sharing a printed or PDF copy, check that it is appropriate to include that information.

Troubleshooting

Comments are missing from the Word file: Reopen the original Google Doc and confirm that the comments are still there and visible to your account. Download a fresh .docx copy, then open it in Word. If the comments still do not transfer, try opening the file in the desktop version of Word rather than a preview pane or a basic document viewer.

Comments appear on screen but not in print preview: Return to the document’s Review controls, show the markup or comments, and check the print settings for Print Markup. Then reopen print preview. The setting’s location and wording can vary by version.

The comments are cut off or hard to read: Try landscape orientation, a different paper size, or narrower margins if the printer permits it. Reduce unnecessary page scaling only after checking the preview; scaling too far down can make text unreadable.

The PDF has no comments: Create the PDF from Word after enabling and previewing markup. A PDF downloaded directly from Google Docs may not include comment balloons. Reopen the saved PDF and inspect it before sharing.

You cannot download the file: Check that you have the necessary access and that the document owner has not restricted downloading. If you do not have permission, ask the owner to provide an export or print-ready copy rather than trying to bypass the restriction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I print comments directly from Google Docs?

Google Docs’ standard print output does not reliably show comments as part of the printed document. Exporting to .docx and printing with markup enabled in Word is the dependable approach.

Will downloading as Word delete comments from my Google Doc?

No. Downloading creates a separate .docx copy and leaves the original document unchanged. The exported copy will not stay in sync with the original.

Can I save a PDF with the comments showing?

Yes. Open the downloaded Word file, enable comment markup, confirm it appears in print preview, and save or print to PDF. Check the saved PDF before sharing it.

What if I do not have Microsoft Word?

Try a word processor that supports .docx comments and printing markup. Before printing, confirm that it displays the comments and includes them in its print preview; support can vary between applications.

Can I print only some comments?

Word’s review and markup controls may let you choose which types of markup to display, depending on the version. Set the desired display, then inspect the preview to confirm which comments will print.

Sources: Google Docs Editors Help. Menus and buttons can differ slightly by version. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.