Missing New Comment and New Note from Excel's context menu

Last Updated: August 30, 2019

ISSUE

If you have customized Excel's right-click context menu (possibly using an add-in), you may discover that the New Comment, and New Note options are missing after you update Office.

STATUS: WORKAROUND

To fix this, reset your customized context menus using VBA (Visual Basic for Applications). 

Follow these steps to implement the workaround:

1. Open the Visual Basic Editor (VBE) by pressing Alt+F11.

2. Insert a new module from Insert > Module.

3. Copy and paste the following code into the empty module pane on the right:

   Sub ShowButtonsAgain()
      Dim bar As CommandBar
      For Each bar In Application.CommandBars
            bar.Reset
      Next
   End Sub

4. Press F5 to run the code.

5. Exit back to Excel by pressing Alt+Q, and verify that the Comment and Note options have been restored.

If the issue recurs, then you can create a reusable procedure:

1. Follow steps 1-5 above.

2. Save the workbook in a convenient location where you can quickly access it if needed. Alternately, you can save it in Excel's Personal Macro Workbook if you always want to have the procedure available.

More Resources

Ask the experts

Connect with experts, discuss the latest Excel news, updates, and best practices, and read our blog.

Excel Tech Community

Get help in the community

Ask a question and find solutions from Support Agents, MVPs, Engineers, and other Excel users.

Excel Forum on Answers

Suggest a new feature

We love reading your suggestions and feedback! Share your thoughts. We're listening.

Provide feedback

See Also

Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in Excel for Windows