How to Print Google Doc with Comments (Step-by-Step)

The most efficient way to print Google Doc with comments is to export the document as a Microsoft Word file (.docx) or use a browser-rendered format like a zipped webpage. Alternatively, configuring your system settings to save the file as a PDF preserves your text anchors alongside your peripheral feedback.

Here’s how to print Google Doc with comments onto physical paper or save them in a shared PDF file.

Why Won’t Google Docs Print Comments Directly?

Google Docs stores document content and comments separately. When you use the standard File → Print option, only the document itself is sent to the printer.

Because of this design, Google Docs does not include an option to print comments directly from the browser. If you need comments to appear, you’ll have to export the document first.

How to Print Google Doc with Comments Using Microsoft Word

How to print Google Doc with comments most reliably is by exporting your document to Microsoft Word, which handles comment layouts much better for printing than Google Docs.

Step 1: Download the File Format

1. Open your document inside your internet browser.
2. Navigate to the top left corner of your browser screen and select File.
3. Hover your mouse over the Download sub-menu and click Microsoft Word (.docx) from the available options.

Step 2: Configure Desktop Print Settings

1. Launch the newly downloaded file inside your desktop version of Microsoft Word.
2. In Word, click on the “Review” tab at the top of the screen.
3. Click the “Show Comments” option to see comments alongside the document.
4. Press Ctrl + P on Windows or Command + P on a Mac to open the settings interface.
5. Underneath the Settings tab, make sure the Print Markup option is enabled.
6. Review the visual layout preview window to confirm comments appear in the right margin, then click Print.

Software Platform	Sidebar Behavior	Required Action
Native Google Docs	Strips out all marginal annotations automatically.	Must export to alternative format first.
Microsoft Word Desktop	Reserves 2 inches of right-side margin for text tags.	Toggle “Print Markup” in your layout dropdown.
Adobe Acrobat Reader	Formats annotations as numbered endnotes.	Select “Summarise Comments” before sending to paper.

How to Save Google Doc as PDF with Comments

If you prefer to keep comments in a digital file instead of printing on physical sheets, exporting via a zipped webpage is an excellent free method. This technique allows you to convert a Google Doc to PDF with side notes intact without buying a Microsoft Office license.

Worth noting: Downloading a Google Doc directly as a PDF via the standard File → Download menu will automatically strip away all of your sidebar conversations.

Step 1: Export as a Zipped Web Page

1. Open the document in your web browser and click on File in the main menu bar.
2. Hover over Download and select Web Page (.html, zipped) from the file type options.
3. Locate the downloaded folder on your computer desktop and fully extract the compressed ZIP contents.

Step 2: Print to PDF with Background Graphics

1. Open the extracted HTML file using Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge to render the comments alongside your document text.
2. Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Command + P (Mac) once the document opens in your browser tab.
3. Select Save as PDF from your destination dropdown menu and expand the More settings tab.
4. Check the box next to Background graphics to make the Google Docs PDF comments visible, then hit Save to export your Google Doc with comments to PDF cleanly.

How to Export a Google Doc With Comments for Printing

Depending on how you intend to share the document, different export formats work better.

Export Format	Comments Preserved	Recommended For
DOCX	Yes	Printing through Microsoft Word
HTML	Yes	Browser printing and PDFs
PDF (Google Docs Download)	No	Final documents without comments

If comments are important, avoid downloading directly as PDF from Google Docs because comments won’t be included.

Google Docs Print Comments Not Showing

If you followed the steps above and your comment threads are still invisible, double-check these settings:

• You printed directly from Google Docs: The native browser tool cannot capture comments. You must use the Word or HTML export workarounds.
• Print Markup is disabled in Word: If Microsoft Word hides your review changes, open the print layout settings and check Print Markup.
• Background Graphics are turned off: When printing from an HTML browser file, failing to check Background graphics causes the comment background blocks to disappear.
• The comments are resolved: Google Docs hides resolved comments from active view. You must open the comment history and click Reopen on threads you want to print.

Fix: Why Is My Google Doc Printing Too Small?

Text shrinking usually happens due to page scaling conflicts or incorrect margins inside your browser’s print dialogue box.

1. Reset Page Scale: Open your browser’s print settings window and locate the Scale dropdown menu. Change this setting from “Fit to page” or “Custom” back to Default (100%).
2. Verify Paper Size Setup: If your digital document setup is configured for A4 paper but your physical printer tray holds standard Letter sheets (or vice versa), the system will scale down your layout. Match your digital page setup to your physical paper size before hitting print.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for how to print Google Doc with comments, Google Docs doesn’t currently support it directly, but exporting the document provides reliable workarounds. Exporting the document as a Microsoft Word file is the most reliable method for printed copies, while the HTML export workaround works well for creating PDFs with comment references.

Before printing, always preview the document to confirm that comments, formatting, and page scaling appear exactly as expected.