How to add, insert and use Notes in Excel

In Microsoft Excel, you can add Notes to your cells. When the cell has a note, a red indicator will appear at the corner of your cell. If you hover the cursor over the cell, the note will appear. Notes function like Comments in Excel, but there are differences.

What is the difference between a Comment and a Note in Excel?

In Microsoft Excel, Notes are annotations about the data, while comments have a reply box. When people reply, you will see several comments connected, showing virtual conversations in the notebook.

How to add, insert and use Notes in Excel

Follow the steps below, how to use notes in Excel 365:

1. How to add notes to an Excel spreadsheet
2. How to edit notes
3. Navigating between notes on your spreadsheet
4. Show and Hide notes n Excel
5. How to convert notes to comments
6. How to delete notes.

1] How to add notes to an Excel spreadsheet

Click the cell where you want to place the note.

On the Review tab, click the Notes button in the Notes group.

From its drop-down list, click New Note.

A Note will appear in the Excel spreadsheet; edit it.

Click out of the note cell and hover the cursor over the cell, and you will see your notes.

 

2] How to edit notes

If you want to edit your notes to make a few corrections; follow the steps below to edit notes:

There are two methods you can use to edit your notes.

Method 1: Select the cell with the note you want to correct or change.

On the Review tab, click the Notes button.

In its drop-down list, select  Edit Note.

Method 2: Right-click the cell with the note you want to edit.

Then select Edit Note from the context menu.

Now, you can edit your note.

3] Navigating between notes on your spreadsheet

On the Review tab, click the Notes button.

In its drop-down list, select Previous Notes or Next Notes.

Read: How to use @mention to tag someone in Office 365 apps comments for feedback

4] Show and Hide notes in Excel

There are two methods to Show or Hide Notes in Excel.

Method 1:  Right-click the cell with the note and select the Show/ Hide Notes option from the context menu.

Select a cell containing a note.

Method 2: On the Review tab, click the Notes button.

In its drop-down list, select the  Show/ Hide Notes option. The note will show on the spreadsheet.

To show all the notes in the spreadsheet, select Show All Notes.

To hide the notes in the cell, click a cell containing a note.

Click the Notes button and select the Show/ Hide Notes option.

5] How to convert notes to comments

Select a cell containing a note.

On the Review tab, click the Notes button.

In its drop-down list, select Convert to Comments.

A message box will appear; click Convert All Notes.

The notes will convert to comments

6] How to delete notes

Method 1: Select a cell containing a note.

On the Review tab, click the Delete button in the Comment group.

Method 2: Right-click the cell with the note and select the Delete Note option from the context menu.

The note is deleted.

Read: How to insert a picture into a comment in Excel

Why can’t I see my Notes in Excel?

If you do not see notes in your cell, this means that in the Excel settings, the option ‘No comments, notes or indicators’  is enabled. Follow the steps below to see the notes in Excel :

1. Click the File tab.
2. An Excel Options dialog box.
3. Click the Advanced tab on the left.
4. Under the Display section, under ‘For cells with comment show,’ you can choose either of the two options ‘ Indicators only, and comments and notes on hover’ or ‘Indicators and notes and comments on hover.’
5. Then click OK.

We hope this tutorial helps you understand how to use notes in Excel 365; if you have questions about the tutorial, let us know in the comments.