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Can a reviewer edit my file from a comment link?

By the Docmend team · Updated 2026-10-11

Short answer

No. With the Docmend Chrome extension, a review link shows a read-only copy, so reviewers can’t change your document. They can highlight text, leave notes, and approve or sign. Your original Doc changes only when you add their notes. For a PDF, you download your original file with each note added as a standard PDF comment.

You can close the link to new notes or delete it at any time. See also how to let someone comment without a Google account, how to collect comments on a PDF with a link and commenting on a Word file without Word.

How a review link works

  1. Add Docmend to Chrome from the Chrome Web Store. It is free and needs no account.
  2. Open your Doc, click the Docmend icon, pick Use a Google Doc, and choose Get feedback. You can also upload a PDF or Word file and share a review link the same way.
  3. Click Create review link and send the link by email or chat.
  4. Your reviewer opens it in any browser, selects text, and leaves a note. They type their name once. There is no sign-in and nothing to install.
  5. Their notes appear in Docmend, and one click adds them to your Doc as comments on the same text. For a PDF, click Download PDF with notes.

Common questions

Can a reviewer edit my file from a comment link?

No. With the Docmend Chrome extension, a review link shows a read-only copy, so reviewers can’t change your document. They can highlight text, leave notes, and approve or sign. Your original Doc changes only when you add their notes. For a PDF, you download your original file with each note added as a standard PDF comment.

Does the reviewer need to install Docmend?

No. The review link opens as a normal web page on a computer or phone. Only the person who owns the document needs the extension.

Does it work for PDFs and Word files too?

Yes. You can upload a PDF or Word file in Docmend and share a review link the same way. For a PDF, you can download it afterwards with the reviewer’s notes as PDF comments.

Can I stop new notes on a review link?

Yes. You can close the link to new notes or delete it at any time.

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