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Can someone comment on a Word document without Microsoft Word?

By the Docmend team · Updated 2026-10-10

Short answer

Yes. The reviewer does not need Microsoft Word, a Microsoft account, or the Docmend extension. Upload the Word (.docx) file in Docmend and send one review link. They open it in any browser, highlight text, and leave notes. The link is read-only. The Docmend Chrome extension is free on the Chrome Web Store.

Emailing the .docx asks the reviewer to open it in Word or another app. A Docmend review link is the path that does not need Word. See also why a Google Doc can look different in Word and how to collect comments without a Google account.

How to do it

  1. Add Docmend to Chrome from the Chrome Web Store. It is free and needs no account.
  2. After it opens, upload the Word (.docx) file in the Docmend side panel, or paste a link to the file.
  3. Create a review link and send it. The reviewer opens that link in any browser.
  4. They highlight text and leave notes. They do not install Microsoft Word or Docmend, and they do not create an account.
  5. You read the notes in Docmend. The review link is read-only, so the Word file is not edited from the link. Emailing the .docx instead does require an app that can open Word files.

Common questions

Can someone comment on a Word document without Microsoft Word?

Yes. The reviewer does not need Microsoft Word, a Microsoft account, or the Docmend extension. Upload the Word (.docx) file in Docmend and send one review link. They open it in any browser, highlight text, and leave notes. The link is read-only. The Docmend Chrome extension is free on the Chrome Web Store.

Do they need a Microsoft account?

No. They do not sign in to Microsoft or Google. They open the review link in a browser.

Can they edit the Word file from the link?

No. A Docmend review link is a read-only copy. Reviewers can highlight text and leave notes. They cannot change the file through the link.

Can I collect notes on a PDF this way too?

Yes. Upload a PDF and send a review link the same way. You can download that PDF afterwards with the notes saved as PDF comments.

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