Print comments by opening the PDF in your reader's print dialog and selecting the comments option

Most PDF readers have a built-in setting to include comments when you print. The exact steps depend on which program you use, but the principle is the same: open the print dialog, look for an option labeled "comments," "annotations," or "markup," and turn it on before sending to your printer. If you do not see this option, your reader either does not support printing comments, or the comments are hidden in the document itself.

The most common readers — Adobe Acrobat Reader, Preview (on Mac), and browser-based viewers — all handle this differently. Each has its own menu location and naming convention. Knowing which program you are using and where to find the setting saves time and prevents printing a document that looks blank or incomplete.

Key Takeaways

  • Adobe Acrobat Reader requires you to go to File > Print, then check "Print Comments" in the Comments section of the print dialog.
  • Mac Preview users should open the PDF, go to File > Print, and select "Show Details" to find the PDF options dropdown where comments can be included.
  • Comments must be visible in the document before printing — if they are hidden or marked as "not for printing," they will not appear on the page.
  • Some PDF readers do not support printing comments at all, so you may need to switch to a different program if your current one does not offer this feature.

How to print comments in Adobe Acrobat Reader

Open your PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click File in the top menu, then select Print. The print dialog will open.

Look for a section labeled Comments on the right side of the dialog box. You will see a checkbox next to "Print Comments." Check this box. If you want to print only the comments without the document itself, select "Comments Only" from the dropdown menu instead.

Choose your printer and any other print settings (pages, copies, color), then click Print. The comments will appear on the printed page in the same location they occupy in the digital file.

How to print comments on a Mac using Preview

Open the PDF in Preview (the default Mac PDF reader). Go to File in the menu bar, then click Print.

In the print dialog, click Show Details if the window appears collapsed. Look for a dropdown menu that says PDF (not "Printer Features" or another option). Click this dropdown and select Show Markup or Print Annotations, depending on your macOS version.

Select your printer and any other settings, then click Print. If you do not see a PDF dropdown menu, your version of Preview may not support printing comments — in that case, try opening the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader instead.

How to print comments from a web browser

If you are viewing a PDF in your browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge), the print behavior depends on which browser you use and which PDF viewer the website is using. Most browsers use a built-in PDF viewer that does not print comments by default.

The simplest approach is to read the PDF to your computer first, then open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader or Preview. Right-click on the PDF link and select Save Link As (or Save As), choose where to save it, then open it in your preferred reader. From there, follow the steps for Adobe or Mac Preview above.

If you need to print directly from the browser, try pressing Ctrl+P (Windows) or Cmd+P (Mac) to open the print dialog, but be aware that comments may not appear. Check the print preview before sending to the printer.

Why comments might not print even when you select the option

Comments are sometimes marked as "hidden" or "not for printing" by the person who created the PDF. If you have turned on the print comments setting but nothing appears, the comments themselves may be invisible. To check, look at the PDF on your screen — if you cannot see the comments there, they will not print.

Some comments are also set to print only in certain contexts. For example, a comment marked as "review only" might not print in all readers. If this is the case, you may need to ask the document creator to change the comment properties, or you may need to use a different PDF editor (like Adobe Acrobat Pro, not the free Reader) to modify the comment settings yourself.

Another common issue: the comments exist, but they are outside the visible page area. Scroll through the entire document and check all pages before concluding that comments are missing.

Printing comments from PDF editors and annotation tools

If you created the comments yourself using a PDF editor like Adobe Acrobat Pro, Foxit Reader, or an annotation app, the print process is usually the same as in the reader version — look for a comments or annotations option in the print dialog. However, some specialized tools have their own print workflows.

For example, if you used an iPad or tablet app to annotate a PDF, you may need to export the file back to your computer before printing. Check the app's menu for an "export" or "save" option that merges the comments into the PDF file itself. Once exported, open the file in Adobe Reader or Preview and follow the standard print steps.

If you are using a document collaboration tool like Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive, read the PDF to your computer first — cloud-based viewers often do not support printing comments directly from the browser.

Printing only the comments without the full document

If you want a summary of just the comments (useful for review notes or feedback), Adobe Acrobat Reader lets you print comments alone. Open the print dialog, go to the Comments section, and select Comments Only from the dropdown menu. This will print a list of all comments with their page numbers and content, without printing the document pages themselves.

Most other readers do not have this feature. If you need a comments-only printout from Preview or a browser viewer, you will need to manually copy and paste the comments into a text document, or switch to Adobe Reader.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I print comments from a PDF that someone else created?

Yes, as long as the comments are visible on your screen. Open the PDF in your reader, check that you can see the comments, then follow the print steps for your program. If the comments are hidden or locked by the creator, you may not be able to print them without their permission or without using an editor like Adobe Acrobat Pro.

What if my PDF reader does not have a comments option in the print dialog?

Your reader may not support printing comments. Try downloading the PDF and opening it in Adobe Acrobat Reader (free version) or Preview (Mac). If neither of those works, the comments may be embedded in a way that your reader cannot access, or they may be marked as not for printing by the document creator.

Will the comments print in color?

Comments usually print in the same color they appear on screen, but this depends on your printer settings. If you want to may support colors print correctly, check your printer's color settings before printing. Some printers default to black and white, which will convert colored comments to grayscale.

Can I print comments from my phone or tablet?

Most mobile PDF readers support printing comments, but the process varies by app and device. Look for a print or share option in your app's menu, then select your printer. If your app does not have a print option, try emailing the PDF to yourself and printing from a computer instead.

How do I remove comments before printing if I do not want them to show?

In Adobe Acrobat Reader, right-click on a comment and select Delete. In Preview, click the comment and press Delete. Alternatively, do not check the "Print Comments" option in the print dialog — this will print the document without comments even if they exist in the file.