Microsoft OneDrive and SharePoint: Anchored comments in the PDF viewer

[What and why:]

Microsoft is adding anchored comments to the PDF viewer in OneDrive and SharePoint on the web. Users can attach a comment to a specific spot on a page, or to selected text, and collaborate through replies and @mentions — bringing PDF review to parity with commenting in Office documents. This feature will be on by default and requires no admin action.

[Rollout schedule:]

General Availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCC High, DoD): We will begin rolling out mid-October 2026 and expect to complete by mid-November 2026.

Note: This is a gradual rollout, so not all users will see the feature at the same time.

[Impact on your organization:]

Anchored comments appear in the Microsoft 365 file viewer when a PDF is opened in OneDrive or SharePoint on the web.

Users will be able to:

• Comment anywhere — click a spot on a page to add a comment anchored to that location.
• Comment on text — select text and attach a comment to it.
• Collaborate — reply, @mention, see visual anchor indicators, and navigate between a comment and its anchored content; full keyboard and screen-reader support.

Who is affected: 

• Users viewing PDFs in OneDrive and SharePoint on the web.

Default state: On by default for eligible users; no new anchored-comments-specific admin control is introduced.

Admin control: No new anchored-comments-specific control is introduced. Existing protections apply — sensitivity labels, Purview DLP, and Information Rights Management (IRM) on rights-managed libraries.

[Action required / Recommendations:]

No admin action is required before rollout. You may want to:

Inform your PDF users and helpdesk/support teams about the new commenting experience.

Update internal collaboration guidance (commenting on a spot, text, or annotation; replies and @mentions; downloading with or without comments).