How to Fix Reviewing Pane Greyed Out Issue in PowerPoint?

When working on a PowerPoint presentation, collaboration and feedback are essential to create an engaging and effective slideshow. However, users may encounter an issue where the Reviewing Pane is greyed out, preventing them from accessing comments and proposed changes.

In this article, we will guide you through the steps to resolve this problem and restore full functionality to the Reviewing Pane in PowerPoint.

Understanding the Reviewing Pane in PowerPoint

The Reviewing Pane is a crucial feature in PowerPoint that allows users to view, manage, and address comments and proposed changes made by collaborators. When the Reviewing Pane is functioning correctly, it appears on the right side of the PowerPoint window, displaying a list of comments and suggestions for each slide.

Accessing the Reviewing Pane

To access the Reviewing Pane in PowerPoint, follow these steps:

1. Open your PowerPoint presentation.
2. Click on the “Review” tab in the top menu bar.
3. In the “Comments” group, click on the “Reviewing Pane” button.

The Reviewing Pane should appear on the right side of the PowerPoint window, displaying any existing comments or proposed changes.

Causes of Reviewing Pane Greyed Out Issue

Several factors can contribute to the Reviewing Pane becoming greyed out in PowerPoint:

1. Incompatible file format: If the presentation is saved in an older file format, such as .ppt or .pot, the Reviewing Pane may not be available. These legacy formats do not support the collaboration features introduced in newer versions of PowerPoint.
2. Disabled collaboration features: PowerPoint’s collaboration features might be turned off, preventing access to the Reviewing Pane. This can happen if the Trust Center settings have been modified to restrict certain functionalities.
3. Corrupted presentation file: A corrupted PowerPoint file can cause various issues, including the greying out of the Reviewing Pane. Corruption can occur due to improper file saving, system crashes, or other technical problems.
4. Outdated PowerPoint version: Using an older version of PowerPoint that doesn’t support the Reviewing Pane can result in this issue. Microsoft regularly updates PowerPoint with new features and bug fixes, so it’s essential to keep the application up to date.

Fixing Reviewing Pane Greyed Out Issue

To resolve the Reviewing Pane greyed out issue in PowerPoint, follow these step-by-step solutions:

Solution 1: Convert the Presentation to a Compatible Format

1. Open the PowerPoint presentation that has the greyed out Reviewing Pane.
2. Click on the “File” tab in the top-left corner of the PowerPoint window.
3. Select “Save As” from the left-hand menu.
4. Choose a location to save the file and give it a new name.
5. In the “Save as type” dropdown menu, select “PowerPoint Presentation (.pptx)”.
6. Click “Save” to convert the presentation to the compatible .pptx format.
7. Reopen the newly saved presentation and check if the Reviewing Pane is now accessible.

By converting the presentation to the .pptx format, you ensure that it supports the latest collaboration features, including the Reviewing Pane.

Solution 2: Enable Collaboration Features

1. Open the PowerPoint presentation.
2. Click on the “File” tab.
3. Select “Options” from the left-hand menu.
4. In the PowerPoint Options window, click on “Trust Center” in the left-hand menu.
5. Click on the “Trust Center Settings” button.
6. In the Trust Center window, click on “Macro Settings” in the left-hand menu.
7. Ensure that “Enable all macros” is selected, then click “OK”.
8. Close and reopen the presentation to see if the Reviewing Pane is now available.

Enabling macros in the Trust Center settings allows PowerPoint to run the necessary scripts for collaboration features, including the Reviewing Pane.

Solution 3: Repair the Corrupted Presentation File

1. Close the problematic PowerPoint presentation.
2. Open a new PowerPoint window.
3. Click on the “File” tab.
4. Select “Open” from the left-hand menu.
5. Browse to the location of the corrupted presentation file.
6. Click on the dropdown arrow next to the “Open” button and select “Open and Repair”.
7. PowerPoint will attempt to repair the corrupted file. If successful, the Reviewing Pane should be accessible.

PowerPoint’s built-in repair feature can fix minor corruptions in the presentation file, restoring access to the Reviewing Pane and other features.

Solution 4: Update PowerPoint to the Latest Version

1. Close all open PowerPoint presentations.
2. Open any web browser and navigate to the official Microsoft Office website.
3. Sign in to your Microsoft account or create one if you don’t have an account.
4. Download and install the latest version of PowerPoint.
5. Once the installation is complete, open the presentation and check if the Reviewing Pane is now available.

Updating PowerPoint to the latest version ensures that you have access to all the newest features, bug fixes, and performance improvements, which can resolve issues like the greyed out Reviewing Pane.

Preventing Reviewing Pane Greyed Out Issue

To minimize the chances of encountering the Reviewing Pane greyed out issue in the future, consider the following best practices:

1. Save presentations in the .pptx format: Always save your PowerPoint presentations in the latest .pptx format to ensure compatibility with the Reviewing Pane and other collaboration features. Avoid using older formats like .ppt or .pot, as they may not support these functionalities.
2. Keep PowerPoint updated: Regularly check for updates to your PowerPoint application and install them to access the latest features and bug fixes. Microsoft releases updates periodically to address known issues and improve performance.
3. Enable collaboration features: Ensure that PowerPoint’s collaboration features are enabled in the Trust Center settings to allow access to the Reviewing Pane. If these features are disabled, the Reviewing Pane may become greyed out.
4. Create backup copies: Regularly create backup copies of your presentations to minimize the risk of file corruption. Store these backups in a safe location, such as a cloud storage service or an external hard drive, to ensure that you can recover your work if needed.

Final Thoughts

The Reviewing Pane greyed out issue in PowerPoint can be frustrating, hindering collaboration and feedback processes. By understanding the causes and implementing the solutions outlined in this article, you can successfully resolve this problem and restore full functionality to the Reviewing Pane.

Remember to save presentations in the compatible .pptx format, enable collaboration features, keep PowerPoint updated, and create backup copies to prevent future occurrences of this issue. With the Reviewing Pane accessible, you can effectively collaborate with your team and create impressive, high-quality PowerPoint presentations.

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Trish Dixon

Trish Dixon is the founder of PPTBliss and a PowerPoint expert with over a decade of experience in presentation design. Passionate about visual storytelling, Trish shares her expertise through easy-to-follow tutorials on slide design, animations, transitions, and best practices, helping professionals create impactful presentations across industries.

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