# Using Comments

This guide is for editors who moderate comments and owners deciding the moderation policy. Every step uses the labels you see on screen.

## Using Comments (editor how-to)

### How to approve or hide a comment

1. Go to the **Moderation inbox**.
2. Read each waiting comment.
3. Click **Approve** to make it appear, or hide it if it doesn't belong.

![Review incoming comments and decide which public replies should appear.](screenshots/comment-moderation-inbox.png)

### How to reply to a comment

1. Open the comment.
2. Use **Reply** to respond directly from the admin.
3. Save. Your reply appears under the comment.

### How to mark spam

1. In the inbox, open the unwanted comment.
2. Click **Mark spam**.
3. It is removed and helps filter similar comments.

### How to add a moderator note

1. Open a comment and add a **Moderator note**.
2. This is for your team only and isn't shown to visitors.

### How to audit all comments

1. Go to **Comments**.
2. Review every comment with its status and moderation activity in one table.
3. Filter by status to find approved, pending, rejected, or spam comments.

![Audit comment status and moderation activity.](screenshots/comments-admin-resource.png)

### How to review comment authors

1. Go to **Comment authors**.
2. Check each author's public display name and moderation state.
3. Block an author here if they keep posting unwanted comments.

![Review public display names and author moderation state.](screenshots/comment-authors-admin-resource.png)

## Rolling out Comments (for owners)

### Turn on first

- **Pre-moderation (approve before it appears).** Start by approving every comment so nothing unwanted is ever live, then relax later if you wish.

### Add when needed

| Need                            | Enable                                             |
| ------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- |
| Less manual work as trust grows | Post-moderation (comments appear, then you review) |
| Stay within your privacy policy | A comment retention period                         |

### Don't enable yet

- Don't let comments appear without review on a new site. Start with pre-moderation.

### Who does what

| Role               | First useful screen                        |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------------------ |
| Editor / moderator | **Moderation inbox**: approve, hide, reply |
| Site owner         | Settings: moderation mode and retention    |

## Troubleshooting for editors

| What you see                        | What it means                      | What to do                                          |
| ----------------------------------- | ---------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------- |
| A comment isn't showing on the site | It isn't approved yet              | Open the **Moderation inbox** and **Approve** it    |
| Spam keeps appearing                | Spam isn't being filtered          | **Mark spam** on the offenders to improve filtering |
| Comments aren't available on a page | Commenting is off for that content | Confirm comments are enabled for that content type  |
| Old comments need removing          | Retention period not set           | Set how long comments are kept                      |