Work with comments and mentions

Comments keep feedback attached to the work

Use comments when feedback belongs to a specific part of the work. A comment can sit on a canvas object, page, file, note, image, or review location. That makes it easier for the next person to understand what the feedback refers to.

Mentions bring a specific person into the thread. Instead of saying “someone should check this,” mention the person responsible. They can receive an Inbox notification and open the original work in context.

For canvas-specific controls, use Give feedback with comments and mentions. For notification behavior, use Use Inbox.

Use comments for feedback that should survive the live session. Use Team chat for live coordination. Use an audio/video call when talking is faster. Those tools work together, but comments are the best place for a decision, approval, question, or request that someone will need later.

Availability and permissions

Where to find comments

On a canvas, open the collaboration side panel or Comments tab to review open and resolved threads. You can also add comments from the selected object toolbar, context menu, or another visible comment action where supported.

From Inbox, open a mention or reply notification to return to the related comment. If the original work was deleted, moved, unshared, or is no longer available to you, the Inbox item may not open.

For mobile review, use the supported comment flow in the mobile app. Some authoring and management actions may be more complete in the web or desktop app.

Comment, mention, reply, resolve

Write comments that are easy to act on

A useful comment says what needs to happen, who should decide, and where the answer should land. Keep live discussion in Team chat when the location does not matter. Use comments when the location matters.

Examples:

Mentions and Inbox

When you mention someone, ALLO can create an Inbox notification. The recipient can open the notification and land back on the work when they still have permission.

Mentions are not a replacement for access. If you mention someone who cannot open the canvas or shared item, they may get a confusing notification or access request path. Share the work first, then mention them.

If a mention does not appear in the person’s Inbox, check whether the mention was saved, whether the person has access, whether notification settings suppress email or push, and whether they are looking in the right workspace. In-product Inbox and email/push settings are related but not identical. See Manage notifications.

Comments versus chat versus calls

Use comments for anchored feedback. Use Team chat for canvas-wide conversation that does not need a pin. Use an audio/video call when the group needs to decide live. Use AI chat only for AI assistance, not teammate decisions.

If feedback must be reviewed later, comments are usually better than chat. If the team needs quick back-and-forth while looking at the same canvas, chat or a call may be better. See Use canvas chat and Use audio/video calls.

Permission and visibility notes

Comment access lets someone discuss the work without editing content. Edit access lets them change the content and usually comment as well. View-only access may hide comment controls.

Guests can comment only when the shared item allows it. If a guest cannot comment, check the link or invite permission.

External collaborators may be able to comment on one item without appearing in People. That is expected. Manage their access from the item Share dialog.

Comment links still require access to the underlying work. A copied comment link is not a permission grant. If the recipient is outside the current audience for the work, share the item first and then send the comment link.

Common mistakes

Do not mention people before sharing the work with them. They may not be able to open the notification.

Do not create a new comment thread for every reply. Reply in the existing thread when the discussion belongs together.

Do not resolve a thread just to hide a difficult question. Resolve when the work is handled or the decision is recorded.

Do not use Team chat for feedback that must stay attached to a specific object. It will be harder to find later.

Recover when comments or mentions do not work

If Add comment is missing, check whether the item is read-only, archived, locked, or shared with view-only access. Use When work is read-only.

If a person does not appear in mention search, check whether they are in the workspace or have access to the shared item. For external people, share the item first.

If a comment link does not open, check whether the recipient still has access and whether the original object or canvas still exists.

If notifications are missing, open Inbox directly and review notification settings. Email or push can be disabled while Inbox still stores in-product updates.

If an important comment thread was attached to deleted work, ask the item owner whether the work can be restored from Trash or whether the decision should be copied into a new location. See How Trash works and When work looks missing.