diff -u b/core/modules/file/file.field.inc b/core/modules/file/file.field.inc
--- b/core/modules/file/file.field.inc
+++ b/core/modules/file/file.field.inc
@@ -113,10 +113,9 @@
       $row[] = $display;
     }
     $row[] = $weight;
-    // We need to use show() here rather than render() - there are multiple
-    // files so this will be processed again.
-    // @todo Fix what marks $operations_elements #printed too early.
-    // See https://www.drupal.org/node/2538710
+
+    // Show the buttons that had previously been marked as hidden in this
+    // preprocess function. We use show() to undo the earlier hide().
     foreach (Element::children($operations_elements) as $key) {
       show($operations_elements[$key]);
     }