Onenote for Mac - Change layout back to old style - Tab bar missing!!!

Anonymous
2017-01-15T21:00:23+00:00

SURPRISE! The layout of my one note has changed from just having tabs across the top

to taking up 1/3 of my screen showing some navigation pane. 

THIS IS SUCH A WASTE OF SPACE! Everything is so small now on my screen I can't read my notes!!! I am so frustrated after looking and looking though every menu and preference on the entire software, I can't tell how to switch it back. I must have done it some how because on another account it looks like it the old style. Please SOMEONE HELP!!!!

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneNote | For home | Windows

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Anonymous
2017-07-02T21:40:16+00:00

YOU WILL THANK ME FOR SAVING YOUR LIFE :)

THE FOLLOWING WORKS 100% TO BRING BACK THE VERSION WITH TABS AT TOP.

READ INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY

Click the link below 

https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Release-notes-for-Office-2016-for-Mac-ed2da564-6d53-4542-9954-7e3209681a41?ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US

Please choose 15.33.0 version. Download this. 

Now don't install just yet. You need to remove the existing OneNote. 

Firstly make sure you sync all your data on onenote across

You have to uninstall the current Onenote completely, otherwise, even if you re-install the 15.33.0, the layout will not go back.

Follow the link below for uninstall instructions.

https://support.office.com/en-gb/article/Remove-OneNote-from-the-Mac-b17944fc-2702-467e-8fec-0b3736054216

Make sure trash is empty

Restart your MAC

Install the Onenote you have downloaded. 

Once installed, open the app and sign in as normal. 

Viola your perfect version of OneNote awaits you. 

Sync your data. 

Finally click help, then click check for updates, and make sure manually check option is highlighted.

NEVER UPDATE AGAIN.

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Anonymous
2017-01-17T16:42:19+00:00

First, we'd like to thank you for using OneNote!    As you’ve noticed, we have made some recent design updates and we’ve done this for a couple of reasons.               

We've refined the experience in OneNote based on feedback from existing customers who have asked for a more consistent navigation model for organizing their notebooks, sections, and pages across devices.  In addition, these changes represent our aim to create products with “Inclusive Design” in mind, enabling customers who rely on accessibility tools, such as a Screen Reader, to access their notes all from one place.

We encourage you to try the new navigation and let us know  what you like, what you don't like, and where we might improve. Your willingness to give us early feedback is much appreciated and can help shape the future of OneNote for millions of other customers.  Please reply to this thread with your thoughts as we do read these. 

Denise, OneNote Team

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-08-03T16:52:42+00:00

    I would start by saying that I love one note. I have been using it since it was first released as a stand alone application. The functionality, while lacking in some areas, was far better than any other note taking tool I have used. Whether it be for school or work it just worked. A large part of why it worked for me was the tab system it used. It just makes sense to have projects across the top and sub tabs along the side.

    This new design change is horrible. I could understand this on a mobile device as screen space is limited and having the navigation shrink is rather intuitive, but only on mobile. Using this at work however, I have 4K monitors so monitor real estate is not an issue and I need to be able to see the navigational sections at a glance. This has made onenote cumbersome to use. This type of change should come with a feature to use the old style. It is a dramatic change and forces people who have become acquainted with a certain workflow to suddenly have to change that. If this doesn't change I will likely use a different tool for my notes.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-07-26T14:30:58+00:00

    Thanks JavCee, you saved my life :)

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-07-23T15:47:45+00:00

    This is the absolute worst update to OneNote I have ever seen. I have been a OneNote user since 2010, and this is the first time I'm considering switching to something else. Bring back the tabs at the top. All this crap on the left is a waste of space and makes it more disorganized, not less. At least give people the option to have either this crappy design or the old one.

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