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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments No comments
Answer accepted by question author
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.

Was this answer helpful?

80+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments No comments
Answer accepted by question author
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

Was this answer helpful?

60+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments No comments

133 additional answers

Sort by: Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2019-03-26T04:29:49+00:00

    Hello--

    We are listening and we value your feedback – thank you. The design team is working on further revisions and we will be sharing more on this soon.

    Denise, OneNote Team

    Denise,

    It's good you say that, but it appears you (and your team) have no empathy for the people you claim to serve. Please stop with the non-answers and learn to communicate something meaningful - something that causes people to stand by your team and product. You are alienating us at the very least, but that is quickly turning to anger – enough anger to inspire us to fight against your efforts to serve anyone else.

    DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT? ARE YOU A HUMAN?

    Seems not. No evidence of it, anyway.

    Denise,

    You don't listen to nor do you value our feedback. How many replies to this issue does it take for the OneNote Team to listen? There is overwhelming support to have an option for us to return to the old layout. It worked great. Not even an option to allow this? You say you are listening? How is that? We have no evidence at all that you are listening.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2019-04-26T17:38:50+00:00

    Yes, there has been an overwhelming request to put the tabs back at the top. At least let the end user choose which format they like instead of forcing a change on users. You would think Microsoft learned that lesson when they tried to take the start button off of windows 8, which failed miserably then 8.1 put it back..

    I have used onenote for years and because of the new format I am looking for a new product that will function like the old onenote. it's unfortunate to say the least.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2019-05-13T10:41:02+00:00

    Hi Microsoft

    I liked using OneNote. I do not like the new layout. I appreciate that some people might like the newer layout, I'm not one of them. I want to go back to having my tabs on top (just under the ribbon). I also prefer having my pages on the right and my notebooks on the left. The new layout wastes screen space and is not any easier to navigate. Can you please add a feature that lets people swap back to the layout that made OneNote really work for me and millions of other users?

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments