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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133 additional answers

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-04-04T22:14:34+00:00

    Thank you so much CWMARCELIS!

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-04-09T21:30:11+00:00

    Oh my goodness, thank you!!

    Unlike the original post, I LOVE the new layout.  But I received a new Mac from my company and was pulling my hair out trying to get the new layout.

    Thank you so much!!  Turning ON "Enable experimental features" worked great!!

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-05-01T15:02:08+00:00

    Greetings, I have been using both the web version and desktop (Windows and Mac) version of OneNote for several years now.  I have always hated the web layout with the sections on the left and used the desktop version whenever I had the choice.  

    Now I am very disappointed to see the forced UI change on the desktop reflect the web layout.  I find it very inefficient and counter-intuitive.  I really enjoyed the tab bar on top and the document list on the right.  It made organisation a lot clearer and navigation much faster.

    I have a big problem with changes like that being pushed to users without warnings and with no way to revert back.

    I can honestly say that I have reduced my usage of OneNote by as much as 90% now.  Before I used it daily, now I only open it to search through prior notes.  I question my future use of OneNote for organization as I find the new layout unpleasant to use and doesn't allow me to customize it the way I want to.

    There has been huge performance degradation on Mac OSX in early 2017 which also contributed to my usage reduction.  The latest version doesn't seem too impacted on the performance side.

    I really wish I could have to option to switch back the layout to the tabs bar on top as before.

    Thank you.

    Richard Turmel

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