How to move onenote sections back to top of notebook?

Anonymous
2017-05-26T06:50:42+00:00

I have found that the default onenote view is to have sections run along the top of the notebook instead of on the right (vertical view). I prefer to have my sections run along the top in the default view, but somehow, my view changed where all my sections are in a left aligned vertical view. I cannot figure out how to revert back to where all the section tabs are back along the top of each notebook. Please show me how. I cannot find this info anywhere in Microsoft support. Please note, this screenshot was taken while Office Theme = Colorful and while the "Enable Experimental Features" box was checked.

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.

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Anonymous
2017-05-27T19:38:21+00:00

Hi Nick. I'm glad to hear you're an actual MicroSoft engineer. I hope it is an engineer specifically for the OneNote product. I want to call B.S. on your "user testing". Switching over without the option of giving your end users a choice of layout was plain stupid and short-sighted on the part of MicroSoft. I've been using OneNote for just over a year despite being an avid Apple products user. I did this on the advice of two colleagues who use Onenote regularly, and who actually work for Microsoft (as employees, not vendors). Both of them state that they use tabs across the top and they believe it is only the Apple version that was changed permanently. They stated they would revert to version 15.33 if the engineering team forced this changed upon the software! Also, why don't you take a moment to read the feedback that you've been receiving about this forced change? Not just within the VOTE page (which has risen to 370), but throughout all the tickets that have been submitted asking how to restore this, as well as posts and comments made within the Microsoft online community. The 370 votes posted are only a small percentage of dissent that's out there. Nick, take your head out of the sand. Really. You can add this as an option for those who prefer tabs on the left... But why force it? Stupid. Plain stupid. 

I have reverted back to version 15.33 using Apple's time machine. If anyone reading this wants to know how to fix this issue, the answer is revert back to version 15.33. If you don' have Time Machine, and you need an alternative means to do so, please post a message here and I will help you with this.

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Anonymous
2017-05-27T05:41:55+00:00

Hey Santiago! I'm an engineer on the OneNote team.

To bring consistency across the OneNote platforms we've moved the section selection to the left side of the screen. Through user testing we've determined that (while the migration can be confusing) users find the updated experience to be more intuitive given our hierarchy structure (Notebook => Section => Page).

You're welcome to leave feedback for this change on UserVoice :)

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-10-17T17:45:17+00:00

    No No No Keep the Tabs where they belong, across the top!

    Bob

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-10-17T03:59:03+00:00

    Hey Santiago! I'm an engineer on the OneNote team.

    To bring consistency across the OneNote platforms we've moved the section selection to the left side of the screen. Through user testing we've determined that (while the migration can be confusing) users find the updated experience to be more intuitive given our hierarchy structure (Notebook => Section => Page).

    You're welcome to leave feedback for this change on UserVoice :)

    Hey Nick and the rest of Microsoft.... just FYI, absolutely NO ONE liked or wanted the change, and as someone who spent $75 for OneNote as a stand along program before it was free for more than 15+ different employees and employee accounts, I was RIPPED OFF not having any heads up about the mandatory change.

    That there was no warning, or option to change it back tells you exactly WHO the change was for... definitely not the end user, even if they paid for the program.

    This is exactly the reason I switched to Apple in the years since: 99% of what Microsoft does is for THEIR compatibility, migration, data collecting, and development, NOT in the user's best interest.

    I have had more than 20 Dell XPS 8700 and 8900 towers that were less than a year old at the time as part of my business and now after that forced change on OneNote for all my employees without any contact, warning, or options was the last straw.... now in 2020 I have 3+ years later switched EVERYTHING in my office to Apple, with iMacs and Mac versions of most software, with just one Microsoft machine to run Flight simulator for subcontractor's son. 

    I now use GoodNotes 5 across my iPhone, iPad, Mac and laptop, with OneNote just an annoying memory and have never felt so free of such a ruthless, careless company. 

    It's not a coincidence that most Microsoft machines are used daily because cost-focused companies provide them to people who don't have a choice, or grandparents don't know any better, and that anyone in the world who really cares about their time, experience, or progress uses a Mac.

    This OneNote "surprise" was the final straw for me, and I just found this bookmark while I'm letting Flight Simulator and wanted to reply to someone who may actually see this at Microsoft, even if it IS a little late.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-10-12T05:19:11+00:00

    I am not a fan of Microsoft changes. the design ist getting worse more and more. At least I have also OneNote 2016 and I hope I will stay with thap app for a long time. Who t** f*** wants this new design? Definitly it is not me....b

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