In OneNote the Search bar has moved, How do I put it back to where it was?

Anonymous
2025-05-22T20:51:54+00:00

Version 2504 Build 16.0.18730.20122 on Windows 11.

I have been using OneNote for years, all of a sudden when I opened it up today, the Search bar has moved from its correct place on top of the pages list on the side, to now being in the upper right corner of the actual notes main page.

When I type in a search, the list of pages where the search term shows up now covers up half of the notes field, meaning you can't read half of the page to see if the search result is actually what you are looking for or not, making the entire search function pretty much useless.

How can I move the search box, and more importantly, the list of pages that contain the search result, so that it no longer covers up the actual notes page that I need to read?

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneNote | Other | Windows

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  1. Deleted

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-06-27T21:15:54+00:00

    Hello,

    Welcome to the Microsoft Community Forum. Please accept our warmest regards and sincerest hope that all is well despite the situation you find yourself in.

    To move the Search bar back to its original position in OneNote, you can try the following steps:

    1. Open OneNote on your Windows 11 device.
    2. Click on the "View" tab in the top menu bar.
    3. Look for the "Search" group.
    4. Click on the "Search" dropdown menu.
    5. Select "Dock to left" or "Dock to right" to move the Search bar back to its original position on the side of the pages list.

    If the above steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to check for any updates for OneNote or Windows 11 that could potentially address this problem.

    Hope this helps.

    Best Regards,

    Fordy B.

    Microsoft Community Moderator

    When I go to the View Tab, there is no "Search" Group.

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  4. Anonymous
    2025-06-10T16:24:41+00:00

    Thanks for suggesting this but it doesn't work for me. I need the other tools.

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  5. Anonymous
    2025-06-08T10:54:41+00:00

    Long time user of OneNote. I just noticed the new placement of the Search box that was previously on top of the Add Page area on the right side. At first it was very uncomfortable to use and I really do not like it there - covering up the middle instead of staying over on the right. Most ask for a option to put it back but this may be a programming difficulty.

    I have found a work-around of sorts:

    Click on the 2-headed diagonal arrow to the right end of the new search box location - Full page view.

    I have 3 icons in the upper right corner:

    Click to view other notebooks [ notebook picture with a down arrow ]

    Show pen toolbars [ pen icon ]

    Normal view [ 2-headed diagonal arrow ]

    I click on the 1st one, view other notebooks.

    Now on the first top line there is a SEARCH magnifying glass icon - click on it to get the old search box back!

    May be a bit more clicking but some may find it useful.

    Dave

    Dave,

    Thanks for posting this work-around and for your persistence in overcoming Microsoft's "improvement"!

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