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. Anonymous
    2025-07-01T17:39:57+00:00

    I did this the moment I noticed the foolish box in the midst of my note page back in May... to date no response. Deep, deep sigh 😒

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-07-01T15:45:55+00:00

    THANK YOU I was in tears for a minute thinking my "Bible" for my job was just rendered useless with this stupid update. Yes, more clicks but at least I won't have to quit since I 100% depend on my Notebook/notes amassed over 10 years in order to work daily. Thank you again!!

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-07-01T11:38:01+00:00

    Thanks for this clarification... so then if this is the case with the 2 search boxes can the IT people, developers, powers that be at Microsoft get rid of the BING function at the top and replace it with the Search Notebooks function? That will be great for all concerned. Thank you for listening to your product users.

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  4. Anonymous
    2025-06-30T01:23:13+00:00

    That only removes the top box. That's not the box that is the problem.

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  5. Anonymous
    2025-06-29T20:52:43+00:00

    Not sure if this just propagated, as I'm using a new laptop. But this removed the Search Box for me!

    • File > Options > General >
    • Under "User Interface Options, check "Collapse the Microsoft Search box by default".

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