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
    2025-06-10T15:45:41+00:00

    Very disappointed with Microsoft. The suggested fix does not work for me.

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-06-09T14:45:03+00:00

    Unfortunately that is not a "work around" that would work for me. I absolutely need to be in the Normal View to have access to all the other icons across the ribbon at the top. I use the Date & Time stamp button multiple times a day, as well as the Highlight text and Text Color options frequently.

    By changing the view to the "full page" view it eliminates 99% of the other features that I need.

    That is actually even worse than having the search bar/box cover a large portion of the main window.

    The ONLY correct fix for this issue is for Microsoft to just put the search bar/box back where it used to be, and to NEVER move it again.

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  3. 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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  4. Anonymous
    2025-06-08T01:26:26+00:00

    @microsoft

    can you PLEASE stop making changes?

    you just keep making the product worse and worse and worse.

    Ditto, Ditto

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  5. Anonymous
    2025-06-07T20:09:07+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

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    5 people found this answer helpful.
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