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
    2025-06-26T18:43:54+00:00

    There is a "Search" option that can be selected from the ribbon. however it is normally in a tab that is not the VIEW tab. HOWEVER, the Search icon when clicked, does nothing but expand the search box, which is the same thing as just clicking in the search box, so it is pointless to add it to the ribbon in the customization. AND there is no other sub menu options to move the search box.

    So really the original comment from Fordy B. was not only just wrong, but it was wrong about the wrong thing that it was being wrong about. And two wrongs don't make a right, it makes you wrong twice.

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-06-26T21:17:20+00:00

    Well as absurd as the replacement or misplacement of the search box is, at least your reply was fun to read. Wrong twice, that's perfect.

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-06-27T18:09:48+00:00

    I have the same issue. If moving the search bar was done on purpose in the last update, PLEASE put it back where it was. If it was an error please figure out how to fix it, and hurry, because none of the suggestions below actually work to put it back where it was.

    I use OneNote ALL day long and this change is irritating. I keep clicking the ADD PAGE b/c that's closest to where the search was before!! Then I have to delete the new page I wasn't trying to set up in the first place. It's driving me in sane!

    Thank you for reading. I hope you can figure out the issue and do something quick to put it back where it belongs.

    SODatWork

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  4. Anonymous
    2025-06-27T18:13:38+00:00

    This is what my screen looks like.

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  5. 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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