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

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.

0 comments

114 answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2025-06-04T12:58:09+00:00

    I am another frustrated user, wasting time trying to sort out a problem, which turns out to be a Microsoft "fix".

    I have also messaged MS.

    Thanks for the above commentators who have prevented me wasting more time on this.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2025-06-04T13:57:36+00:00

    @microsoft

    can you PLEASE stop making changes?

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

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2025-06-04T16:52:24+00:00

    @microsoft

    can you PLEASE stop making changes?

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

    Making changes is cool. Bug fixes are oldschool 😣

    The same zeitgeist symptoms as with Open Source.

    Bernd

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2025-06-06T15:24:15+00:00

    Every program I have ever used has the work area in the centre of the window and all menus, commands and toolbars, including the Search box along the top and/or down the sides. This keeps the work area uncluttered and in full view. These positions are normally customisable. There are excepions to this when pop up menus appear but these are often context related and are only temporary.

    Why would anyone consider it a good idea to plonk a permanent function box in the work area.

    Is the next step to do this in Word, Excel and PowerPoint as well?

    Was this answer helpful?

    3 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  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

    Was this answer helpful?

    5 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments