Bug Report / Feature Request: OneNote does not persist zoom level (resets to 100%)

Stefan Walter 0 Reputation points
2026-05-23T15:54:03.66+00:00

OneNote does not reliably remember the zoom level after closing and reopening the application.

Whenever OneNote is restarted, the zoom level often resets to 100%, even if a different zoom level (e.g. 130%–150%) was previously set. This requires users to manually adjust the zoom every time they start working.

This behaviour has been reported by multiple users and appears to be inconsistent across versions. In some cases, it worked correctly in the past and seems to have regressed.

Additional context:

  • The issue occurs even in current versions (e.g. Microsoft 365 OneNote, Version 2605)
  • There is no global setting to define a default zoom level
  • The zoom level is not reliably persisted per page or per session
  • This leads to unnecessary repetitive adjustments and reduced usability

This is a basic usability feature that users expect—especially since other Office applications handle view settings more consistently.

Suggested improvements:

  • Persist zoom level reliably across sessions
  • Optionally provide a global default zoom setting
  • Ensure consistent behaviour across notebooks and pages

Kind regards

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneNote | For business | Other
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  1. AI answer

    2026-05-23T15:54:14.0666667+00:00

    The available information does not document any way to persist a custom zoom level across OneNote sessions or to configure a global default zoom level. Current guidance only covers how to change zoom per page using keyboard shortcuts or the View tab; it does not mention persistence or related settings.

    For now, zoom must be adjusted manually each time using the documented shortcuts for the specific platform (for example, Alt+W,E / Alt+W,W / Alt+W,Q on Windows desktop, Command+Plus/Minus on macOS, or the View tab zoom controls). There is no supported configuration option in the provided documentation to make OneNote remember zoom across restarts or to define a global default zoom.

    To influence future behavior, feedback can be submitted through the standard Office feedback channels (for example, Help → Feedback in Office apps), which are referenced in the broader Office support materials.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  3. Ryan-N 15,645 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-05-23T16:24:03.03+00:00

    Hi @Stefan Walter,

    Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A forum.

    Thank you for sharing.

    I understand how frustrating it can be when OneNote constantly resets the zoom level to the default each time it is reopened.

    To ensure that your feedback and suggestions can reach the development team more effectively, you can share your input through Microsoft’s official feedback portal.

    This is where Microsoft receives and listens to customers’ experiences and opinions, allowing them to improve and introduce new features to enhance the overall user experience.

    If you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to share them in the comments on this post so I can continue to support you.

    I look forward to continuing the conversation.

    Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread. 

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