How to Fix OneNote Background Images Scaling Incorrectly on Mobile
Question details
Background images in mobile note-taking apps resize unexpectedly, causing them to misalign with handwritten or typed annotations.
- Product
- Microsoft OneNote
- Device & OS
- iOS and Android
- Scenario
- Viewing or editing class assignments, grading feedback, reviewing pages with Surface rotation, or working with images inserted from a phone using Microsoft Lens.
- Observed behavior
- Background images automatically scale to fit the mobile page, but annotations remain locked at their original position and size, resulting in a misaligned document layout.
Open the affected notebook on a desktop application (Windows or Mac) to verify the original alignment and secure your notes before modifying background image settings on your mobile device.
Submit a Detailed Bug Report and Safeguard Notes
Since this is a known bug affecting the mobile application's rendering engine, your best course of action is to submit a detailed report to the development team while safeguarding your current notes.
The issue heavily impacts images set as backgrounds, particularly those captured via Microsoft Lens. Because the mobile app handles screen scaling differently than the desktop version, annotations lose their anchor points relative to the background image.
Access your notebook on a desktop computer where the scaling usually renders correctly, and duplicate the affected pages to a secure backup section.
Navigate to your mobile device's settings and note down your specific device model, OS version, and the exact version number of the installed app.
Visit the official Microsoft 365 feedback page or use the in-app 'Help & Feedback' option to submit a report, including your device details and how the image was originally inserted.
Keep checking your device's app store for monthly updates, as a permanent fix will need to be deployed through an official patch.
Use Alternative Annotation Methods
Prevent future scaling misalignment by avoiding the 'Set Picture as Background' feature on mobile devices until the bug is resolved.
Try WPS Office for Stable Document Formatting
If you are frustrated by formatting bugs and image scaling issues in your current note-taking apps, WPS Office provides a reliable, lightweight alternative for viewing, editing, and annotating documents without unpredictable layout shifts.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install the free WPS Office application on your mobile device or computer.
- 2. Import your documents: Open your assignments, images, or notes as standard documents or PDFs within the app.
- 3. Annotate with precision: Use the built-in PDF and document editing tools to add text or handwritten annotations without worrying about background scaling issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my annotations misalign with the background image on mobile?
This happens due to a rendering bug where the mobile app automatically resizes the background image to fit the narrower screen, but fails to adjust the relative coordinates of your typed or handwritten annotations.
Can I permanently fix the background image scaling issue myself?
Currently, there is no manual fix within the mobile app. The issue requires a software patch from the development team. In the meantime, you should view and manage heavily annotated background images on a desktop computer.
Does this scaling problem affect images captured with Microsoft Lens?
Yes, images inserted directly from a phone using Microsoft Lens are particularly susceptible to this resizing bug when they are subsequently set as a page background.
How do I ensure my feedback about this bug is seen?
Submit a detailed bug report through the Microsoft 365 feedback page containing your device model, app version, and precise steps to reproduce the issue. Detailed, reproducible reports are more likely to be prioritized by product engineers.
