Formatting Issues

How to Fix White Equation Highlight in OneNote Dark Mode

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users experience an issue where equations inserted on a new line receive a white highlight, making the white equation text difficult to read.

Product: Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS: Windows 10
Scenario: Typing and formatting mathematical equations on a new line while using the application in Dark Mode.
Observed behavior: New-line equations display a solid white background highlight that obscures the white text. Inline equations may inconsistently display a gray highlight instead, depending on selection size.

Before you start

Verify whether the highlight issue is occurring with all typed equations or just those inserted on a new line, and confirm that you are using the Windows 10 OneNote client in Dark Mode.

Solution 1Recommended

Switch to Light Mode or Adjust Page Background

The most reliable workaround for the white highlight bug is to change your theme to light mode or use a lighter page background.

Since the white highlight appears to be a rendering behavior specific to Dark Mode, altering your background contrast removes the readability issue entirely.

Toggle Off Dark Mode

Navigate to File > Options > General, and under the 'Office Theme' dropdown, select 'Light', 'Colorful', or 'White' to disable dark mode.

Switch Background in View Tab

Alternatively, go to the View tab on the ribbon and click 'Switch Background' to easily toggle between a dark and light canvas.

Change Page Color

In the View tab, click on 'Page Color' and select a pale color to make the white highlight less intrusive against the text.

Inline vs. New-Line Equations: If you write equations inline with standard text, OneNote usually applies a less obstructive gray highlight. Modifying your workflow to use inline equations can also bypass the bright white highlight.

Solution 2

Modify Equation Font Color

If you prefer to keep Dark Mode active, you can manually change the font color of your equations to ensure they are visible against the white background highlight.

Solution 3

Submit Bug Feedback to Microsoft

As this behavior is tied to selection size and Windows 10 OneNote client design, reporting it can help developers issue a permanent software patch.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the white highlight only appear on new-line equations in OneNote?

This appears to be a specific design behavior or rendering glitch within the Windows 10 OneNote client. When equations are placed on a new line, the software incorrectly renders a solid white block in dark mode, whereas inline equations typically get a less intrusive gray highlight based on the selection size.

Can I permanently disable the equation highlight in OneNote Dark Mode?

Currently, there is no built-in setting to completely disable the background highlight for equations in Dark Mode. You must rely on workarounds such as changing the font color to improve contrast, or switching your canvas background to a lighter color.

Does this equation highlight issue affect hand-drawn ink equations?

No. User reports confirm that this white highlight issue specifically affects typed new-line equations. Hand-drawn ink equations and standard ink inputs render properly in Dark Mode without the problematic background.

Document & File Issues