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Fix OneNote 2021 Automatic Shapes Bug After Update
Question details
The user needs to stop hand-drawn lines from automatically converting into shapes in OneNote 2021 after a recent software update.
- Product
- Microsoft OneNote 2021
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Drawing lines or taking handwritten notes using the drawing tools in OneNote.
- Observed behavior
- Hand-drawn strokes are automatically converted into shapes even when the Automatic Shapes (Ink to Shape) option is actively disabled, specifically after updating to version 2311.
Verify your current Office build number by navigating to File > Account > About OneNote to confirm you are on version 2311 or later before attempting to downgrade your installation.
Revert to an Earlier Version of Microsoft Office
Since the automatic shape conversion is a known bug introduced in version 2311, downgrading your Office installation to version 2309 will restore proper drawing functionality.
Downgrading Office requires using the command line and the Office Deployment Tool. Make sure you disable automatic updates immediately after downgrading so the bug is not automatically reinstalled.
Open OneNote, click on File > Account, select Update Options, and click 'Disable Updates' to stop Office from automatically downloading version 2311 again.
Visit the Microsoft Download Center, search for the Office Deployment Tool, download the executable file, and extract its contents to a local folder on your computer (e.g., C:\ODT).
Open Command Prompt as an administrator, navigate to the ODT folder you created, and execute the specific command line provided in Microsoft's official downgrade instructions targeting the build number for version 2309.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does OneNote keep making shapes when I draw?
This behavior is typically caused by the 'Ink to Shape' feature being active. However, in Office version 2311, a software bug forces hand-drawn lines to convert into shapes even when this feature is intentionally turned off.
Will reverting Office to a previous version delete my notebooks?
No, reverting your Office installation only changes the application files. Your personal data and notebooks will remain perfectly intact locally or on your synced OneDrive account.
How do I turn off Automatic Shapes normally?
Under normal circumstances, you can easily disable this feature by navigating to the Draw tab on the OneNote ribbon and clicking the 'Ink to Shape' button to toggle it off.
