Office for Mac Issues

Can You Use Horizontal Section Tabs in OneNote for Mac?

Nimra MalikNimra Malik Oct 23, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to know how to enable horizontal section tabs in OneNote for Mac, as the option cannot be found in the ribbon or application settings.

How to Manage Section Tabs in OneNote for Mac
Product
OneNote for Mac
Device & OS
Mac
Scenario
Customizing the application interface to organize notes with a horizontal tab layout.
Observed behavior
Horizontal section tabs are missing from the interface, and there is no setting or ribbon command available to change the vertical layout to a horizontal one.
Before you start

Verify that your Microsoft 365 subscription and OneNote application are up to date on your Mac to ensure you have the latest interface options available.

Solution 1Recommended

Understand OneNote for Mac Layout Limitations

Clarification on the current interface design of OneNote for Mac and how to request the feature from Microsoft.

Unlike certain Windows versions of OneNote, OneNote for Mac currently does not support the horizontal tab layout for sections. The interface is restricted to vertical navigation panes on the left side of the application window.

There are no hidden settings, add-ins, or ribbon commands that can enable horizontal tabs in the Mac version. If this layout is critical to your workflow, you will need to submit a feature request to Microsoft.

1
Open the Help menu

Launch OneNote on your Mac and click on 'Help' in the top Apple menu bar.

2
Provide Feedback

Select 'Provide Feedback' or 'Suggest a Feature' from the dropdown menu to request the addition of horizontal section tabs directly from the development team.

Understand OneNote for Mac Layout Limitations
Feature Parity Differences: Demonstration videos showing horizontal tabs are typically recorded using OneNote for Windows 10 or older Windows desktop versions, which have different interface capabilities than the Mac version.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I see horizontal tabs in OneNote tutorial videos?

Many official feature videos and online tutorials feature OneNote for Windows or older desktop versions, which traditionally use horizontal section tabs at the top of the page. The Mac version was built with a different, exclusively vertical navigation layout.

Is there any add-in that enables horizontal tabs on Mac?

No. There are currently no officially supported third-party add-ins or terminal commands for OneNote for Mac that can alter the core navigation layout to display horizontal tabs.

Will Microsoft add horizontal tabs to OneNote for Mac in the future?

Microsoft continuously updates its Microsoft 365 applications based on user feedback. While there is no official timeline for adding horizontal tabs to the Mac version, users are highly encouraged to submit feature requests through the in-app feedback tool to prioritize this development.