Office Settings & Configuration

Fix OneNote Floating Pen Toolbar Missing in Full Page View

Muhammad Talha Oct 20, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to find the floating pen toolbar, favorite pens, and highlighters in Full Page View on their Surface Pro 8, despite the feature functioning normally on their Surface Pro 4 with the same Microsoft 365 account.

Fix OneNote Floating Pen Toolbar Missing in Full Page View

Product: Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Attempting to use the floating pen toolbar and highlighters while taking notes in Full Page View.
Observed behavior: The Full Page View icon and floating pen toolbar are missing, and the Quick Access Toolbar and Draw menus display completely differently across the two devices.

Before you start

Ensure both of your devices are actively signed into the same Microsoft 365 account and connected to the internet before comparing application settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Identify and Align Your OneNote Application Versions

Microsoft offers two distinct note-taking applications. Aligning the exact version on both devices will restore missing toolbar features.

Microsoft currently provides two different versions of the app: 'OneNote' (the desktop application included with Microsoft 365) and 'OneNote for Windows 10'. Differences in the Quick Access Toolbar, Draw menus, and Full Page View icons typically occur when one device is running the desktop app and the other is running the Windows 10 version.

Open Account Settings

Launch the OneNote app on both devices. Click on the 'File' tab in the top-left corner of the window and select 'Account' from the sidebar menu.

Verify Product Details

Look under the 'Product Information' section on the Account page. Carefully compare the product name, version number, and build number on both the Surface Pro 4 and Surface Pro 8.

Standardize the Application

If you notice one device is running 'OneNote for Windows 10' while the other runs the standard 'OneNote' desktop app, download the preferred version from the Microsoft Store or your Microsoft 365 dashboard to ensure both devices are identical.

Identify and Align Your OneNote Application Versions

Version Syncing: Keeping both devices updated to the exact same Microsoft 365 build ensures all features, like the floating pen toolbar, sync perfectly.

Solution 2

Use Keyboard Shortcuts and Draw Menu Workarounds

If you cannot immediately change your OneNote version, you can bypass the missing floating toolbar using built-in keyboard shortcuts.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my OneNote menus completely different on two devices?

You are likely running 'OneNote' (desktop version) on one device and 'OneNote for Windows 10' on the other. They are separate applications with different user interfaces, rendering engines, and toolbar layouts.

Can I get the old Quick Access Toolbar back after an update?

If a recent Microsoft 365 update hid the traditional Quick Access Toolbar, you can often restore it by clicking the ribbon display options arrow in the top right corner and selecting 'Show Quick Access Toolbar'. However, Microsoft occasionally makes permanent UI changes in newer builds.

How do I add pens to my favorites in OneNote?

In the standard OneNote desktop application, navigate to the Draw tab, right-click your preferred pen or highlighter, and select 'Add to Quick Access Toolbar' to create a permanent shortcut for it.

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