Office Settings & Configuration

How to Disable or Move the Text Pen in OneNote

John Wilson Oct 7, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to disable, remove, or move the Text Pen that is persistently pinned to the OneNote pen selector, as it reduces available screen space for customized pens and highlighters.

How to Disable or Move the Text Pen in OneNote

Product: Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS: Windows 11
Scenario: Customizing the drawing and note-taking pen selector toolbar for a personalized workflow.
Observed behavior: The new Text Pen is locked into the pen selector toolbar and lacks any option to be unpinned, moved, or removed by the user.

Before you start

Ensure your OneNote application is updated to the latest version, as Microsoft occasionally introduces new toolbar customization options in subsequent release channels.

Solution 1Recommended

Submit Feature Feedback to Microsoft

Since OneNote currently does not allow removing the Text Pen natively, the official route is to submit a feature request to Microsoft while using the Quick Access Toolbar as a workaround.

Microsoft OneNote currently restricts users from unpinning or repositioning the default Text Pen from the main pen selector. This is a hardcoded feature in recent updates.

Open OneNote Help

Launch the OneNote application on your Windows 11 device and navigate to the 'Help' tab located on the top ribbon menu.

Submit a Suggestion

Click on 'Feedback', select 'I have a suggestion', and detail your request to allow hiding or moving the Text Pen to free up space for custom highlighters.

Use the Quick Access Toolbar (Workaround)

Right-click your preferred pens or highlighters and select 'Add to Quick Access Toolbar'. This creates a separate, customizable row of drawing tools at the top of your window.

Future Updates: Many users have reported this limitation. Accumulating feedback is the most effective way to encourage Microsoft to reintroduce customization in future patches.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Experience Highly Customizable Toolbars with WPS Office

If restrictive toolbars and unchangeable interface elements in Microsoft Office hinder your productivity, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly customizable workspace for your documents, PDFs, and notes, allowing you to build an interface that suits your exact workflow.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download the free, lightweight office suite.
2. Install and Launch: Follow the simple installation prompt and launch the application on your Windows device.
3. Customize Your Workspace: Open any document, right-click the ribbon interface, and select custom toolbar options to organize your preferred writing and highlighting tools.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats including .docx, .xlsx, and .pptxHighly customizable interface that lets you pin exactly the tools you needLightweight architecture that runs smoothly on Windows 11 without taking up heavy system resourcesBuilt-in powerful PDF reader and editor with flexible annotation and highlighting tools

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I downgrade OneNote to a version without the Text Pen?

While technically possible to roll back Office updates via the command line, it is highly discouraged as it removes critical security patches and can break synchronization features.

Does this Text Pen issue affect the OneNote for Windows 10 app?

No, the persistent Text Pen issue primarily affects the newer unified OneNote desktop application. The legacy OneNote for Windows 10 app features a different interface, though Microsoft is phasing it out.

How do I add more custom pens if the toolbar is full?

You can click the 'Add Pen' button (the plus icon) at the far right of the pen selector to add more tools, though you may need to scroll horizontally to see them depending on your screen resolution.

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