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How to Display OneNote Sections Across the Top on Mac
Question details
The user is looking for a way to customize the OneNote for Mac interface so that notebook folders or sections appear horizontally across the top of the screen instead of inside the left navigation pane.
- Product
- Microsoft OneNote
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- Customizing the workspace layout for better visibility and navigation.
- Observed behavior
- By default, sections and pages are displayed vertically in the left navigation sidebar, and the user wants to move them to a horizontal top bar.
Verify that your OneNote for Mac application is updated to the latest version so you are viewing the most current user interface options and settings available from Microsoft.
Understand OneNote for Mac Layout Limitations and Submit Feedback
Currently, OneNote for Mac does not offer a built-in feature to display sections horizontally across the top. The application forces a unified left-navigation layout.
Unlike the classic Windows versions of OneNote (such as OneNote 2016), which allowed sections to be displayed as horizontal tabs across the top of the workspace, OneNote for Mac utilizes a unified interface. In this layout, notebooks, sections, and pages are all aligned in the left navigation pane.
Microsoft intentionally designed this UI to standardize the app's look and feel across Mac, web, and mobile platforms. Because there is no hidden toggle or settings menu to change this behavior, you cannot currently display sections horizontally on macOS.
Open OneNote on your Mac. Look at the left sidebar to see your Notebooks, Sections, and Pages organized vertically. Click the 'View' tab in the top menu to review the limited interface adjustments available, such as hiding the navigation pane.
To request horizontal tabs, click on the 'Help' menu in the top macOS menu bar and select 'Submit Feedback'. You can also visit the official Microsoft OneNote Feedback Portal in your web browser to upvote existing requests for top-aligned sections on Mac.
Try WPS Office for a Clean, Customizable Workspace on Mac
While OneNote restricts your layout options on macOS, WPS Office offers a highly customizable, lightweight, and unified workspace for all your document needs. Whether you are managing text documents, spreadsheets, or presentations, WPS Office provides an intuitive tabbed interface across the top, making navigation a breeze and giving you the layout control you prefer.
- 1. Download the Mac Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the download button for the free macOS version.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Open the downloaded installer package and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
- 3. Enjoy Top-Tabbed Navigation: Launch WPS Office and open your files to experience the familiar, top-aligned horizontal tab interface for effortless multi-document management.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Microsoft remove horizontal tabs from OneNote for Mac?
Microsoft redesigned the OneNote interface to create a consistent user experience across Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and the web. This resulted in the adoption of a unified left-aligned navigation pane for notebooks, sections, and pages, phasing out the top-aligned tabs on newer client versions.
Can I use an older version of OneNote for Mac to get horizontal tabs?
No. OneNote for Mac has historically utilized the left navigation pane layout since its initial release. The horizontal section tabs were primarily a beloved feature of the legacy OneNote 2016 desktop application built exclusively for Windows.
Is there any third-party plugin to display OneNote sections at the top on a Mac?
Currently, there are no approved third-party plugins, terminal commands, or built-in macOS workarounds that can modify the core architecture of OneNote for Mac to force sections to display horizontally across the top.
How can I hide the left navigation pane to get more screen space?
You can hide the left sidebar by clicking the 'Navigation' button (which looks like a stack of books) located in the top-left corner of the OneNote window. This collapses the pane, giving you a wider, distraction-free area for taking notes.
