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How to Lock Image Aspect Ratio in OneNote for Windows 10
Question details
Users want to automatically lock the aspect ratio of images when resizing them in OneNote for Windows 10 to prevent distortion.
- Product
- OneNote for Windows 10
- Device & OS
- Windows 10
- Scenario
- Resizing embedded images and screenshots within notes while maintaining their original proportions.
- Observed behavior
- OneNote for Windows 10 does not provide an automatic image aspect-ratio locking option, unlike the OneNote web app which offers manual locking features.
Ensure your OneNote for Windows 10 app is updated to the latest version, and keep your web browser ready to access the OneNote web app as an alternative solution.
Use the OneNote Web App Workaround
Since the Windows 10 app lacks a dedicated aspect-ratio toggle, use the OneNote web version to access advanced picture formatting options.
The OneNote web app retains a few legacy picture formatting settings that have not yet been ported to the Windows 10 desktop application.
Open your preferred web browser, navigate to onenote.com, and log in with your Microsoft 365 or Microsoft account.
Locate and open the notebook and specific page that contains the image you wish to resize.
Right-click the image to access the picture tools, where you can manually enable the option to lock the aspect ratio before resizing.
Resize Using Corner Handles
While there is no automatic lock setting, carefully resizing via the image corners is the standard way to maintain proportions natively.
Submit Feedback to Microsoft
Because this feature is missing in the Windows 10 app, submitting a feature request helps Microsoft prioritize its development.
Get Better Formatting Control with WPS Office
If missing features in Microsoft apps are disrupting your workflow, try WPS Office. It provides comprehensive document formatting tools, including advanced image aspect-ratio locks, in a lightweight and highly compatible suite.
- 1. Download the software: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installer for Windows.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the setup file and follow the quick on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
- 3. Edit with precision: Open WPS Writer or WPS Presentation, insert your images, and easily lock the aspect ratio through the intuitive Picture Tools menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my images get stretched or squished when resizing in OneNote for Windows 10?
This distortion occurs if you click and drag the side handles (top, bottom, left, or right) of an image. Since OneNote for Windows 10 does not have a hard aspect-ratio lock toggle, dragging the sides will freely stretch the image. Always use the corner handles to scale proportionally.
Does holding the Shift key lock the aspect ratio in OneNote?
In many software applications, holding the Shift key restricts aspect ratio distortion. However, in OneNote for Windows 10, simply dragging the corner handles automatically scales the image proportionally without needing to hold the Shift key.
Will OneNote for Windows 10 get the aspect-ratio lock feature in the future?
Microsoft is currently focusing its development efforts on unifying the OneNote platform into a single desktop application (the one included with Microsoft 365). It is unlikely that the older OneNote for Windows 10 app will receive this specific feature update, so users are encouraged to migrate to the main OneNote desktop app.
