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How to Remove Large White Borders from PowerPoint Printouts in OneNote
Question details
The user wants to remove the large white margins that automatically appear around PowerPoint printouts when inserted into the newer OneNote application.
- Product
- Microsoft OneNote
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Inserting PowerPoint slides as printouts into OneNote pages for digital note-taking and presentation reviews.
- Observed behavior
- The latest OneNote application forces large, non-removable white borders around inserted PowerPoint printouts, unlike older app versions, which consumes valuable screen space.
Verify which version of OneNote you are currently using, as the behavior of inserted file printouts differs significantly between the newer OneNote desktop app and the legacy OneNote for Windows 10.
Use the Legacy OneNote for Windows 10 Application
Since the newer OneNote app forces these borders by design, switching back to the older Windows 10 version is the most reliable workaround to display borderless printouts.
The large white borders are a known formatting behavior specific to the newer OneNote desktop application. The older OneNote for Windows 10 handles PowerPoint printouts differently and does not add these excessive margins.
Open your Windows Start menu and search for 'OneNote for Windows 10'. If it is already installed on your system, launch the application.
If it is not installed, open the Microsoft Store, search for 'OneNote for Windows 10', and download the app. Note that official support for this version is gradually being phased out.
Open your notebook in the older app, go to the 'Insert' tab on the top ribbon, and select 'File Printout' to add your PowerPoint presentation without the large borders.
Submit Feedback to the OneNote Development Team
If you must use the latest OneNote app, reporting the issue directly to Microsoft is the best way to encourage a future update that allows users to disable the borders.
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- 1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office for free from the official website and follow the simple installation wizard.
- 2. Open Your Presentation: Launch WPS Presentation and open your existing PowerPoint (.pptx) files directly without needing to import them as printouts.
- 3. Annotate Directly: Use the built-in drawing and commenting tools to review your slides natively, avoiding the layout glitches found in external note-taking apps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Microsoft change how PowerPoint printouts look in the new OneNote?
The newer OneNote application utilizes a different rendering engine for file printouts, which defaults to adding standardized margins around inserted document pages. This is currently a design choice by Microsoft without a built-in toggle to disable it.
Can I crop the white borders out of the printout images in OneNote?
OneNote does not have a native image cropping tool. You would have to copy each slide printout, paste it into an external image editor, crop the borders manually, and paste it back into OneNote, which is highly time-consuming for full presentations.
Will OneNote for Windows 10 continue to be supported?
Microsoft has announced that OneNote for Windows 10 is reaching the end of its support lifecycle and encourages users to migrate to the unified OneNote desktop app. However, it remains usable for now if you need to bypass the border issue.
Is there a way to adjust printout margins before sending to OneNote?
You can try adjusting the slide size or print margins in PowerPoint by going to File > Print > Printer Properties before using the 'Send to OneNote' printer, but the new OneNote app typically still adds its own default padding around the final output.
