Office Settings & Configuration

How to Remove or Move the Rule Line in Microsoft OneNote

Muhammad Talha Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to move the red rule line from the left to the right side of the page for right-to-left handwriting, or remove it entirely.

How to Remove or Move the Rule Line in Microsoft OneNote

Product: Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Setting up a digital notebook page to accommodate right-to-left handwriting languages like Persian or Arabic.
Observed behavior: OneNote displays a red rule line on the left margin by default, and there is no native page-side setting to reposition this specific line to the right.

Before you start

Ensure you have the specific OneNote notebook and page open where you wish to adjust the background formatting.

Solution 1Recommended

Remove the Rule Lines Entirely

Since OneNote does not allow moving the red margin line to the right, the most effective solution for an unobstructed workspace is to remove the rule lines completely.

The red margin line is hardcoded into OneNote's standard rule line templates to mimic Western notebooks. Removing the template clears the page background.

Navigate to the View Tab

Open your OneNote application and click on the 'View' tab located in the top ribbon menu.

Access Page Setup

Within the View ribbon, locate the 'Page Setup' group and click on the 'Rule Lines' button.

Select None

From the drop-down menu, select 'None'. This will instantly remove the red rule line and any other background lines from your current page.

Page Formatting Applied: Your page will now have a blank, unlined background, giving you a clean slate for right-to-left handwriting without visual interference.

Solution 2

Enable Right-to-Left Language Preferences

While this does not move the visual red line, setting up Office for right-to-left languages ensures your handwriting and typing properly align from the right side of the page.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I flip the OneNote rule line to the right side?

No, OneNote does not natively support flipping or repositioning the red margin line to the right side of the page. It is part of a static background template designed to mimic Western notebooks.

How do I change the color of the rule lines in OneNote?

You can change the color by navigating to the View tab, clicking the Rule Lines drop-down menu, and selecting Rule Line Color at the bottom of the list.

Does OneNote fully support right-to-left (RTL) handwriting?

Yes, OneNote fully supports right-to-left inking and text input. By configuring your Windows and Office language settings for RTL languages like Persian or Arabic, your input will correctly start from the right side, despite the visual placement of the rule line template.