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How to Restore the Floating Pen Tools Menu in OneNote Full-Screen Mode
Question details
The user wants to retrieve the floating tray of pens and highlighters that disappeared from OneNote's full-screen mode.
- Product
- Microsoft OneNote
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Using OneNote in full-screen mode for drawing or highlighting.
- Observed behavior
- The floating pen and highlighter menu icon has disappeared, often after an application update or opting out of the Insider build.
Ensure your Microsoft OneNote application and Windows operating system are updated to the latest standard release before troubleshooting Insider features.
Rejoin the Windows Insider Beta Channel
Re-enrolling in the Windows Insider program can restore beta features like the floating pen tool if they were removed from the standard release.
Microsoft frequently tests UI changes in the Windows Insider builds. If you recently updated OneNote or left the beta channel, experimental features like the floating pen tray may vanish. Joining the beta program again is the most reliable way to get these specific features back.
Click the Start menu and open your Windows Settings, then navigate to 'Windows Update'.
Click on 'Windows Insider Program' from the available options in the update menu.
Follow the on-screen prompts to link your Microsoft account and join the Beta Channel. Accept the terms and restart your computer when prompted.
After restarting, open OneNote, go to 'File' > 'Account', and force an update to retrieve the latest beta features.
Check OneNote Application Updates and Settings
Sometimes the feature is officially rolled out to standard releases or hidden due to display glitches. Updating your standard app may bring it back.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the floating pen menu disappear in OneNote?
Microsoft frequently tests new UI features in Windows Insider builds. If you updated your app, left the Insider program, or if Microsoft decided to pull the feature from a recent update, the menu will disappear from your interface.
Is the floating pen menu the same as the Quick Access Toolbar?
No, the floating pen tool is a specific tray of pens and highlighters designed for quick access during full-screen inking. The Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) is a customizable ribbon element located at the top of the standard application window.
Can I get the floating pen tool back without joining the Insider program?
If Microsoft removed it from the standard release, you generally cannot force it back. You must either wait for it to be officially released in a future standard update or rejoin the Beta channel where the feature is currently active.
