What Are Narrow Tabs in the OneNote Desktop App? How to Use Them
Question details
The user wants to know the purpose of the narrow tabs appearing at the top of the OneNote desktop application and how to manage them.
- Product
- Microsoft OneNote
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Using the simplified ribbon or a newer docked window layout in OneNote.
- Observed behavior
- Narrow tabs unexpectedly appear at the top of the OneNote window.
Ensure you are using the desktop version of Microsoft OneNote, as layout features like docked windows and narrow tabs behave differently or may be unavailable in the web or mobile versions.
Understand and Manage OneNote's Docked Window Mode
The narrow tabs are a default feature of OneNote's docked window mode, which allows you to keep your notes visible on the side of your screen while working in other applications.
When you use the docked window layout, OneNote minimizes its interface to save screen space, resulting in the appearance of narrow tabs at the top. This is completely normal and designed to facilitate better multitasking.
Launch the Microsoft OneNote desktop app on your computer.
Look at the top ribbon menu and click on the 'View' tab.
Click on 'New Docked Window' in the Window group. The OneNote interface will snap to the side of your screen.
Move your mouse pointer to the top edge of the newly docked window to reveal and interact with the narrow tabs.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I disable the narrow tabs in OneNote?
The narrow tabs are tied directly to the docked window mode and the simplified ribbon layout. To remove them and restore standard tabs, you need to exit docked mode by clicking the 'Normal View' button or expanding the ribbon.
Why did my OneNote ribbon suddenly become simplified?
You may have accidentally clicked the 'Simplified Ribbon' toggle or collapsed the ribbon to save screen space. You can restore the classic ribbon by clicking the downward-pointing arrow in the bottom right corner of the ribbon area.
Are narrow tabs available in OneNote for Web?
No, the narrow tabs and the specific docked window mode are layout features exclusive to the OneNote desktop application.
