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How to Automatically Collapse or Expand OneNote Sections

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 872 views

Question details

The user wants to find a way to automatically collapse or expand all subsections across an individual OneNote notebook or globally at once.

Product: Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Organizing and navigating through notebooks with multiple subsections, especially after transitioning from Teams wikis to OneNote.
Observed behavior: Users have to manually open and close sections because there is no built-in feature to expand or collapse all notebook sections simultaneously.

Before you start

Ensure your OneNote application is updated to the latest version, as Microsoft occasionally introduces new navigation features based on community feedback.

Solution 1Recommended

Acknowledge the Limitation and Submit Feedback

Currently, Microsoft OneNote does not provide a feature to automatically collapse or expand all notebook sections globally. Submitting feedback is the best way to request this functionality.

This navigation limitation is especially noticeable for users who rely heavily on the navigation panel since OneNote replaced wikis in Microsoft Teams. Until an official update is released, the best course of action is to submit a feature request directly to the Microsoft development team.

Open the Help Menu

Launch your OneNote application. On the top ribbon, click on the 'Help' tab to access the support and feedback options.

Access the Feedback Portal

Click on the 'Feedback' button. In the sidebar that appears, select 'I have a suggestion' to open the feedback submission form.

Submit Your Request

Detail your request to add a global 'Collapse/Expand All Sections' button for notebooks. Submit the form so the development team can track user demand for this feature.

Community Impact: Microsoft actively monitors the feedback portal. The more users request automatic expanding and collapsing of sections, the more likely it is to be prioritized in a future update.

Solution 2

Manually Collapse or Expand Section Groups

While an automatic global toggle is missing, you can manually manage your section groups to keep your workspace tidy.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the ability to collapse all OneNote sections important in Microsoft Teams?

Since OneNote recently replaced wikis in Teams, users rely heavily on the OneNote navigation panel. Without an automatic collapse feature, finding specific notes in large, multi-section notebooks becomes cumbersome, leading users to overlook important content.

Is there a third-party add-in that can collapse all OneNote sections?

Some legacy add-ins like Onetastic offered macro capabilities for older versions of OneNote desktop. However, official support for these macros in modern OneNote versions or the Windows 10 app remains limited or unavailable.

Does OneNote for Web support expanding all sections at once?

No, OneNote for Web shares the exact same navigation limitations as the desktop and mobile applications. It does not currently feature a 'collapse/expand all' button.

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