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How to Fix OneNote Android Showing Note Previews Instead of Titles

Aamir Naveed Akram Oct 12, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to display only note titles on the OneNote Android start page, but the app forces preview snippets and the setting to change it is missing.

How to Fix OneNote Android Showing Note Previews Instead of Titles

Product: Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS: Android
Scenario: Navigating the start page and notebooks within the mobile app.
Observed behavior: The start page displays the first few lines of each note instead of just the titles, and the previous setting to disable these previews is no longer available in the app.

Before you start

Ensure your OneNote app is updated to the latest version via the Google Play Store, and verify that all your current notes are fully synced to OneDrive before clearing any app data.

Solution 1Recommended

Check In-App Settings and Clear Cache

Use this solution to look for hidden preview settings and clear the app cache to resolve potential interface glitches.

Sometimes app updates move settings to new locations or cause temporary interface bugs. Checking the specific Home settings and clearing the cache can restore normal functionality if the feature is still supported in your version.

Inspect OneNote Settings

Open the OneNote app on your Android device. Tap your profile picture or the three-dot menu icon in the top corner, then select 'Settings'. Navigate through the 'Home' and 'Notebooks' sections to look for a 'Note Preview' or 'Display' toggle.

Clear the App Cache

Go to your Android device's main 'Settings' app. Tap on 'Apps' or 'App Management', scroll down to find 'OneNote', and select it. Tap on 'Storage' or 'Storage & cache', then press the 'Clear Cache' button.

Restart the App

Close OneNote entirely from your recent apps menu, then reopen it to see if the interface has reverted to showing only note titles.

Missing Settings: If you do not see the note preview option, your specific version of OneNote may have removed it. Microsoft frequently tests new default designs that cannot be bypassed via local configuration.

Solution 2

Provide Feedback on Microsoft's Default Design Changes

If the setting has been completely removed by a recent update, the best course of action is to submit user feedback.

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1. Download the App: Search for WPS Office in the Google Play Store and download it for free.
2. Open Your Documents: Launch the app to automatically scan and organize your existing documents, notes, and files into a neat, easily readable list.
3. Customize Your View: Tap the view settings icon to switch between grid or list views, allowing you to browse titles without intrusive previews.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the note preview setting disappear from my OneNote app?

Microsoft frequently rolls out server-side updates and UI redesigns. These updates can sometimes temporarily or permanently remove certain customization settings, such as the toggle that hides note previews on the start page.

Will clearing the app cache delete my OneNote notebooks?

No, clearing the app cache via Android settings only removes temporary files and will not delete your notes. However, clearing 'App Data' or 'Storage' might remove offline edits that haven't synced yet, so ensure your notes are synced to OneDrive first.

Can I roll back to an older version of OneNote on Android to get the setting back?

While it is technically possible to sideload older APK versions of the app where the setting might still exist, it is generally not recommended due to security risks, lack of support, and potential synchronization issues with Microsoft 365 servers.

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