How to Move OneNote Tabs to the Side: Quick Interface Customization

I spent years clicking through OneNote’s menus before finding this hidden setting. The default top tabs work fine until you’re juggling dozens of notebooks at once.

Here’s the thing—Microsoft buried this option in the View tab, not the obvious File or Options menus. It takes three clicks total once you know where to look. No registry hacks, no third-party tools, just a simple toggle most users miss.

You’ll get vertical tabs that free up horizontal space, making your workspace feel instantly cleaner. The change sticks across restarts, and it works the same in desktop and web versions.

Confession: I didn’t discover this until my fifth year using OneNote daily. Saved me from constant scrolling through overflowing tab rows.

What Youll Need

Instructions

Here’s the procedure I use to reposition the navigation tabs for a cleaner workspace.

Launch the OneNote application on your desktop. I always start by opening any notebook to ensure the interface loads completely. If you’re using the Windows 10/11 app, make sure you’re not in the web version, as that doesn’t support this level of customization.

Look for the Settings and More button (three dots) in the top-right corner. Click it to open the dropdown menu. This is where most users miss the option because it’s not immediately obvious.

In the dropdown menu, select Settings. This opens a new pane with several configuration options. The interface might look slightly different depending on your OneNote version, but the flow remains consistent.

From the Settings pane, click on View. Here’s where you’ll find all display-related options. If you don’t see the View option, you might be in the wrong settings section—double-check that you’re not in the account or notification settings.

In the View settings, look for the Navigation Tabs section. There should be a toggle labeled Show tabs on the side or similar wording. The exact text varies slightly between versions, but it’s always under navigation options.

Flip the toggle to enable vertical tabs. The change takes effect immediately—you’ll see the notebook tabs move from the top to the left side of the window. No need to restart the application or even close the settings pane.

The sidebar width is adjustable. Hover your cursor over the right edge of the tab sidebar until it turns into a double-headed arrow. Click and drag to resize the width to your preference. I find 1.5 to 2 inches works well for visibility without wasting space.

Verify the tabs are fully visible and not cut off. If some notebook names are truncated, either widen the sidebar or rename the notebooks to shorter names. The change persists across sessions, so you won’t need to repeat this each time you open OneNote.

Create a new note or open an existing one to test the new layout. The vertical tabs should make it easier to scan through multiple notebooks, especially if you have many open simultaneously. The mouse travel distance between tabs and the note content is now shorter.

If the tabs disappear entirely, check that you didn’t accidentally enable full-screen mode (F11 toggles this). Also, ensure the navigation pane isn’t collapsed—look for a small arrow on the left edge of the window to expand it if needed.

Tips and Common Mistakes

Small adjustments make this workflow change feel effortless and natural.

The Version Factor: I’ve noticed the Windows 10/11 app handles this toggle differently than older versions. If you don’t see the Show tabs on the side option immediately in Step 3, look for Navigation Tabs under a submenu—some builds nest it deeper. This saved me from thinking the feature was missing entirely.

Width Adjustment Insight: In Step 4, when resizing the sidebar to that 1.5 to 2 inch sweet spot, don’t forget that notebook names with special characters or long titles may need extra room. I once spent 10 minutes troubleshooting why my tabs kept cutting off, only to realize my notebook was named “Project_2024_Q3NotesAnd_Ideas.”

Testing Your Setup: Step 5 is where most people stop too soon. After enabling vertical tabs, create at least three test notes and switch between them. This reveals if your sidebar width actually works for your typical workflow—what looks good empty might feel cramped when full.

Hidden gotcha: Between us, that F11 full-screen toggle in Step 5 catches everyone. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve panicked thinking my customization disappeared, only to realize I’d accidentally hit full-screen mode. Now I keep a sticky note on my monitor as a reminder.

Frequently Asked Questions

Moving your OneNote tabs to the side is a simple way to streamline your workspace and boost productivity. With just a few clicks, you can customize the interface to suit your workflow. Now that you know how, try experimenting with other OneNote settings to further tailor your experience! 🎯