By default, OneNote 2013 shows the list of pages on the right side of the window, which feels backward if you’re used to reading notebooks, sections, and pages from left to right. A single checkbox moves the page tabs to the left. This guide shows how, plus how to arrange navigation in newer versions of OneNote.
Quick Answer
In OneNote 2013, click File > Options > Display, check Page tabs appear on the left, and click OK.
Move Page Tabs to the Left in OneNote 2013 and 2016
- Open OneNote and click File.
- Click Options.
- Select Display.
- Check Page tabs appear on the left.
- Click OK. The page list moves to the left side immediately.
On the same screen, you can also check Navigation bar appears on the left (the notebook list) and Vertical scroll bar appears on the left.
OneNote for Microsoft 365
The current OneNote app (formerly OneNote 2016, now simply OneNote) has a redesigned layout. Use the View tab:
- Click View > Navigation Panes and choose which panes to show (notebooks, sections, pages).
- Older builds still offer File > Options > Display > Page tabs appear on the left.
The retired “OneNote for Windows 10” app always showed pages on the left.
Other Display Tweaks
- Collapse the page list: drag its edge narrower, or click the collapse arrow at the top of the pane to maximize writing space.
- Show subpages: drag a page slightly to the right in the page list to make it a subpage; click the arrow to collapse groups.
- Full Page View: press F11 or click the double-arrow button to hide the ribbon and panes temporarily.
- Rule lines: View > Rule Lines adds notebook-style lines to pages.
Troubleshooting
- Option missing: you may be using a newer OneNote version; check the View tab.
- Page list hidden: it may be collapsed. Look for a thin bar or arrow at the edge of the window and click it.
- Change didn’t stick: close and reopen OneNote after changing options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this change affect other devices?
No. Display settings apply only to the OneNote app on that computer.
Can I move section tabs to the left too?
Yes. Check Navigation bar appears on the left in Display options, and expand the navigation bar to show notebooks and sections vertically.
Summary
- Open File > Options > Display.
- Check Page tabs appear on the left.
- Click OK.
- In newer OneNote, use View > Navigation Panes.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.