Onenote expanding double sidebar update clutters Onenote

Use the Navigation button in the upper-left corner of OneNote for Mac to hide the notebook, section, and page panes when they are not needed; there is currently no documented setting to restore the previous compact layout.

Reduce the sidebar clutter

1. Select the Navigation button near the upper-left of the OneNote window.
2. This toggles the navigation panes off and returns the space to the note canvas.
3. Select it again whenever you need to switch notebooks, sections, or pages.

When visible, the two navigation panes contain sections on the left and pages on the right. You can also reduce their width:

1. Point to the right edge of a navigation pane.
2. When the double-headed arrow appears, drag the edge left.
3. Repeat for the other pane if necessary.

These are the currently documented Mac controls for hiding and resizing the navigation interface.^1^

Submit the layout request

This Q&A forum cannot change OneNote’s interface, but the request can be sent directly to the product team from OneNote for Mac:

1. Open Help on the macOS menu bar.
2. Select Feedback.
3. Include the before-and-after image and request:
   • An option to restore the compact navigation layout.
   • Independent controls for the notebook list, section list, and page list.
   • A setting that remembers collapsed and resized pane states.

Microsoft documents Help > Feedback as the in-app route for sending OneNote for Mac product feedback.^2^

A concise report could read:

The updated OneNote for Mac navigation adds a wide notebook sidebar beside the section and page panes, substantially reducing the note canvas. Please provide an option to restore the previous compact layout or independently hide the notebook pane while retaining sections and pages.

References

1. Navigate your notes with OneNote | Microsoft Support
2. Send emails and meetings from Outlook to OneNote for Mac | Microsoft Support