Lost ruler in OneNote but option is still available

Anonymous123 0 Reputation points
2026-10-20T23:58:17.3233333+00:00

I use OneNote and am unable to use the ruler on OneNote. Whenever I turn it on, it does not show on the screen. It used to work, but I assume one day I moved it out of the way and now am unable to grab it and bring it back as I moved it off screen. I would like to know how to bring it back, as the option to turn it on/off is still available.

Thanks.

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneNote | For education | Windows
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  1. Jade Ng 16,535 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-10-21T00:40:13.4366667+00:00

    Dear Anonymous123,

    Thank you for reaching out. I tested the Ruler feature in my own OneNote environment, and it is currently working as expected. As you can see in the screenshot I provided, selecting Ruler from the Draw tab displays the ruler normally on the page.

    Untitled

    Since the feature is working normally in my test environment, I’d like to narrow down whether the behavior is specific to your OneNote application or display configuration.

    1. Which version of OneNote are you currently using?
    2. Are you using a touch-enabled device?
    3. Are you able to use the Ruler successfully in OneNote for the web?
    4. Does the same issue occur across all notebooks and pages, or only in a specific notebook or page?

    In the meantime, please try these troubleshooting steps below:

    1. Test on a new page

    • Create a new blank page in OneNote.
    • Select the Draw tab and turn on Ruler.
    • Check whether the ruler appears.

    2. Restart OneNote

    • Completely close OneNote.
    • Reopen the application and test the Ruler feature again.

    3. Update OneNote/Office

    • Open OneNote or another Microsoft 365 application.
    • Select File > Account.
    • Under Product Information, select Update Options > Update Now.
    • Allow any available updates to install, restart OneNote, and test the ruler again.

    4. Repair Microsoft 365 If the issue persists after updating:

    • Open Windows Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
    • Locate Microsoft 365 or Office.
    • Select the three dots (...) > Modify.
    • Run Quick Repair first.
    • Once completed, restart OneNote and test the ruler again.

    If Quick Repair does not resolve the issue, you can return to the same location and run Online Repair for a more comprehensive repair of the Office installation.

    For reference: Repair an Office application

    Please let me know the updates on your side whether it helps or not. Thank you for your valuable time and cooperation.  

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  2. AI answer

    2026-10-20T23:59:03.3466667+00:00

    Create a new blank page and enable Draw > Ruler there; this is the most direct way to recover a ruler whose saved position may be outside the visible canvas without repeating the toggle on the affected page.^1^

    Recovery sequence

    1. In OneNote, select Add Page to create a blank page.
    2. Select Draw > Ruler.
    3. If the ruler appears:
      • Drag it toward the center of the page.
      • With a mouse, place the pointer over it and use the mouse wheel to rotate it.
      • On a touchscreen, use one finger to move it and two fingers to rotate it.^2^
    4. Return to the original page and select Draw > Ruler again.
    5. If it remains invisible everywhere, close OneNote completely—not just the notebook window—reopen it, create another blank page, and test Draw > Ruler there.

    OneNote does not document a keyboard command or dedicated Reset ruler position option. The documented controls require interacting with the visible ruler using a mouse, touchpad, or touchscreen.^2^

    If it is still missing

    If OneNote has been moved between monitors, temporarily test for a display-rendering problem:

    1. Move OneNote onto the primary display.
    2. Go to Windows Settings > System > Display.
    3. Temporarily use the same scaling value on all displays, such as 100% or 125%.
    4. Close and reopen OneNote, then test the ruler on a blank page.

    OneNote display problems have been reported when moving the application onto an external display, although this is not a documented ruler-position reset.^3^

    If other parts of OneNote also flicker, disappear, or render incorrectly, repair Office:

    1. Open Control Panel > Programs and Features.
    2. Select Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Office.
    3. Select Change > Quick Repair.
    4. If that does not resolve the rendering problem, repeat and choose Online Repair.^4^

    Check which OneNote app is installed

    In the current Microsoft 365 desktop OneNote, the ruler is part of the Windows Draw experience.^5^

    If the title or Start menu specifically says OneNote for Windows 10, its ruler was documented only for touch-enabled devices; one finger moves it, two fingers rotate it, and three fingers rotate it in five-degree increments.^6^

    References

    1. why ruller function in Microsoft One Note did't show up?
    2. Rotate the Ruler in Word, PowerPoint, and OneNote | Microsoft Support
    3. OneNote breaks if I move it onto an external display
    4. OneNote display error - Microsoft Q&A
    5. Learn more about Drawing Tools | Microsoft Support
    6. Draw straight lines or measure with the ruler in OneNote for Windows 10 | Microsoft Support
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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