OneNote new UI update gives you more canvas space and cleaner layout

Microsoft OneNote is one of the most popular note-taking apps out there—and for good reason. Most of you use it daily to write, sketch, plan, and organize ideas across devices. But have you ever felt like the canvas was a little too cramped, especially when working on a smaller screen? Well, Microsoft is sloving that problem by pushing new UI update for OneNote.

Microsoft rolls out new UI update for OneNote

A new UI update to the desktop version of Copilot-powered OneNote on Windows removes the awkward gap between the ribbon and your notes. By eliminating that extra space, the app now gives you more room for writing, drawing, and working with content—without changing anything about how you use it.

The ribbon still sits at the top, but Microsoft has changed the position of the search box. Previously, it sat below the ribbon, taking up a chunk of horizontal space that didn’t do much. Now, the search box floats over your canvas instead.

This minor UI update in OneNote frees up more vertical and horizontal space at once, making your notebook feel bigger without needing a bigger screen. Microsoft says the update gives you a larger view of your OneNote canvas and more room to see your page list, too.

It’s a small change but an important one especially if you’re using a device like the new 12-inch Surface Pro. Remember, the floating search box might sometimes cover part of your notes. If that happens, you can either scroll the page slightly or click the double arrow button to expand the canvas.

The update is available now

The OneNote UI update is rolling out with version 2503 (build 16.0.18730.20074 and newer) for Office users on Windows. Not to forget, this only applies to the desktop OneNote app, not the older Windows 10 version, which will be discontinued in October 2025 alongside the OS.