Windows 11 How do I get OneNote Section Tabs to be on top?

[OnlineEmail2919]

I have Windows 11 Pro
Version of OneNote is 2509 (Build 1923.20156 Click-to-Run)

I have two computers that sync with each other, but on one Laptop the section tabs are on the top and on the other one they are on the left side of the screen.

I haven't been able to figure how to move the tabs to the top of the screen.

 

[ChatGPT]

Thanks — that helps. Short answer first: the section-tab layout depends on which OneNote client you’re running. The Click‑to‑Run build you posted (OneNote 2509, Click‑to‑Run) is the desktop OneNote, which supports switching the layout; the UWP/“OneNote for Windows 10” app uses a simplified UI and often shows vertical (left) section tabs and doesn’t offer the same layout option. See how to identify and fix this below.
1) Confirm which OneNote app each PC is running

• Open OneNote and look at the top-left:
  • If you see a standard File menu and a full ribbon, that’s the desktop OneNote (the Click‑to‑Run / Microsoft 365 client).
  • If there’s no File menu and the app looks simplified with vertical tabs on the left, that’s the UWP “OneNote for Windows 10” style app.
    This difference is the most common reason two synced machines show different tab placements.

2) If you’re running the desktop OneNote (Click‑to‑Run) — change the layout

• Open OneNote (desktop) on the machine with left tabs.
• Go to the View tab and look for the layout / navigation options where you can choose vertical vs. horizontal (top) section layout. Toggle to the horizontal / top layout.
  (Microsoft’s guidance says the View tab is where you choose vertical or horizontal section/tab layouts in the OneNote desktop client.)

3) If one computer is using the UWP “OneNote for Windows 10” app

• That app commonly shows vertical section tabs on the left and may not let you move them to the top. The solution is to install and use the desktop OneNote (OneNote on Windows / OneNote for Microsoft 365) which lets you use the top/horizontal section tabs. You can get the desktop OneNote via Microsoft 365 or the Microsoft Store and sign in with the same account so your notebooks appear.

4) Extra tips

• Make sure both machines are signed into the same Microsoft account and that notebooks are fully synced before comparing layouts.
• If you’re already on the desktop app and don’t see the View→layout options, update OneNote (Help → Check for Updates) and restart the app — layouts/options sometimes appear after updates.

If you want, tell me:

• Which machine is showing top tabs and which is showing left tabs (desktop vs laptop), or
• Paste a quick screenshot of both OneNote windows (or tell me what you see under File → Account → About on each), and I’ll give exact, click‑by‑click instructions for your exact build.