Microsoft launches Pen Focused View feature for OneNote

Reading time icon 2 min. read


Readers help support Windows Report. When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Tooltip Icon

Read the affiliate disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report effortlessly and without spending any money. Read more

Key notes

  • Microsoft constantly keeps striving to improve the OneNote app for everyone.
  • Now, the tech giant is adding another feature, in the form of Pen-Focused View.
  • Apparently, this new function is supposed to help OneNote users with productivity.
onenote

If you are a OneNote user you surely know that last week, Microsoft launched an important feature for improving its accessibility across the board.

We are of course talking about the update that allows making quick notes by pressing a button on a Surface Pen.

The company said that customers can use the Quick Note features to create reminders, sketch concepts, annotate screenshots, or jot down notes.

Now, after its successful launch, the software giant has started offering another noteworthy functionality, but this time, it has more to do with distraction-free note-taking.

Pen Focused View should help with your productivity

We know you don’t like to be kept in suspense, so just know that the new functionality recently launched for OneNote on Windows is Pen-Focused View.

As explained by the Redmond tech giant, it enables you to create with your pen without any distractions, allowing a more productive workspace.

If you aren’t sure what it means, it is actually just a full-page view of OneNote, where you will only see tools you need to take notes and sketch out your ideas, including customized pen options.

It goes without saying that you can display or hide the Pen toolbar in Pen Focused View from the top right corner.

This new distraction-free note-taking capability in OneNote will not be limited to Surface PCs, as some people thought.

Furthermore, it will also work on other Windows PCs with or without touch support. That being said, things are better if you have a Surface pen.

Keep in mind that OneNote will automatically switch to Pen-Focused View when your Surface pen is undocked.

If you don’t want anything to do with it, you can disable it by navigating to the advanced options and unchecking the Switch to focused inking when pen is undocked check box.

Also, Pen Focused View may not work as you would like when you are using your Surface pen in Select mode.

Why, you ask? Because there is a known issue that manifests itself while using your Surface pen in Select mode, the cursor may switch back to the Pen tool if you try to tap on ink.

Don’t worry, Microsoft is aware of it and will surely fix it quickly. Microsoft also said it would roll out this feature to Insiders running Version 2210 (Build 15724.10000) or later, so keep that in mind.

More about the topics: Windows 11 Software & Apps