can't create new tags in OneNote MacOS

Question

I have the same issue that has been reported previously on OneNote on MacOS where I can't create new tags. I can see the option but when I click on it, the create tag tab open and remains blank. I use MacOS 26.3 & OneNote 16.106.

I followed the steps suggested here https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5746829/cant-create-new-tags-in-onenote-macos?comment=answer-12596281&page=1#comment-2513547 and that didn't solve the problem.

Has anybody been able to reliably sort this issue?

Answer 1

Hi, Stéphanie Périquet - Pearce

Thanks for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A forum.

Sorry for this frustrating experience that you're facing. If you already tried the usual fixes and the “Create New Tag” panel is still blank in OneNote for Mac 16.106, this is very likely either a build specific bug or something your organization is enforcing on managed Macs, not a simple reinstall problem.

Here are some other suggestions you can try:

Check OneNote’s privacy setting for connected experiences, then restart OneNote

In OneNote, open Preferences and look under Privacy for anything that disables “optional connected experiences.” Some people have seen custom tag features behave strangely when those cloud features are turned off by policy. Custom tags rely on cloud syncing behavior, and a policy can silently block the UI.

Try OneNote in macOS Safe Mode, then test Create New Tag again

Booting macOS in Safe Mode helps rule out background security tools or add ons that interfere with OneNote UI panels. Why, if tags work in Safe Mode, the cause is usually a system level or company security agent, not OneNote itself.

Temporarily turn off OneNote auto updates so it does not keep re breaking

In OneNote, go to Help then Check for Updates, and switch to manual checking in Microsoft AutoUpdate. Why, it keeps your current setup stable while you test or roll back.

Hope this helps. Feel free to get back if you need further assistance.

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Answer 2

It seems that you are experiencing an issue with creating new tags in OneNote on macOS. According to the context, OneNote does not support the creation of custom tags; it only allows the use of built-in note tags. If you are trying to create a tag that is not included in the built-in list, that could be the reason why the create tag tab remains blank.

You might want to ensure that you are using the built-in tags correctly. If you continue to face issues, it may be beneficial to check for updates to your OneNote application or consider reinstalling it to see if that resolves the problem.

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References:

• Built-in note tags for OneNote
• Add or update note tags