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Restoring check boxes

Richard K 5 Reputation points
2026-03-10T22:13:56.7966667+00:00

The automatic conversion of many years of checklists and templates to radio buttons was one of the most awful things I've experienced in my 20 years + as a OneNote user.

Is there any way to revert? I don't even have the option of creating a custom tag like the old one. I have resorted to using a green box as my default, but why?

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneNote | For business | Windows
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  1. Vivian-HT 16,025 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-03-11T01:04:45.96+00:00

    Dear @Richard K,

    Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum.

    I understand your concern. By default, OneNote includes built-in tags such as To Do, Important, Question, Idea, and Critical. Each tag has a visual indicator, like a checkbox or icon, making tagged items stand out instantly when scanning a page. For reference: Apply a tag to a note in OneNote

    However, custom tags (including the classic checkbox tag) are only available in the OneNote desktop app for Windows (OneNote / OneNote 2016 / OneNote for Microsoft 365). They are not supported in OneNote for Windows 10, OneNote on the web, or the mobile apps.

    Go to OneNote desktop app for Windows > File > Click the drop-down tags (Insert Tag) > Customize Tags.

    For more information, please refer to https://macmyths.com/a-complete-guide-to-using-and-managing-tags-in-microsoft-onenote/

    Disclaimer: Microsoft is providing this information as a convenience to you. The sites are not controlled by Microsoft. Microsoft cannot make any representations regarding the quality, safety, or suitability of any software or information found there. Please make sure that you completely understand the risk before retrieving any suggestions from the above link

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    Moreover, you can also share this feedback directly with the OneNote product team. Microsoft actively reviews customer feedback when prioritizing design changes and feature improvements.

    To ensure your feedback reaches the right teams, I highly recommend submitting your feedback directly to Microsoft Ideas · Community, where our product development team can know your requirements and ideas for product improvements.

    Note: As Microsoft Community moderators, please note that we are not involved in product design decisions and do not have direct access to the development roadmap, we want to assure you that your feedback has been acknowledged and is valued.  

    I hope the information shared helps point you in the right direction. Please try the steps above and let me know if they work. If not, we can continue working together to narrow this down.

    The first response may not always resolve the issue right away, but with your help and more details, we can work toward a solution.

    Thank you for your patience and understanding. I'm looking forward for your reply.


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