Keeping notes open on side of screen in Outlook on Browser

Question

The old notes allowed you to keep them open on the side of the browser and jot notes down while you went through your emails.
The new version is its own folder. When you click into it, it closes whatever you were looking at and opens the notes tab in place.

I read a supposed fix that Ctrl+Shift+n opens a note. But all that does is open a new browser tab.

I then read about Sticky Notes but that opens a completely new window which makes you switch back and forth or shrink the browser to fit a new window along side of it.
What do i have to do to make the notes go back to the side of the screen so i can EASILY take notes WITHOUT leaving the email I'm reading?

Answer 1

Dear @JC150,

I completely understand your frustration here. I completely agree that the older Outlook experience made it much easier to keep notes open while reading emails, and the current behavior can feel like a step backward.

At the moment, in Outlook on the web, the behavior you described is expected due to recent design changes. The classic experience where Notes could stay docked on the side while you read an email is no longer available. Notes are now handled through the Notes folder or integrated via the OneNote/Notes feed and opening them directly will replace your current view. For reference: Create, edit, and view sticky notes in Outlook.com or Outlook on the web

Unfortunately, there is currently no setting or shortcut to restore the old side-by-side Notes panel within the same email view., which I understand is exactly what you’re looking for.

That said, your feedback is absolutely valid. The ability to keep notes pinned alongside emails is something many users rely on, and it’s understandable that the current experience feels limiting. I would strongly encourage you to submit this as feedback directly to Microsoft.

Therefore, 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. These submissions go directly to the product team and are one of the main ways feature requests like this are reviewed and prioritized for future updates.

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.  

Recommended workaround:

In the meantime, as a workaround, you can use the Sticky Notes app in Outlook on the web. This opens as a panel on the right side of your screen and allows you to create and view notes while keeping your email visible. When you add a note from this pane, it stays available in the sidebar rather than replacing your inbox view.

Go to Sticky Notes app > Click on three dots (...) > choose dock to desktop > The note will remain accessible in the side pane while you continue reading emails.

For reference: How to Access Sticky Notes in Outlook: A Step-by-Step Guide (Disclaimer: This link is shared by community members for your convenience. It points to a third-party site that is not managed or verified by Microsoft. We can’t guarantee the quality, safety, or suitability of any content or software found there. Please review carefully and make sure you understand any potential risks before using it.)

I hope this information is helpful. If you have any other questions please feel free to reach out

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

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Answer 2

Outlook on the web no longer supports classic “side-docked” notes inside the same page while reading email. Notes are now surfaced as:

• Items in the Notes folder (Sticky Notes), or
• Notes in the OneNote feed pane

Both approaches require using the current UI model rather than restoring the old behavior.

To keep notes visible while reading mail in Outlook on the web, use one of these supported options:

1. Use the Notes folder (Sticky Notes) in the same browser window
   • Sign in to Outlook.com or Outlook on the web.
   • Open the Notes folder.
   • Click New Note to create a sticky note.
   • Notes created here sync with the Sticky Notes app and mobile OneNote, but they still occupy the main content area; there is no built-in way to pin them as a side panel next to the message list.
2. Use the OneNote feed pane as a side panel
   • In Outlook on the web, click the OneNote feed icon on the main Outlook toolbar (upper right).
   • In the feed pane that opens on the side, select + Add a note to create a new sticky note.
   • Type and format text (and add images if needed). Changes sync automatically to the OneNote feed.
   • Use the Back button in the note to return to the feed; the note remains available in the side pane while email remains visible in the main area.
   • Notes created here also appear in the Notes folder and in the Microsoft Sticky Notes app for Windows 10.

There is no documented setting to revert Outlook on the web to the legacy behavior where notes stay permanently docked on the side independent of the current folder. The supported way to keep notes visible alongside email in the browser is to use the OneNote feed pane.

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References:

• Create, edit, and view sticky notes in Outlook.com or Outlook on the web
• Use the OneNote feed in Outlook on the web