How to Use OneNote

Last Updated: September 15, 2021 References

Microsoft OneNote is an online, virtual notebook app that allows you to take notes, create checklists, insert images, and more. Microsoft OneNote is free to use, includes seven gigabytes of cloud storage space, and can be managed across all your devices.

Part 1

Part 1 of 12:

Downloading OneNote

1
Navigate to the official Microsoft OneNote landing page at http://www.onenote.com/.
2
Click on “Free Download” and follow the on-screen instructions to download and install OneNote to your computer. OneNote is currently available across multiple platforms, including Android and iOS from Google Play Store and the iTunes Store.

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3
Sign into OneNote using your Microsoft account login credentials. If you don’t already have a Microsoft account, click on “Sign up” and follow the on-screen instructions to create an account.
4
Launch the OneNote app on your computer or device following installation. Your virtual notebook will display on-screen.

Part 2

Part 2 of 12:

Creating Notebooks

1
Click on “File” and select “New.”
2
Indicate where you want your new notebook saved. Select “OneDrive” to save your notebook to the cloud so it can be accessed across all devices, or select “Computer” or “Add a Place” to store your data to another location.
3
Click anywhere in the notebook and start typing your notes. You can make several notes in different places anywhere on the notebook page.
4
Click on the page header section at the top of the page and type a title for your notebook page. This title will also display on its page tab to the right.
5
Drag and resize notes as needed anywhere on the page. OneNote gives you the freedom to type notes anywhere on the document and customize as needed.^{[1]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 12:

Creating Checklists

1
Click on the “Home” tab and open the “Tags” dropdown menu.
2
Select “To Do.” A section with an empty box will display in the main notebook pane.
3
Start typing checklist items and press “Enter” after each item. A checklist box will display to the left of each item.
4
Click or tap on each checklist box to check off an item.

Part 4

Part 4 of 12:

Attaching Files

1
Go to the notebook page to which you want a file attached.
2
Click on “Insert” in the top menu bar and select “File Attachment.”
3
Select the file you want attached to your notebook, then select “Insert.” The file will display as an icon on your notebook page.^{[2]
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Part 5

Part 5 of 12:

Inserting Images

1
Position your cursor in the place you want your image inserted.
2
Click on “Insert” in the top menu bar and select one of the following options. The image will now be inserted into your notebook.
- Screen Clipping: Captures a section of your computer screen.
- Pictures: Allows you to insert a picture file saved on your device or external storage.
- Online Pictures: Allows you to insert pictures from online sources.
- Scanned Image: Allows you to insert a scanned image from a scanner attached to your device.

Part 6

Part 6 of 12:

Creating Tables

1
Position your cursor in the place you want a table created. Tables can help keep your notes organized by arranging information in rows and columns.
2
Click on the “Insert” tab and select “Table.”
3
Move your cursor over the grid to highlight your desired grid size, then left-click your mouse. For example, to create a 2x3 table, highlight the first three boxes in the top row and the next three boxes below in the second row.
4
Click on “Insert Table.” The table will now be added to your notebook page.^{[3]
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Part 7

Part 7 of 12:

Adding Pages

1
Click on the notebook section to which you want pages added.
2
Click on “Add Page” in the pane located to the right of your notebook section.
3
Type a page title into the page header section, then press “Enter.”
4
Click and drag the page tab to its desired position in your notebook.

Part 8

Part 8 of 12:

Adding Sections to Pages

1
Right-click on any section tab at the top of your notebook page and select “New Section.” Sections function similarly to color tabs in a typical three- or five-section paper notebook.
2
Type a title for your new section, then press “Enter.” You can now start taking notes on the new section.

Part 9

Part 9 of 12:

Setting Up Checklist Reminders for Outlook

1
Select an item in your checklist for which you want a reminder sent to your Outlook account.
2
Click the “Home” tab and select “Outlook Tasks.” This feature allows you to set up reminders in Outlook using items from your checklist. For example, if an item in your to-do list is “Go to dentist appointment,” select this item to be reminded about your appointment in Outlook.
3
Select when you want to receive a reminder in Outlook. You can choose “Today,” “Tomorrow,” “This Week,” “Next Week,” or customize a date. Outlook will now send a reminder based on the time and date selected.

Part 10

Part 10 of 12:

Sharing Notebooks

1
Click on “File” and select “Share.”
2
Type the email address of the person with whom you want to share your notebook. You can enter one or multiple email addresses.
3
Click on “Share.” The individuals listed will now receive an invitation to view or edit your notebook in OneNote.

Part 11

Part 11 of 12:

Using Tags

1
Position your cursor at the beginning of any text you want tagged. Tags are ideal for categorizing and prioritizing notes for one or multiple notes or notebooks.
2
Click on the “Home” tab and click on the “Tags” dropdown menu.
3
Select the tag symbol you want applied to your text. You can choose from several options, such as “Idea,” “Book to read,” or “Critical.” For example, if tagging an article you want to write about for your blog, select “Remember for blog.”
4
Search for tags at any time by selecting “Find Tags” from the “Tags” dropdown menu. You can then click on tags to access notes categorized by tag.^{[4]
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Part 12

Part 12 of 12:

Recording Audio or Video

1
Position your cursor in the section of your notebook where you want the recording inserted.
2
Click on the “Insert” tab and click “Record Audio” or “Record Video.” Your computer or device will start recording audio or video using its built-in microphone or webcam. This feature is useful when you want to record important meetings, lectures, or events.
3
Click on “Stop” or “Pause” to stop recording. A media icon will display in your notebook where you positioned the cursor.
4
Click on the media icon and select “Play” to play your recording at any time.^{[5]
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Community Q&A

Question

How do I delete a note in OneNote?

SCTDerrick

Community Answer

Go to File Explorer, click on the documents section, and you should find all your documents there. Then you'll be able to delete them.