23 Tips for Using OneNote Effectively in 2024

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Tip 1: Enable Dark Mode

OneNote supportsa dark theme on all major platforms. If you regularly work on OneNote at night, enable the dark mode to reduce eye strain. You can read our dedicated post onenablingOneNote dark modeon any device.

Tip 2: Use OneNote Keyboard Shortcuts

We always recommend memorizing keyboard shortcuts to navigate software functions. Microsoft OneNote is no exception. The software supports several keyboard shortcuts on Mac and Windows.

With the help of keyboard shortcuts, you can quickly highlight words, insert links, date and time, search through notes, and more. Read and master theOneNote keyboard shortcutsfrom our previous post.

Tip 3: Share a Page as PDF and Invite Others

There are three ways to share notes in OneNote. You can send a note as a pdf via email. You can also copy a page link and share it with friends.

You can also share an entire Notebook with others. Open a page in OneNote and clickSharein the top right corner to select a suitable option.

Tip 4: Insert Tables

Using tables is a neat way to organize the relevant information. OneNote supports the table functionality by default.

ClickInsertin the top menu bar, then expand theTablesmenu to select the number of rows and columns.

Tip 5: Use OneNote Templates

OneNote templates are available on Windows only. Instead of starting a note with black space, you can use the relevant template to manage a to-do list, take meeting notes, or organize the meal details.

ClickInsertat the top and open thePage Templatesmenu to check Microsoft’s default offerings. You can check the template categories from a sidebar and pick a perfect design for the new page. You can also download third-party templates from Web sources such asOneNote Gem. You can alsocreate a custom templateas per your preference.

Tip 6: Add Stickers

Did you know one can add stickers to the OneNote page to give it a personal touch? Microsoft has added a bunch of default sticker packs to use. There is a cat in suit, monkey, office drama, and Teamsquatch stickers on the desktop version.

OpenInsertand selectStickers; the side tab shows the default stickers to use on a page.

Tip 7: Make Use of Drawing Capabilities

Microsoft has added a dedicated drawing section in the OneNote app. Select theDrawmenu; the section lets you choose fromPen,Marker, andHighlighter. You can also use theEraserfunction, change the Ink color, and play with the Ink thickness from the menu.

If you are using Surface Pro devices or any Windows laptops with Pen support, use theWindows Inkfunction to write and draw directly on the page.

Tip 8: Change the Paper Style

OneNote lets you change the page style from the settings menu. By default, it opens up as a blank white page. ClickViewfrom the upper ribbon and change the paper color and style from the given menu.

It looks good and resembles a physical notebook with different colors and rules/grid lines.

Tip 9: Password-Protect a Section

You can password-protect a OneNote section to lock it from unauthorized access.

Right-click on a section from any notebook and select aPassword-protectoption. Add a password; from now on, you will need that password to access notes on every platform.

Remember, if you forget the password, you cannot recover the section. We advise investing in a password manager to memorize all such confidential details.

Tip 10: Use OneNote Web Clipper

Microsoft offers a capableOneNote Clipper extensionon major browsers. You can use it to directly bookmark a webpage to OneNote, clip a portion of a page, or save the entire article to OneNote.

Tip 11: Use Mobile Widgets

Microsoft OneNote for iOS and Android offers widget functionality to view recent notes and quickly add new notes. On Android, you can long-tap the app icon and chooseWidgetsto check different options. OneNote for iOS also supports three home screen widgets.

Tip 12: Change Default OneNote Fonts

By default, OneNote sticks to Microsoft’s Calibri fonts at 12 size. However, you can change that.

Open theFilesmenu at the top and selectOptions. Under the General menu, you can change the default font.

The changes will only reflect on the new page and won’t mess up the notes already added.

Tip 13: Edit or Add New Tags in OneNote

OneNote has several tagsfor bookmarking, highlighting, adding to-dos, and more. You can click theTagsmenu under theHometab to view all the built-in tags.

You can clickCustomizetags and add new ones or remove unnecessary ones from your OneNote. You can also use tags to search your relevant notes quickly.

You can check our separate post tolearn all about OneNote tags.

Tip 14: Change the Tabs Layout in OneNote Desktop

Not everyone prefers the old-style horizontal tabs. Thankfully, Microsoft has added an option to enable vertical tabs that closely resemble the old OneNote app.

You can click theViewtab and expand theTabsLayout. SelectVertical Tabsand check the new navigation style in action.

Tip 15: Transcribe Audio Files

Transcribe is a must-have add-on for students. From theTranscribemenu, you can upload an audio file or start recording to convert audio into text. The software is smart enough to separate each speaker from the audio file.

You can access theTranscribemenu under theInsert>Recordingsection.

Tip 16: Use Sticky Notes Integration

You can access your sticky notes right from OneNote desktop and mobile apps.

You can click thenotesicon at the top to access your sticky notes on the desktop. Mobile users can access the same from OneNote home. You can even edit and delete irrelevant sticky notes.

Tip 17: Organize OneNote with Subsections

OneNote lets you create several notebooks and add pages to relevant sections. You can also create a section group to organize all your sections neatly.

Right-click on a section, clickNew Section Group, and rename it. You can add several subsections to it and better manage your notes.

Tip 18: Use Math Equations

Microsoft OneNote is quite popular in the education sector. It’s good to see Microsoft supporting math equations right into the app.

You can selectInsertand open theEquationstab. You can add several built-in equations or write one using theInk Equationmenu.

Tip 19: Check OneNote Section History

OneNote lets you check the entire history of sections in the app.

To do so, click theHistorytab at the top and selectRecent Edits. Then, select a relevant timeframe and check all the page edits from the sidebar.

Tip 20: Sync Samsung Notes to OneNote

Thanks to Microsoft’s partnership with Samsung, you can sync Samsung notes to OneNote. Samsung notes are available under the sticky notes section on the desktop and mobile app.

Although the implementation has several limitations, it’s still a handy workaroundfor checking your Samsung Notes on the desktop. You can read our dedicated post onsyncingSamsung Notes with Microsoft OneNote.

Tip 21: Extract Text From Images

OneNote is a perfect tool if you need tocopy text on images.

You only have to upload the image, right-click on it, and select theCopy Text from Pictureoption. Then, you can paste the text or use it elsewhere.

Tip 22: Use Onenote as a Task Manager

Although it is primarily a digital notebook, it can also be used as a task manager. You can use its features, such as tags, checklists, Notebooks, and Sections, to manage tasks from start to finish.

With tags, you can categorize tasks for easy filtering and organization. Checklists help you create to-do lists within pages, and you may mark tasks as completed.

Tip 23: Embed Files and Videos

Working with files and videos is often very important. OneNote easily allows the embedding of any file or video. You may embed videos from multiple sources, including YouTube.

Copy the video URL, hitCtrl+V, andEnter;the video is automatically embedded.

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Last updated on 03 September, 2024

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