OneNote Guide: Getting Started Tips

OneNote is a note-taking application that exists for Windows as well as an app for iOS and Android. In this practical tip, we give you tips for getting started with OneNote.

OneNote Getting Started: Notebooks and Notes Instructions

OneNote is a free notebook program from Microsoft. Up to the 2016 version, the application was also integrated in Microsoft Office, but development was discontinued. Instead, a new OneNote app for Windows 10 was developed, which is free and optimized for mobile devices.

1. To use the new OneNote app for Windows 10, you need to sign in with your Microsoft account. When it is started for the first time, it automatically creates a new notebook.
2. If you want to create another notebook, select the name of the selected notebook in the top left and then select "Add notebook".
3. With the new OneNote app, everything is automatically saved on OneDrive.
4. The screen is divided into a left area in which the desired page can be selected and a right area in which the notebook page and its contents are displayed.
5. You can add as much content as you like on the blank notebook page. To enter text, click where you want to start typing. You can copy and paste pictures, videos, PDFs and many other programs, or add them by drag and drop. The various elements can then be moved as desired on the pin board.
6. Each notebook created can be divided into several sections. Each section then contains the individual pages of a notebook. In addition, you can subordinate a page to another page or create a group from several sections.
7. To add a new section, all you have to do is click the "Add section" button at the bottom left. To create a new page in the selected section, select "Add page" next to it. Pages can later be copied or moved to another section or even another notebook.
8. In addition, each page is infinitely large. So you can add as much content as you like, to the right or downwards.
9. You can also add as many notebooks, sections and pages as you want.
10. Note: This description refers to OneNote app for Windows 10.

Tips for getting started with OneNote

Additional tricks and tools help you get started with OneNote. The following will make your OneNote experience even easier.

1. You can "print" any document directly in OneNote using the print function. When printing, select "OneNote" as the printer and the page will be pasted into OneNote.
2. With the OneNote Web Clipper extension, you can quickly add content from a website to your notebook.
3. OneNote is ideal for handwritten notes. If you have a digital pen like Apple Pencil or Surface Pen, you can simply write on your touch devices by hand.
4. OneNote can use the search function to search for any content in your notebooks. Texts, words on pictures and even handwritten entries can be identified.
5. You can start audio recordings in OneNote. This is particularly useful in a meeting or lecture because you can "play" afterwards what was said earlier. In addition, a voice recognition function can be activated with which the audio recordings can also be searched.
6. Although OneNote will no longer be developed in 2016, the program is still available free of charge. The program has more functions than the app version and can be expanded with external plugins, but most of the functions of OneNote 2016 are now gradually being integrated into the app version.
7. Since the latest OneNote version, all notebooks are saved online on OneDrive. This way, the notes are always synchronized on all your devices.
8. Click here for the downloads: Windows 10, Android, iOS, Office 2016 version (out of date), web app

In the next article you will find more practical tips for OneNote.

Video tip: Leaner Windows - Windows Slimmer