Microsoft OneNote cheat sheet
Built into Windows 10 and 11 built-in with Microsoft 365, OneNote is a strong note-taking app that’s free to make use of. Here’s how you can stand up and operating with it rapidly.
Microsoft
A note-taking app might be useful, particularly if it allows you and your co-workers to collaborate on concepts. Microsoft OneNote is a wonderful software for the job. It’s pre-installed on Windows 10 and 11 and is included with a Microsoft 365 subscription. But anybody can obtain the app and use it without cost.
This information walks you thru the fundamentals of utilizing OneNote, specializing in OneNote for Windows 10, the model that comes with Windows 10 and 11 and that’s obtainable for obtain within the Microsoft Store. Other obtainable variations embrace a extra absolutely featured Windows desktop app, an internet app, and apps for macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and Android. These might look or perform somewhat in another way than described right here, however the fundamental performance is analogous. This information will describe notable variations within the options and interfaces of the net and cell apps that can be useful so that you can know.
Get began with OneNote
OneNote makes use of Microsoft OneDrive (or OneDrive for Business) to sync the notes you create to the cloud, so your notes are all the time updated throughout all of your units. Thus, the app requires that you simply register with a Microsoft consumer account. If your organization makes use of Outlook or you’ve a free webmail account on Outlook.com, for instance, you have already got a Microsoft consumer account. If not, you’ll be able to join one without cost.
To perceive how you can work in OneNote, it’s useful to first know its organizational construction:
- A Microsoft consumer account can include a number of notebooks.
- Each pocket book can include a number of sections.
- Each part can include a number of pages. (OneNote refers to a person word as a “page.”)
This organizational construction is mirrored in how OneNote’s house format is introduced. When you launch OneNote, maximize its window in order that it fills your PC’s show. On the vertical toolbar alongside the left, click on the Show/Hide Navigation button. (It’s above the magnifying glass icon.) OneNote will organize its format like so:
- Along the left is a toolbar with the Show/Hide Navigation icon at its high. Clicking the magnifying glass button opens a search pane, and clicking the clock exhibits current notes.
- To the instant proper of the Show/Hide Navigation icon is the title of the presently opened pocket book, and there are two columns beneath this pocket book’s title: The first column lists sections and the second lists pages which can be contained on this pocket book.
- The proper half of the OneNote window exhibits the presently chosen web page.
IDG
OneNote exhibits notebooks, sections, and pages within the left columns, with the present web page exhibiting in the primary window space. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
Clicking a bit title will present within the column to its proper an inventory of the pages below this part. And clicking the title of a web page opens the web page within the massive pane to its proper, the place you’ll be able to then view the web page’s contents, scroll via it, and edit it.
When you click on the Show/Hide Navigation button, the presently seen web page will turn into larger, and the column itemizing the sections and pages can be eliminated. Click the Show/Hide Navigation button once more, and this column will return.
Along the highest of the OneNote window, clicking View will open a toolbar that enables for different methods to view a web page, akin to zooming in or out, or launching the web page in a brand new window.
The first time you launch OneNote, there received’t be any sections or pages, however it does create a brand new pocket book so that you can begin with.
Note that there’s no Save command in OneNote; every part you do is saved routinely.
In the OneNote cell app: To see the checklist of notebooks in your account, faucet the Notebooks icon on the decrease left. Tap a pocket book to open it. The display will swap to a different display that lists the sections within the pocket book.
Tap a bit to open it. The display will swap to a different display that lists the pages which can be below it. Tap a web page to open it. You can scroll all through the web page.
IDG
The OneNote Android app exhibiting a pocket book’s sections.
Create notebooks, sections, and pages
When you create a brand new pocket book, part, or web page, you’ll be prompted to sort in a reputation for it.
Create a brand new part or web page: At the underside of the second column, click on Add part or Add web page.
Create a brand new pocket book: Click the title of the pocket book that’s presently open in OneNote. (This title is to the instant proper of the Show/Hide Navigation button.) At the underside of the Notebooks pane that opens, click on Add pocket book.
IDG
Click Add pocket book at backside left to create a brand new pocket book.
Switch to a different pocket book: Click the title of the presently opened pocket book to open the Notebooks pane. Any different notebooks related along with your account can be listed on this pane. Click the one you need to swap to.
In the OneNote cell app: To create a brand new pocket book or part, go to the display that lists notebooks or sections, faucet the + icon on the higher proper, and enter a reputation for the brand new pocket book or part.
To create a brand new web page, go to the display that lists pages and faucet the + icon on the decrease proper. This motion will open a brand new web page on the following display.
IDG
Click the + icon at decrease proper to create a brand new web page. (A web page is identical factor as a word.)
Work with frames on a web page
When you begin typing anyplace within the physique of a web page, a body seems round it. The extra traces of textual content you enter, the taller this body turns into. You can modify the width of the body by dragging its proper border line. You can transfer the body to a different spot on the web page by clicking, holding, and dragging its high border line.
IDG
A body seems round textual content you sort on a word.
When you click on on one other space of the web page, the body across the textual content disappears, forsaking the textual content inside it. When you click on on the textual content once more, the body round it reappears.
This framing interface enables you to create teams of textual content which you could transfer round on a web page. You may even transfer one textual content group over one other textual content group — the one on high will turn into clear over the second. This offers OneNote pages extra flexibility than you get with the standard left-to-right, top-to-bottom method of many note-taking and word-processing apps.
IDG
You can transfer every group of textual content in its body.
Format and tag textual content
OneNote for Windows 10 makes use of a simplified model of the Office Ribbon operating throughout the highest of the display. It’s divided into tabs the place you’ll be able to entry totally different toolbars with instructions for formatting textual content, inserting photos and different parts, altering a word’s design, and extra.
You can change a number of features of textual content utilizing the Home tab’s toolbar. If it’s not open already, click on Home to open this toolbar.
Change textual content formatting: Highlight the textual content in a body on a web page. Then, from the Home toolbar above, choose a formatting perform akin to font title, measurement, spotlight colour, or textual content colour.
You also can format traces of textual content to be a bulleted or numbered checklist. A bullet icon or quantity can be added to the left of the primary line of textual content you sort. Thereafter if you press the Enter key, the following line may also be preceded with a bullet or the following sequential quantity.
IDG
Formatting textual content as a numbered checklist.
Tag a line of textual content: Put the cursor within the line of textual content. On the Home toolbar, click on the downward arrow to the precise of the Tags button (a field with a checkmark and a star). From the dropdown menu that opens, choose the tag that you really want utilized to this line of textual content.
This places an icon initially of the road of textual content, akin to a checkbox for “To Do” or a star icon for “Important.” You also can create a brand new tag title and choose an icon for it.
IDG
You can improve textual content with interactive checkboxes or different icons.
The checkbox that designates a line of textual content as a To Do merchandise is interactive. Clicking the small field will mark it with a test.
In the OneNote internet app: You’ll discover a number of extra preset tag sorts.
In the OneNote cell app: To add textual content to a web page, faucet the spot on the web page the place you need to put it. The on-screen keyboard of your cellphone or pill will open with a toolbar alongside the highest of the keyboard. Icons on the toolbar allow you to insert To Do, bulleted, or numbered lists; format textual content in numerous methods; embed chosen textual content with an internet hyperlink; or insert different parts described later on this story.
IDG
Formatting textual content in a word within the OneNote Android app.
Add photos, media, and different parts
To add photos, tables, video, and different parts to a web page, place your cursor on the spot on the web page the place you need the ingredient to seem and click on the Insert tab on the high of the OneNote window.
IDG
Adding a desk to a word.
The toolbar that seems enables you to insert the next objects:
Table: Clicking this button opens a panel that lets you choose the variety of columns and rows you need for a brand new desk by dragging the pointer.
You can modify the width of a desk by clicking on and dragging the precise facet of its body. You can transfer the desk itself to a different space on the web page by clicking on and dragging the highest facet of its body. To modify the sizing of the columns of the desk, click on on and drag the vertical traces contained in the desk.
Inside every cell of the desk, you’ll be able to sort textual content or numbers, and even add an image, as described later.
IDG
A desk can include textual content, photos, and extra.
File: Clicking this button opens File Explorer. You can choose a file in your PC’s drive or OneDrive.
When you insert a file, it seems as a shortcut on the web page. If it’s a shortcut to an .EXE file, clicking it can run this system in your PC. Otherwise, clicking the shortcut will load it inside a corresponding app. For instance, if it’s a .DOCX or .DOC file, the doc will launch and cargo inside Microsoft Word. Clicking a shortcut to an audio or video file will launch your PC’s default media participant.
Printout: Clicking this button additionally opens File Explorer. You choose a PDF in your PC’s drive or OneDrive. All of the PDF’s pages can be added to the web page as a sequence of photos. When you click on any of those photos, eight dots seem at its sides and corners. You can click on on and drag these dots to resize the picture.
Pictures: Clicking this button presents you with 3 ways so as to add an image to a web page:
- From File lets you choose a picture file in your PC’s drive or OneDrive.
- From Camera enables you to snap a photograph utilizing your PC’s webcam.
- From Online enables you to add a picture that you simply discover by way of Microsoft’s Bing search engine.
IDG
Adding an image to a word.
Remember that the picture will seem wherever your cursor is on the web page if you click on the Pictures button. That means you’ll be able to click on inside a textual content body or desk cell to have the picture seem there.
When you click on any picture that’s been added to a web page, eight dots seem at its sides and corners. You can click on on and drag these dots to resize the picture.
Online Video: This enables you to enter the hyperlink to a web based video on a website akin to Giphy, Vimeo, or YouTube. A thumbnail of the video can be added to the web page. When you click on the thumbnail, the video will play. You can resize this thumbnail like every other picture, as described above.
Link: You can apply a clickable internet hyperlink to a phrase or phrases on the web page. First, copy the net hyperlink to your Windows clipboard. Next, spotlight the phrase or phrases on the web page. Then click on the Link button, and on the panel that opens, paste within the internet hyperlink.
Audio: A easy audio recording and playback software will seem alongside the highest of the OneNote window if you click on this button. You can report a voice memo in case your Windows PC has a microphone. The recording will seem on the web page as a shortcut to an audio file.
Meeting Details: Clicking this button will allow you to insert assembly particulars out of your Outlook calendar, together with time, date, place, and attendees. There’s additionally a spot so that you can add notes from the assembly. (If you don’t see the button, click on the down arrow icon on the proper finish of the Insert toolbar and choose Meeting Details from the dropdown menu.)
IDG
Inserting assembly particulars from Outlook right into a word.
In the OneNote cell app: To add photos or different parts to a web page, faucet the spot on the web page the place you need to put this merchandise. As talked about within the earlier part of the story, the on-screen keyboard of your cellphone or pill will open with a toolbar alongside the highest of the keyboard.
In addition to the textual content formatting choices described above, you’ll be able to click on the digital camera icon to insert an image taken along with your gadget’s digital camera or one which’s already saved on it, click on the microphone icon to report a voice clip utilizing your gadget’s microphone, or click on the paperclip icon to connect a file that’s saved in your gadget.