Microsoft OneNote: organise notes in one place
Structure your notes with notebooks, sections and pages, and find anything quickly with search and tags.
Last reviewed: November 2026
How OneNote is organised
- Notebook: the largest container, for example “Work” or “Study”.
- Section: a tab inside a notebook, for example “Projects”.
- Page: a single note inside a section.
Create your first notebook
- Open OneNote and select File, then New, or choose New Notebook.
- Name the notebook and choose where to save it, such as OneDrive, so it syncs across devices.
- Add sections and pages to organise your content.
Use tags and search
Tags mark important items, such as To Do, Important or Question. Use the Tags gallery on the Home tab to apply them. Use the search box to find words across all notebooks.
Share and collaborate
Notebooks stored in OneDrive or SharePoint can be shared with others, who can edit the same notes. Check who has access before you share sensitive information.
Common problems
My notes are not syncing
Check your internet connection and that the notebook is stored in OneDrive or SharePoint. Sync status is shown in the notebook list.
I cannot find a note
Use the search box, check whether the note is in a different notebook, and look in the Recycle bin in OneNote for deleted pages.
Frequently asked questions
Is OneNote free?
OneNote is available as a free app for many devices, and it is also included with some Microsoft 365 plans. Check Microsoft’s official website for current details.
Can I write notes by hand?
Yes, on touch-enabled or pen-enabled devices you can use ink to write and draw. Ink can also be converted to text in some versions.