Microsoft OneNote is a powerful note-taking application that helps keep all your notes organized in one place. Whether you’re typing information, inserting tables, adding mathematical equations, recording audio, or taking handwritten notes, OneNote has got you covered.
In this article, we’ll explore 30 essential tips and tricks to help you get the most out of OneNote and enhance your productivity.
1. Open a Previous Notebook
To quickly open a recently used notebook, press Ctrl + O. This will display a list of your recent notebooks—simply click on the one you want to open.
2. Create a New Section
Notebooks consist of sections (like chapters) and pages (where your notes reside). To add a new section:
- Press Ctrl + T
- Name your section (e.g., “Section 2”)
3. Add a New Page to a Section
Each section contains multiple pages. To create a new page:
- Press Ctrl + N
- Double-click the page title to rename it
4. Redo an Action
If you accidentally undo something (Ctrl + Z), you can redo it by pressing Ctrl + Y.
5. Jump to the Page Title
If you have a large canvas with multiple text boxes, quickly return to the page title by pressing Ctrl + Shift + T.
6. Delete Words Quickly
- Delete a word to the left: Ctrl + Backspace
- Delete a word to the right: Ctrl + Delete
7. Insert Current Date & Time
- Insert date: Alt + Shift + D
- Insert time: Alt + Shift + F
8. Quickly Insert Bullets
Press Ctrl + . (period) to add bullets to selected text. Press again to remove them.
9. Change Heading Styles
OneNote offers six default heading styles:
- Ctrl + Alt + 1 (Heading 1)
- Ctrl + Alt + 2 (Heading 2)
- …up to Ctrl + Alt + 6
10. Clear Text Formatting
To remove bold, italics, colors, etc., select the text and press Ctrl + Shift + N.
11. Add & Remove Tags
Tags help categorize notes. To apply a tag:
- Select text and press Ctrl + 1 to Ctrl + 9 (different tags)
- Remove a tag: Ctrl + 0
12. Switch Between Sections
- Move forward: Ctrl + Tab
- Move backward: Ctrl + Shift + Tab
13. Quickly Create a Table
Type text, press Tab to add columns, and Enter to add rows.
14. Change Page Style
- Page color: Go to View > Page Color
- Rule lines: Choose between narrow, standard, or grid lines
15. Check Spelling
Select text and press F7 to run a spell check.
16. Enable Smart Lookup
Right-click a word, select Lookup, and OneNote will fetch definitions, translations, and more.
17. Use Immersive Reader
Select text, go to View > Immersive Reader, and OneNote will read it aloud. Adjust voice speed and gender in settings.
18. Toggle Pen & Eraser in Draw Mode
- Enable pen: Alt + D, then P
- Enable eraser: Alt + D, then E
19. Convert Handwritten Equations to Text
- Go to Draw > Ink to Math
- Write your equation and insert it as text
20. Password-Protect a Section
- Right-click a section > Password Protect This Section
- Set a password and lock it
21. Display Context Menu for Objects
Select an object (e.g., an image) and press Shift + F10 to see options like copy, paste, or set as background.
22. Align Paragraphs
- Left-align: Ctrl + L
- Right-align: Ctrl + R
23. Extract Text from Images
Right-click an image > Copy Text from Picture, then paste (Ctrl + V) elsewhere.
24. Create Page Links
Type [[Page Name]] to generate a clickable link to that page.
25. Share Pages & Sections
Right-click a section > Copy Link to Section and share it via email or messaging.
26. Convert Handwriting to Text
- Write something, select it with Lasso Select
- Click Ink to Text
27. Install OneNote Web Clipper
Download the OneNote Web Clipper extension to save web content directly to OneNote.
28. Share Your Notebook
Go to File > Share, invite people via email, or generate a shareable link.
29. Insert Hyperlinks
Press Ctrl + K, enter the URL, and click OK.
30. Insert Space Between Text
Go to Draw > Insert Space, click and drag to create space for additional content.
Final Thoughts
Microsoft OneNote is a versatile tool packed with features to streamline note-taking and organization. By mastering these 30 tips and tricks, you can significantly enhance your productivity and make the most of this powerful application.
For more productivity hacks and software guides, stay tuned to our blog!
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Microsoft OneNote, Note-Taking, Productivity Tips, OneNote Tricks, Digital Organization
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#MicrosoftOneNote #ProductivityHacks #NoteTaking #OneNoteTips #DigitalOrganization
