Having used OneNote for many years, I had assumed I knew all there was to know about it. I created notebooks for various purposes, including work, random thoughts, recipes, travel plans, and other bits and pieces I promised myself I would revisit later.
Then, one Monday morning, I decided to explore OneNote further.
This turned out to be a mistake.
I discovered features that had eluded me for years, even though I used OneNote regularly. These features weren’t hidden away; they were available in menus I had never taken the time to check. Now that I am aware of them, some have become integral to my daily workflow.
OneNote Can Store Your Sources
Making My Research More Organized
Before starting any writing, I often dive deep into research. I’ll open one source after another, leading to dozens of open tabs filled with snippets of useful information I want to reference later. This avalanche of information starts before I even draft a single word.
Once I begin writing, I frequently need to check the origin of specific facts. Sorting through browser history or matching unorganized links to notes is something I’d rather avoid. Ideally, I want to attach sources directly to the notes while I gather information, so I won’t have to backtrack.
To tackle this, I enabled OneNote’s feature to “Include link to source when pasting from the Web.” In the Windows desktop version, you can find it under File -> Options -> Advanced -> Editing; just check the relevant box.
From now on, when I paste web content into OneNote, it automatically includes the source link. This simplifies my process and reduces the clutter of browser tabs.
This feature is unavailable on Android devices; it’s specific to Windows desktops.
Let OneNote Secure Your Notes
Because I Might Forget to Lock Them
There are sections in OneNote that I prefer keeping private. They contain personal notes and sensitive information I want to shield from prying eyes. OneNote allows password protection for these sections on Android, while Windows offers options to set how long the app waits before automatically locking these protected areas.
To set this up on Android, simply long-press the section you wish to secure, tap the three dots, and select Password protect. On Windows, navigate to File -> Options -> Advanced, scroll down to the Passwords section, and choose the automatic lock duration, with options ranging from one minute to one day, or lock immediately after navigating away.
This small adjustment means one less thing I have to remember every day.
OneNote Can Capture Notes More Quickly
No Need to Launch the App Each Time
Often, I find myself needing to jot down thoughts or reminders at random times. It could be an article concept while I’m away from my workstation, a note for my shopping list, or a fleeting idea I know will escape me. Typically, I’d have to open OneNote, locate the right notebook, and start typing, often forgetting what I intended to write by the time I get there.
This is why I appreciate the OneNote badge on Android. It provides a small floating shortcut to create a quick note without launching the entire application. To enable this feature, go to OneNote, tap the three dots, select Settings -> OneNote floatie, and turn it on. After setup, I can quickly tap the badge whenever I need to note something down.
However, the OneNote floatie is exclusive to Android and isn’t available on Windows.
This simple feature significantly enhances my ability to capture spontaneous thoughts in a hurry.
OneNote Lets You Designate a Default Section
Keeps My Notes Organized
I maintain various OneNote sections tailored to different areas of my life, organizing work notes in one area, travel ideas in another, and a separate spot for other important reminders. However, hasty notes can disrupt this organization if they are saved in unexpected places.
To remedy this, I activated OneNote’s default section feature on Android, allowing me to select where new notes get saved so that I don’t have to make that choice each time. To do this, open OneNote, tap on the three dots -> Settings -> Notebooks -> Default section, and choose your preferred section.
I set mine to my everyday notes section, ensuring that anything I save quickly goes exactly where I need it to be, eliminating the need for relocation or uncertainty about where notes are filed.
This essentially grants my quick notes a permanent location.
Rediscovering My Appreciation for OneNote
After years of using OneNote, I’ve realized there are still valuable features to uncover. While these aren’t major enhancements, they can notably improve my daily use of the app. I’m pleased to have stumbled upon them, and I plan to keep these features active moving forward.
