Windows · Office & Productivity
Microsoft OneNote for Windows
Microsoft's free-form note-taking app organized into notebooks, sections, and pages, with sync across Windows, mobile, and web.
Updated August 9, 2026 · Reviewed by SoftNexi Editorial Team, Software research and documentation
Overview
Microsoft OneNote is a note-taking app that organizes content into notebooks, sections, and pages, and allows free-form placement of text, images, handwriting, and audio clips anywhere on a page rather than in a strict linear document flow. Unlike Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, OneNote for Windows is available as a free download on its own, separate from a Microsoft 365 subscription.
It suits people who take notes across multiple devices — students syncing class notes between a laptop and phone, or professionals collecting meeting notes, clippings, and sketches in one searchable place. Notebooks sync through OneDrive, so the same notebook stays up to date across the Windows app, mobile apps, and the web version.
Compared with dedicated note apps like Obsidian or Joplin, OneNote favors a more visual, page-based canvas over plain-text Markdown files, and it's tightly integrated with a Microsoft account and OneDrive rather than storing notes as local files you fully control. That trade-off makes OneNote convenient for quick capture and cross-device sync, but less suited to users who want notes stored as portable, app-independent files.
There have historically been two OneNote apps for Windows — the traditional desktop OneNote bundled with some Office installs and the OneNote app from the Microsoft Store — and Microsoft has been consolidating features into a single modern app; check the Microsoft Store listing for the currently recommended version.
Key features
- Free-form pages that accept typed text, handwriting, images, and audio in any layout
- Notebooks organized into sections and pages for hierarchical structure
- Sync across Windows, mobile, and web through OneDrive
- Search across typed text and text recognized within images
- Tagging system for to-dos, important notes, and custom labels
- Web clipper for saving pages from a browser directly into a notebook
System requirements
- Operating system
- Windows 11 and Windows 10
- Account
- A Microsoft account is required for notebook sync via OneDrive
How to install Microsoft OneNote
1. Download OneNote
Get the free app from onenote.com/download or the Microsoft Store.
2. Sign in
Sign in with a Microsoft account to enable notebook sync across devices.
3. Create or open a notebook
Start a new notebook or open an existing one stored in your OneDrive.
4. Install on other devices
Sign in with the same Microsoft account on mobile or web to access the same notebooks.
How to use it
1. Organize with sections and pages
Use separate sections for broad topics and pages within each section for individual notes, keeping notebooks navigable as they grow.
2. Search across notes
Use the search box to find text within typed notes and even text recognized inside images you've pasted in.
3. Tag important items
Apply tags like To Do or Important to notes so you can filter and review them later across the whole notebook.
4. Clip web pages
Install the OneNote Web Clipper browser extension to save articles or pages directly into a chosen notebook section.
Safety and privacy
- Download only from onenote.com or the Microsoft Store to avoid unofficial copies.
- We have not independently audited OneNote's telemetry beyond Microsoft's own published documentation.
- Bundled software
- Not applicable; OneNote installs as a standalone Microsoft Store or Office-bundled app with no third-party bundling.
- Privacy
- OneNote requires a Microsoft account for sync, and notebooks are typically stored in OneDrive; review Microsoft's privacy documentation if that matters to your use case.
Known risks
- Notebooks are tied to your Microsoft account and OneDrive rather than stored as fully portable local files, so exporting is recommended if you need an offline backup independent of Microsoft's cloud.
What's new
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free to download and use with a Microsoft account
- Flexible free-form page layout for text, images, and handwriting
- Reliable sync across Windows, mobile, and web via OneDrive
- Search works across typed text and text within images
Cons
- Notes are tied to a Microsoft account and OneDrive rather than portable local files
- Less suited to Markdown-based or plain-text workflows
- Two historical Windows app versions have caused some feature confusion
Verdict
OneNote is a strong free choice for cross-device note-taking with a flexible, visual page layout, especially for people already using OneDrive. Users who want notes stored as local, portable plain-text files may prefer Obsidian or Joplin.
Frequently asked questions
Is OneNote free?
Yes, OneNote is free to download and use with a Microsoft account; it does not require a Microsoft 365 subscription.
Does OneNote sync across devices?
Yes, notebooks sync through OneDrive across the Windows app, mobile apps, and the web version when you sign in with the same Microsoft account.
Does OneNote run on Windows 11?
Yes, OneNote supports Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Can I use OneNote without the internet?
You can view and edit recently synced notebooks offline, but an internet connection is needed to sync changes back to OneDrive.