The fastest way to start a new notebook

Open OneNote and look for the File menu in the top left corner. Click it, then select New. You will see options to create a notebook on your computer, in OneDrive, or in SharePoint. Pick the location where you want to store it — your computer keeps it local and private, while OneDrive and SharePoint let you access it from any device and share it with others.

After you choose a location, OneNote will ask you to name the notebook. Type a name that tells you what it holds — "Work Projects", "Home Renovation", "Class Notes" — then click Create Notebook. OneNote will open the new notebook with a blank page ready for you to start typing.

If you are using OneNote on the web instead of the desktop app, the process is similar. Log into OneNote.com, look for the Create button or the plus icon, and follow the same steps to name and store your notebook.

Key Takeaways

  • A new notebook starts in File > New, where you choose whether to store it on your computer, OneDrive, or SharePoint.
  • Local notebooks stay on your device only; cloud notebooks let you open them from any device and share them with other people.
  • OneNote creates the first blank page automatically, so you can start typing as soon as the notebook opens.
  • You can rename a notebook later by right-clicking it in the notebook list and selecting Rename.

Choosing where to store your notebook

The location you pick when creating a notebook matters because it controls who can see it and where you can open it. A local notebook lives only on your computer — it is fast, private, and does not need internet, but you cannot open it on your phone or share it easily with someone else. A cloud notebook stored in OneDrive or SharePoint syncs across all your devices, so you can open it on your phone, tablet, or another computer, and you can give other people permission to view or edit it.

If you work alone and do not need to access your notes from multiple devices, a local notebook is simpler. If you switch between devices, work with a team, or want a backup in case your computer fails, choose OneDrive or SharePoint. OneDrive is the easier choice for personal notebooks; SharePoint is better if your workplace already uses it.

Adding sections and pages to your new notebook

When OneNote creates a new notebook, it gives you one blank page in a section called Untitled Section. You can rename this section or create new ones. To rename it, right-click the section tab at the top of the page and select Rename Section. Type a new name like "General Notes" or "To-Do Items".

To add a new section, right-click any section tab and select New Section, or look for the plus icon next to the last section tab. Each section acts like a folder — you can organize your notebook by topic, project, or time period. Within each section, you can create multiple pages by clicking the plus icon next to the page list on the left side.

You do not have to set up all your sections at once. Most people start with one or two and add more as they figure out what they need to track. OneNote lets you move pages and sections around later, so there is no penalty for changing your mind.

Syncing and accessing your notebook across devices

If you created your notebook in OneDrive or SharePoint, OneNote syncs it automatically whenever you make changes. This means if you edit a note on your computer, the change appears on your phone within seconds — as long as both devices are connected to the internet. You do not have to manually save or upload anything.

To open a cloud notebook on another device, sign into OneNote with the same account you used to create it. The notebook will appear in your list of notebooks. If it does not show up right away, wait a few seconds and refresh the page, or check that you are signed into the correct account.

Local notebooks do not sync automatically. If you want to move a local notebook to the cloud later, you can do that through File > Info > Convert to Cloud Notebook. OneNote will upload it to OneDrive and keep syncing it from then on.

Organizing multiple notebooks

If you create more than one notebook, OneNote shows them all in a list on the left side of the screen. You can switch between notebooks by clicking their names. If the list gets long, you can pin your most-used notebooks to the top by right-clicking them and selecting Pin to Quick Access.

Think about whether you need separate notebooks or whether sections within one notebook would work better. A single notebook with multiple sections is easier to search across — if you have a notebook for "Work" with sections for each project, you can search the whole notebook at once. Multiple notebooks are better if you want to keep things completely separate, like one for work and one for personal use, or one for each year.

What to do if something goes wrong

If OneNote does not create the notebook or you see an error message, the most common cause is a permissions problem with your cloud storage. If you chose OneDrive or SharePoint, make sure you are signed in and that your account has space available. If your OneDrive is full, OneNote cannot create a new notebook there.

If you created a local notebook and cannot find it, check your Documents folder — that is where OneNote stores them by default. You can also go to File > Open and browse to the location where you saved it. If you created a cloud notebook and it is not showing up, sign out of OneNote completely, then sign back in. Sometimes the notebook list does not refresh until you do.

If you accidentally created a notebook in the wrong place, you can delete it and start over. Right-click the notebook name and select Delete Notebook. OneNote will ask you to confirm before removing it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change where a notebook is stored after I create it?

You can convert a local notebook to OneDrive by going to File > Info > Convert to Cloud Notebook. However, you cannot move a cloud notebook back to local storage — you would have to create a new local notebook and copy your notes over manually.

What is the difference between a section and a page?

A section is a container that holds multiple pages, like a folder. A page is where you actually type your notes. Think of a notebook as a binder, sections as dividers inside it, and pages as the sheets of paper. You can have as many pages as you want in each section.

Do I need a Microsoft account to create a notebook?

You need a Microsoft account to use OneNote on the web or to store notebooks in OneDrive or SharePoint. If you only want to create local notebooks on your computer, you can use the desktop app without signing in, though signing in gives you access to cloud storage and syncing.

Can multiple people edit the same notebook at the same time?

Yes, if the notebook is stored in OneDrive or SharePoint and you have shared it with others. Everyone with permission can open it and edit it simultaneously. OneNote shows you who else is viewing the notebook and highlights changes made by other people.

How much space does a notebook take up?

The size depends on how many notes you add and whether they include images or attachments. A notebook with mostly text takes very little space. If you store it in OneDrive, it counts against your storage limit — most people get 5 GB free, though that is shared with email and other files.