Creating a notebook takes less than a minute
A new OneNote notebook starts with opening the app and clicking + Add Notebook in the left sidebar, then naming it and choosing where to store it. The whole process takes about 30 seconds. After that, OneNote creates the notebook structure automatically — you get a blank notebook with one default section, and you can add more sections and pages as you work.
The location you choose matters because it determines who can see the notebook and how it syncs across your devices. OneNote notebooks live in OneDrive (your personal cloud storage), SharePoint (shared team storage), or your local computer. Most people use OneDrive because it syncs automatically to all their devices and lets them share with others if they want to.
Key Takeaways
- Click + Add Notebook in the left sidebar, give it a name, and pick OneDrive, SharePoint, or local storage.
- OneDrive notebooks sync across all your devices automatically and are easiest to share with others.
- You can rename, move, or delete a notebook anytime after creating it without losing your notes.
- Sections organize your notebook by topic, and pages within sections hold your actual notes.
Step 1: Open OneNote and find the Add Notebook button
Launch OneNote on your computer or open it in a web browser at office.com. Look at the left sidebar — you'll see your existing notebooks listed there. At the bottom of that list, you'll see + Add Notebook. Click it.
If you're using OneNote on a phone or tablet, the button location changes slightly. On mobile, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the top, then look for Add Notebook or a plus icon. The process is the same, just the button lives in a different spot.
Step 2: Name your notebook and choose a storage location
A dialog box appears asking for a notebook name. Type something that describes what the notebook is for — "Work Projects", "Home Renovation", "Class Notes", or whatever fits your use. Be specific enough that you'll recognize it in your sidebar six months from now.
Next, you'll choose where to store it. OneDrive is the default and the best choice for most people because your notes sync to all your devices and you can share the notebook with others. SharePoint is for team notebooks that multiple people work on together — your workplace usually sets these up. This Computer stores the notebook only on the device you're using right now, with no syncing or sharing.
If you pick OneDrive or SharePoint, OneNote asks which folder to save it in. The default location works fine. Click Create and OneNote builds the notebook.
Step 3: Start adding sections and pages
Your new notebook opens with one blank section called "Section 1". You can rename it when ready by right-clicking the section tab at the top and choosing Rename Section, or just start typing notes and rename it later.
To add more sections, right-click next to the section tab and choose New Section, or click the plus icon if you see one. Each section acts like a folder for related pages. Within a section, you create pages by clicking + New Page on the right side. Pages are where you actually write your notes.
You don't have to plan your structure perfectly before you start. You can add sections, rename them, move pages between sections, and reorganize everything as your needs change. OneNote is flexible about structure.
Understanding notebooks, sections, and pages
OneNote's structure has three levels, and understanding them makes the app much easier to use. A notebook is the top level — the whole thing you just created. Think of it like a physical binder. Inside the notebook are sections, which are like dividers in that binder. Inside each section are pages, which are like individual sheets of paper where you write.
Most people create one notebook per major area of their life — one for work, one for personal projects, one for a class. Then they use sections to organize by topic within that notebook. For example, a work notebook might have sections for "Meetings", "Projects", "Ideas", and "Reference". Each section contains pages for specific notes.
This structure keeps your notes organized without being rigid. You can move pages between sections, create subsections (called section groups), and even move entire sections to different notebooks if your needs change.
Choosing between OneDrive, SharePoint, and local storage
OneDrive is the right choice if you use OneNote on multiple devices — your computer, phone, and tablet all see the same notebooks and stay in sync. Changes you make on one device appear on the others within seconds. OneDrive notebooks are also easiest to share: you can give specific people access to read or edit without sharing your entire account. This is the default and what most individual users pick.
SharePoint is for team notebooks. Your workplace sets up a SharePoint site, and notebooks stored there are visible to everyone on the team. Multiple people can edit the same notebook at the same time, and OneNote tracks who made which changes. If your workplace uses Microsoft Teams, team notebooks often live in SharePoint automatically.
This Computer stores the notebook only on the device you're using. It doesn't sync anywhere, and you can't share it without manually copying files. Pick this only if you have a specific reason not to use OneDrive — for example, if you're on a computer you don't own and don't want to sign in to your account.
What to do after you create your notebook
After OneNote creates the notebook, you can start typing notes when ready. Click on the blank page and begin writing. You can format text, add images, create tables, record audio, and attach files — OneNote handles all of it.
If you want to invite others to see or edit your notebook, right-click the notebook name in the sidebar and choose Share. OneNote opens a sharing dialog where you can enter email addresses and decide whether people can edit or only view. This works smoothly if the notebook is on OneDrive; SharePoint notebooks have their own sharing controls.
You can also rename, move, or delete the notebook anytime. Right-click the notebook name and you'll see those options. Deleting a notebook moves it to your recycle bin, so you can recover it if you change your mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create a notebook without signing in to Microsoft?
No. OneNote requires a Microsoft account to create and sync notebooks. If you don't have one, you can create a free account at outlook.com. Local notebooks (stored on your computer only) don't sync, but you still need to sign in to use the app.
What's the difference between a notebook and a section?
A notebook is the container for everything — think of it as a binder. Sections are dividers inside the notebook that organize your notes by topic. Pages are the individual notes inside each section. You need at least one section per notebook, but you can have as many as you want.
Can I move a notebook to a different storage location after I create it?
Not directly. OneNote doesn't have a built-in move function. If you need to change where a notebook is stored, you can create a new notebook in the right location, copy your notes over, and delete the old one. For most people, OneDrive is the right choice from the start.
Will my notebook sync if I'm offline?
Yes. OneNote works offline and syncs your changes when you reconnect to the internet. You can keep writing notes, creating pages, and editing without an internet connection. When you go back online, OneNote automatically uploads your changes.
How many notebooks can I create?
There's no practical limit. You can create as many notebooks as you need. Most people find that three to five notebooks (one per major area of life or work) is enough, but you can organize however works for you.