Export a OneNote section as a PDF in three steps

Open OneNote and find the section you want to export. Right-click on the section name in the left panel, then select Export. Choose PDF as the file format, pick where to save it on your computer, and click Export. OneNote converts the entire section — all pages inside it — into a single PDF file.

The process works the same way whether you use OneNote on Windows, Mac, or the web version. The PDF includes all the text, images, and handwritten notes in that section, formatted as they appear in OneNote. Tables, embedded files, and links all transfer over.

If you only want to export one page instead of a whole section, right-click the page name and select Export, then choose PDF. The steps are identical — OneNote just exports that single page instead.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click the section name in the left panel and select Export to start the process.
  • OneNote exports the entire section as one PDF file, including all pages, images, and notes inside it.
  • You can export a single page the same way by right-clicking the page name instead of the section name.
  • The PDF preserves text, images, handwritten notes, tables, and links exactly as they appear in OneNote.
  • The export feature works identically on Windows, Mac, and OneNote online.

Where the exported PDF saves on your computer

When you click Export and choose a location, OneNote opens a save dialog. By default it suggests your Downloads folder, but you can navigate to any folder you want — your Documents folder, Desktop, a project folder, or anywhere else. Type a name for the PDF file or keep the section name that OneNote suggests.

After you click Save, OneNote creates the PDF and closes the dialog. The file is now on your computer and ready to open, email, or share. You can find it by opening your file manager and navigating to the folder where you saved it.

What happens to links and embedded files in the PDF

Text and images export cleanly into the PDF. Hyperlinks — web addresses and links to other OneNote pages — become clickable links in the PDF, so you can click them to open websites or documents. Embedded files like Word documents or spreadsheets that you attached to a OneNote page do not transfer into the PDF itself. Instead, the PDF shows a placeholder or icon where the file was, but the actual file is not included.

If you need to share embedded files along with your notes, you have two options. Export the section to PDF as usual, then separately attach or email the embedded files. Or, instead of exporting to PDF, share the OneNote section directly with the people who need it — they can then view everything including embedded files inside OneNote itself.

Exporting multiple sections at once

OneNote does not have a built-in button to export multiple sections in one action. You have to export each section separately by right-clicking its name and selecting Export. If you have five sections to export, you repeat the process five times. Each one becomes its own PDF file.

To make this faster, export all the sections to the same folder with clear names — like "Section 1 - Project Notes.pdf" and "Section 2 - Research.pdf". That way all the PDFs are together and straightforward to find. If you need all sections combined into a single PDF, export them individually, then use a free PDF merger tool to combine them into one file.

Exporting from OneNote on different devices

The export process is the same on Windows and Mac. Right-click the section, select Export, choose PDF, and save. On OneNote for the web, the steps are slightly different: click the three dots next to the section name, select Export, then choose PDF. The result is identical — you get a PDF file on your computer.

If you use OneNote on your phone or tablet, the mobile app does not have an export feature. You have to use OneNote on a computer — Windows, Mac, or web — to export sections to PDF. This is one of the few features that mobile OneNote does not support.

Troubleshooting when export does not work

If you right-click a section and do not see an Export option, check that you are right-clicking on the section name itself, not on a page inside it. The export option only appears when you right-click the section header in the left panel. If you are using OneNote for the web and the export option is missing, try using the desktop version of OneNote instead — the web version sometimes has fewer features depending on your account type.

If the PDF exports but looks wrong — text is cut off, images are missing, or formatting is broken — try exporting again. Sometimes OneNote needs a moment to process the section. If the problem persists, close OneNote completely and reopen it, then try exporting again. Restarting OneNote fixes most export issues.

When to export to PDF instead of sharing the notebook

Export to PDF when you need to send notes to someone who does not have OneNote, or when you want to create a permanent record that cannot be edited. A PDF is a snapshot — once you create it, the content is locked in place. If you later change something in OneNote, the PDF does not update automatically. You have to export again to get the new version.

Share the OneNote notebook directly when the other person needs to see live updates, add their own notes, or access embedded files. Sharing a notebook lets multiple people work in the same space and see changes in real time. Exporting to PDF is better for sending finished work, creating archives, or sharing with people outside your organization who do not have OneNote access.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I export just part of a section, like a few pages?

No, OneNote exports either the entire section or a single page. If you want to export three pages from a section of ten pages, export the whole section to PDF, then use a PDF editor or reader to delete the pages you do not need. Alternatively, create a new section, copy the pages you want into it, then export that new section.

Does the PDF look exactly like OneNote, or does formatting change?

The PDF looks very similar to OneNote, but some formatting may shift slightly. Text, images, tables, and colors transfer over. Handwritten notes appear as images. Page breaks might land in different places because PDF and OneNote handle page sizing differently. Open the PDF and check it before sharing to make sure it looks the way you want.

What file size should I expect from the exported PDF?

The file size depends on how many pages are in the section and whether they contain images or handwritten notes. A text-only section with ten pages might be 500 KB. A section with many images or handwritten content could be several MB. OneNote compresses the PDF, so it is usually smaller than the original OneNote file.

Can I password-protect the PDF after I export it?

OneNote does not add password protection during export. After you create the PDF, you can use a free PDF tool to add a password. Search for "free PDF password tool" and follow the tool's instructions to protect your exported file before sharing it.

If I delete the section from OneNote, does the PDF disappear?

No. Once you export a section to PDF and save it on your computer, the PDF is completely separate from OneNote. Deleting the section from OneNote does not affect the PDF file at all. The PDF stays on your computer wherever you saved it.