Creating Your First Notebook

Get started with OneNote by creating your first notebook. We'll walk you through the process step-by-step and share best practices for organizing your notes.

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3
Steps to Create
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2 min
Time Required
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Difficulty
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Platforms

What is a Notebook?

In OneNote, a notebook is the top-level container for all your notes. Think of it as a digital binder that contains sections (like divider tabs) and pages (like sheets of paper). You can create multiple notebooks for different purposes - one for work, one for personal use, one for a specific project, etc.

SCREENSHOT HERE OF OneNote interface showing the notebook hierarchy: Notebook > Section > Page structure in the navigation pane

Creating Your First Notebook

Method 1: Creating a Notebook in OneNote Desktop

1

Open OneNote

Launch OneNote on your computer. If this is your first time, you'll see a welcome screen.

File > New > Notebook
2

Click 'Create Notebook'

Look for the 'Create Notebook' or 'New' button, usually found in the File menu or on the start screen.

3

Choose a Name

Enter a descriptive name for your notebook. Good examples: 'Work Notes', 'Personal Journal', 'Project Alpha'.

4

Select Storage Location

Choose where to store your notebook - OneDrive (recommended for sync) or locally on your computer.

5

Create and Start Using

Click 'Create' and your notebook will be ready to use with a default section and page.

SCREENSHOT HERE OF the "Create Notebook" dialog box showing name field, storage location options (OneDrive vs This PC), and Create button

Method 2: Creating a Notebook on OneNote Web

1

Go to OneNote.com

Open your web browser and navigate to onenote.com. Sign in with your Microsoft account.

2

Click 'New Notebook'

Look for the '+ New notebook' button on the main page or in the notebooks list.

3

Enter Notebook Details

Provide a name for your notebook. Web version automatically saves to OneDrive.

4

Start Taking Notes

Your notebook opens immediately with a blank page ready for your first notes.

SCREENSHOT HERE OF OneNote.com interface showing the "New notebook" button and the notebook creation form

Notebook Naming Best Practices

Good Notebook Names

  • Work Projects 2024
  • Personal Journal
  • Marketing Campaign Notes
  • Study Notes - Biology
  • Home Renovation Planning
  • Meeting Notes - Team Alpha

Avoid These Names

  • Notebook1, Notebook2
  • Notes (too generic)
  • Untitled
  • asdfgh (random characters)
  • New Notebook
  • Temporary
Pro Tip: Use descriptive names that will make sense to you months later. Include the year or project name to keep things organized as you create more notebooks.

Understanding Notebook Structure

Once you create your notebook, you'll see the three-level hierarchy that makes OneNote so powerful:

1

Notebook Level

The main container (e.g., "Work Notes")

2

Section Level

Categories within the notebook (e.g., "Meetings", "Projects")

3

Page Level

Individual notes within sections (e.g., "Weekly Team Meeting - Jan 15")

SCREENSHOT HERE OF a newly created notebook showing the default "New Section 1" and "Untitled page" with the three-level structure clearly visible in the navigation

Setting Up Your First Sections

After creating your notebook, you'll want to add sections to organize your content. Here are some common section structures:

Work Notebook

  • Daily Notes
  • Meeting Minutes
  • Project Planning
  • Ideas & Brainstorming
  • Reference Materials

Student Notebook

  • Lecture Notes
  • Assignments
  • Study Guides
  • Research
  • Class Schedule

Personal Notebook

  • Daily Journal
  • Goals & Plans
  • Recipes
  • Travel Planning
  • Health & Fitness

Adding Your First Section

Creating a New Section

1

Right-click on Sections Area

In the navigation pane, right-click in the sections area (where you see 'New Section 1').

2

Select 'New Section'

Choose 'New Section' from the context menu that appears.

3

Name Your Section

Type a descriptive name for your section (e.g., 'Meeting Notes', 'Daily Tasks').

4

Press Enter

Press Enter to confirm the section name. Your new section is now ready to use.

SCREENSHOT HERE OF the right-click context menu showing "New Section" option and the process of renaming a section

Congratulations! You've successfully created your first OneNote notebook and learned the basic structure. You're now ready to start taking notes and exploring more advanced features.

Next Steps

Now that you have your first notebook set up, here's what to explore next:

Remember: OneNote automatically saves your work, so you never have to worry about losing your notes. Everything syncs across your devices when connected to the internet.