Microsoft OneNote now supports a shortcut that has been around on Windows and in other Microsoft apps for ages. Within the note-taking app, you can now press Ctrl + Shift + V to paste text only if you're on a PC. Those on a Mac can use Cmd + Shift + V for the same feature.

The feature is rolling out now to Insiders, and it should make its way to everyone in the near future.

As its name suggests, paste text only allows you to place text you have copied from somewhere else into OneNote without carrying over formatting. The feature aligns the look of any text you paste with the rest of your document, including matching fonts, background colors, and other characteristics.

The lack of a keyboard shortcut for pasting plain text in OneNote has always been a strange omission. Other Microsoft apps have had the capability for years and have supported the Ctrl + Shift + V keyboard shortcut for a while.

I use the paste text only option several times per day to move content between Microsoft Word and the CMS we use to create articles at Windows Central.

Half a decade ago, our Mauro Huculak shared a guide on how to paste text without formatting in OneNote. The app now has an option to "Keep Text Only" after you right-click. But it's nice to see a keyboard shortcut on the way.

I would argue that OneNote needed this feature more than Word, though both apps should support the option. People often gather information from a range of sources to take notes in OneNote.

If you're copying text from websites, PDFs, Word documents, and other locations, you're likely dealing with different formats and fonts. Having a uniform look within a notebook can make notes easier to read and organize, so the paste text only shortcut is a welcome addition.

A keyboard shortcut makes that process easier. The fact that it's the same shortcut that works in other apps is convenient as well.

How to paste text only in OneNote

There are now three ways to paste text only within OneNote (assuming you have access to the new shortcut announced recently). First, you can use the toolbar by going to Home > Paste > Paste Options > Keep Text Only.

Second, you can right-click within a page and select "Keep Text Only."

Lastly, you can use the new Ctrl + Shift + V or Cmd + Shift + V depending on your device's operating system.

Merge table Cells

In the same blog post announcing the paste text only shortcut, Microsoft shared that the ability to merge table cells is now available in OneNote.

The feature works the same way as merging cells in Microsoft Excel, so it should feel like a natural extension within OneNote. To use the feature, select two or more adjacent cells, right click, and select "Merge Cells." You can also perform the same task through the Table tab in OneNote's ribbon menu.

Merging cells in OneNote is also limited to Insiders for the moment as Microsoft performs testing and receives feedback.

Microsoft announced a pair of new features for OneNote this week: Copilot Notebooks and Dynamic DPI support. The former is a larger addition that brings the power of AI and Microsoft 365 Copilot to Notebooks, but the latter has me more excited.

Copilot Notebooks in OneNote

Copilot Notebooks in OneNote let you gather together information from Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Copilot chats into a single space. You can get insights for your project by asking Copilot questions based on content in a specific Copilot Notebook.

Microsoft's Gokul Subramaniam announced Copilot Notebooks in OneNote this week.

OneNote can also generate audio summaries of a notebook for easy listening, as well as summaries, action items, and drafts.

To use Copilot Notebooks in OneNote for Windows, you need to be a commercial customer and have OneNote updated to version 2504 (Build 18827.20128) or later. You also need to have a Microsoft 365 Copilot license and have an active SharePoint or OneDrive license.

Copilot Notebooks look like a useful way to have AI assist you at work. I am admittedly not their target audience, so I'm more excited about a feature that will fly under the radar for many.

Dynamic DPI support

OneNote will no longer appear blurry when switching between monitors with different resolutions. An update to the app adds Dynamic DPI support to OneNote in Windows.

"Gone are the days of blurry screens or fiddling with display settings," shared Khadija Qader in a Microsoft 365 blog post. "Now, OneNote automatically adjusts to your monitor’s resolution on the fly, so everything stays sharp, polished, and easy on the eyes."

Other Microsoft apps, such as Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, already have Dynamic DPI support. To be honest, I was surprised to see that OneNote did not already support the feature.

Qader outlined three situations in which Dynamic DPI improves the OneNote experience:

1. Working with multiple monitors of different resolutions? Simply move your OneNote window from one screen to another. OneNote will instantly adjust to match the monitor’s resolution – giving you a clear, sharp display.  
2. Docking your laptop to an external monitor? Keep OneNote open while you dock your laptop. Once connected, it will automatically adjust to the new screen’s resolution – no blur, no need to restart the app. 
3. Using Copilot Notebooks? Eligible Copilot users can now experience the AI-powered Copilot Notebooks in OneNote with crisp, seamless visuals. Want to learn more? Go to Copilot Notebooks available in OneNote on Windows. 

Dynamic DPI support is available to those in the Current Channel. Make sure that OneNote has been updated to version 2504 (Build 18827.20042) or later to use the feature.

Microsoft's aging OneNote for Windows 10 app is on the way out. That app will reach its end of support on October 14, 2025.

That date may sound familiar since it is also when Windows 10 support ends.

After that date, OneNote for Windows 10 will no longer receive bug fixes or security updates. But the end of support for the app is not the main story of the day.

We've known about the impending end of OneNote for Windows 10 for years. What we now know are details about what will happen to OneNote for Windows 10 over the coming months.

Microsoft shared this message recently:

"As we continue to enhance OneNote with a unified and modern experience, we want to remind you that OneNote for Windows 10 will reach end of support on October 14, 2025. To avoid disruptions, we strongly urge your organization to fully transition to OneNote on Windows (OneNote M365) and uninstall the legacy application as soon as possible. Migrating ensures continued access to the latest features, security updates, and a modernized experience."

That message appears in the Microsoft 365 Message Center and was saved by Microsoft 365 Message Center Archive.

That message also notes that starting in June 2025, OneNote for Windows 10 will "experience slower sync performance, impacting real-time collaboration and multi-device access."

In July of this year, Microsoft will start showing in-app banners within OneNote for Windows 10 that tell users to migrate to the new unified OneNote, also known as OneNote M365.

When does OneNote support end?

Microsoft has had multiple versions of OneNote for several years, but the company has been migrating to a single unified version gradually. This process started years ago and will hit several major milestones this year.

Microsoft began recommending that users move away from OneNote for Windows 10 in 2022. New features for OneNote, such as Copilot, were limited to the new OneNote as well.

OneNote for Windows 10 was once the default version of the app on Windows 10. The new unified OneNote has a refreshed look, access to the latest features, and supports certain features that make it more secure.

While I'm often critical of Microsoft killing apps or services, the migration to a unified OneNote is a different situation. OneNote is not going away.

Microsoft has worked to incorporate popular features from OneNote for Windows 10 into its unified OneNote app. The new OneNote also aligns better visually with Windows 11.

The migration process has been gradual as well, giving users years to move to the unified OneNote app. Microsoft will become more aggressive in the final few months of OneNote for Windows 10, but people have plenty of notice about the upcoming end of support.

On Windows 11, you'll find a new Sticky Notes, which is essentially a redesigned version integrated within the OneNote app.

Although the core features remain the same as in the legacy version, there are a few changes. The most noticeable is that the app is integrated into OneNote rather than a standalone program. Microsoft has also introduced a more modern and visually appealing design that offers organizational improvements. Finally, the new version supports automatic source linking and allows screenshots.

In this how-to guide, I'll outline the steps to start using the Sticky Notes app on Windows 11.

How to get started with Sticky Notes on Windows 11

If you want to get familiar with Sticky Notes, you must know the steps to get and manage it.

Install Sticky Notes

Sticky Notes is now part of the OneNote app, meaning you must have the app before accessing your notes.

If you don't use the Microsoft 365 apps, and you don't have OneNote already installed on your computer, use these steps:

1. Open the OneNote page in the Microsoft Store.

2. Click the "View in Store" button.
3. Click the Install (or Get) button.

Once you complete the steps, you can start using OneNote and Sticky Notes.

Access Sticky Notes

To access the Sticky Notes app, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for OneNote and click the top result to open the app.
3. Click the Sign in button from the top-right side (if applicable).
4. Sign in with your Microsoft account.
5. Click the Sticky Notes buttons from the top-right side.

• Quick note: You only have to go through the process of opening the app from OneNote the first time, and then it'll be available from the Start menu and Taskbar.

6. Right-click the Sticky Notes app in the Taskbar and choose the "Pin to Taskbar" option.

After you complete the steps, you can start managing your notes through the desktop experience.

Alternatively, you can also access Sticky Notes from the Outlook app or the web version of the same app. You can also use OneNote on the web or mobile.

For example, in the Outlook app or web, you can access your notes from your Outlook.com account inside the "Notes" section.

Create and delete Sticky Notes

To create, edit, and delete notes, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Sticky Notes and click the top result to open the app or click the app from the Taskbar.
3. Click the Note button.

4. Compose your note with the information you want.
5. You can access writing features such as bold, italic, underline, bullet points, etc., using the toolbar at the bottom.

1. (Optional) Click the "Pop out the note" button from the top-right to detach the note and add it to the desktop.

1. Click the three-dots menu button from the top-right.
2. (Option 1) Choose a color for the Sticky Note.
3. (Option 2) Choose the Copy Note option to copy the contents of the note to the clipboard, but only to create a new note.
4. (Option 3) Choose the Delete option to erase the note.

Once you complete the steps, you will have a basic understanding of how to manage notes with this application.

If the note is detached from the main interface, you can click on its edge to bring up the toolbar. The left menu button opens the Sticky Notes list, while the "Pin" button enables the always-on-top feature, which keeps the note above other applications when multitasking and switching between apps.

Take screenshots with Sticky Notes

To take screenshots with Sticky Notes, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Sticky Notes and click the top result to open the app or click the app from the Taskbar.
3. Click the Screenshot button to create a capture of the active application and save it into a note automatically.

1. Click on the note to add more context as needed.

Alternatively, you can also click the "Screenshot" button from within the note. It's important to mention that Sticky Notes only allows one screenshot per note.

Dock Sticky Notes to desktop

To dock the Sticky Notes interface on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Sticky Notes and click the top result to open the app, or click the app from the Taskbar.
3. Click the three-dots button to access the main menu.
4. (Option 1) Choose the "Dock to desktop" option to dock the app to the right

1. (Option 2) Choose the "Undock to desktop" option to undock the app.

After you complete the steps, the Sticky Notes interface will dock on the side of the screen, and it'll stay on top, pushing other widows to the left side.

More resources

Find in-depth guides, troubleshooting tips, and the latest updates on Windows 11 and 10 here:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

What you need to know

• Microsoft is testing a new feature in OneNote that uses AI to analyze your hand-written notes.
• OneNote Copilot can already analyze typed notes, but it will soon be able to do the same for written notes.
• The new feature is currently in testing among Insiders running the latest version of OneNote.

Microsoft is eager to use the power of AI to enhance all of its apps and services. OneNote is the latest to get the AI treatment, as the app will soon support analyzing handwriting with Copilot. Insiders can now test the new feature, which can generate summaries, create to-do lists, rewrite your notes, and help you in other ways.

OneNote Copilot can already analyze notes that are typed, but that functionality will soon extend to inked notes. Microsoft announced the rollout of ink support for OneNote Copilot and shared some examples of how to utilize the tool, such as asking Copilot to summarize notes or create to-do lists.

Copilot in OneNote first shipped in November 2023. It uses tech that utilizes large language models to look through your notes. Microsoft lists what you can do with Copilot in OneNote in its support document for the tool:

• Understand your notes by:
  • Generating summaries.
  • Creating to-do lists.
  • Analyzing your ideas.
  • Rewriting your notes for clarity.
• Create new content like event plans and presentation ideas.
• Openly chat with Copilot to receive responses to your prompts.

You can access OneNote Copilot through the app's ribbon or within OneNote's canvas.

Early reviews of the feature appear positive. A comment by user "RicardoWilkins" on Microsoft's Tech Community post states:

"I've used this feature, and it was mind-blowing to see OneNote Copilot answer my question based on a page that had a combination of my handwritten [sloppy, slightly-diagonal] notes, an image of a text document [that OneNote was able to read], and typed notes!"

Saving my studies

I’m grateful for my job being computer-based for many reasons. One of those reasons is that I can read typed text much easier than written text. I struggle to read content written by anyone, even when a person has what’s generally considered to be good handwriting. I also have horrible handwriting myself (the sample at the top of this article is written by our Editor-in-Chief Daniel Rubino). To make my handwriting completely legible, I have to slow down so much that it’s not functional.

With all those factors in play, handwritten notes aren’t a big part of my study habits. I’ve used OneNote and other Microsoft products to convert handwriting to text before, and the tools do a good job of recognizing what I’ve written. But Microsoft’s new AI feature in OneNote will allow the app to analyze written (and typed) text to provide insights. That means I should be able to write things freely as I think of them but then have OneNote summarize the key points of my notes.

Reviewing notes is an important part of absorbing information. I confess that there have been times when I’ve written notes and then not been able to read them later. In other cases, it took more time and effort than I’d like to decipher my writing. Amazingly, Microsoft’s handwriting conversion tools are able to figure out my chicken scratch.

At the moment, OneNote’s new AI analysis feature is limited to Insiders running OneNote version 2404 (Build 17628.20006) or later. I may have to enroll in the Insider program just to test the feature. If not, I’ll eagerly try it once it ships to everyone.

What you need to know

• Microsoft OneNote is now available on Apple's Vision Pro headset.
• You can use it alongside other apps for a better multitasking and note-taking experience.
• The experience is similar to the one on OneNote for iPad.
• Microsoft promises to ship support for Copilot and 2FA to the platform soon. 

Microsoft recently announced the native availability of its productivity note-taking app, OneNote, on Apple's Vision Pro headset. The tech giant is finally delivering on its promise to bring more apps to the augmented headset. At launch, the entry shipped with 7 Microsoft productivity apps, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.

According to Microsoft:

"OneNote will make use of the infinite canvas of spatial computing and can appear side-by-side with other great Microsoft apps like Word, Excel, and Teams at any scale for incredible multitasking."

With OneNote now available on the Apple Vision Pro, users can plan trips, create, edit, and keep track of their task lists in "spatial reality." It's worth noting that the experience will ship with most of the features already available on OneNote for iPad, including the capability to highlight important notes with To Do tags and more. 

Microsoft has also highlighted several features that aren't available on the OneNote experience for the Apple Vision Pro, including Copilot and two-factor authentication. However, these features are expected to ship to the headset soon.

The Apple Vision Pro isn't half as bad as I expected

Apple's flagship augmented headset is turning out to be a hit for most users despite its steep $3,499 price point. When the iPhone maker announced it would dabble its foot in the VR landscape with a flagship augmented headset that could potentially give Microsoft's seemingly abandoned HoloLens a run for its money, critics quickly indicated that it might be a flop even before it ships.

Fast-forward to the headset's launch in February, Apple sold over 200,000 Vision Pro headsets on pre-order. Its reception is great based on the tons of videos going viral across social media platforms with people integrating it into their day-to-day lives. Microsoft Word lead indicated that he might substitute his home theatre with the augmented headset, citing it's "much better, more capable, more fun, and cheaper."

What you need to know

• Microsoft has announced some new features coming to OneNote.
• Some of the highlights include Copilot integration and previewing stream videos.
• These features are only for the OneNote app.
• Some features are available now for current channel users. The rest will be available soon. 

In a blog post on Microsoft's site, Greg MacEachern shared some new features coming soon to the Microsoft OneNote app. It is reiterated multiple times in the post that these features are only for the OneNote app and can't be used for the OneNote for Windows 10 app. There are a good handful of features to discuss, including our favorite new Windows companion, Copilot.

Is Copilot available in OneNote?

For more information on each feature, including support articles in some cases, please check out the original blog post. The apparent headliner of this feature update is the exciting and fresh Microsoft 365 Copilot being added to OneNote to allow users to quickly generate information about the topic they are studying or writing about. 

There is a lot to know about Copilot and how to get started. Still, it is being so permanently integrated into Windows that soon we will all be professionals at generating helpful prompts that return exactly what we are looking for. 

Can you use a digital pen in OneNote?

Microsoft is bringing more support for digital pens and styluses to OneNote. Enhanced text pen & inking gestures are coming to OneNote, allowing handwriting to text for digital pen (or stylus) users, something I like quite a bit on my Surface Book 3 while using it in Tablet mode.

You will even be able to convert old hand-written notes to text by selecting Draw > Lasso Select and choosing Ink to Text on the ribbon. You can learn more about that Ink to Text feature from Windows' website. 

Microsoft promises faster input with text predictions in OneNote, just like in Outlook and Word, so you can enjoy tab-to-complete and rely on Microsoft's algorithms to finish your thoughts. 

What other features are coming to OneNote?

Onenote is excited to bring improved layout options, including vertical tabs to OneNote. Users can experience a similar feel to Outlook and Teams in OneNote with these new UI improvements. 

The final feature coming to OneNote with the upcoming updates is the ability to preview Stream videos inline. That means you can have a Stream video stored in SharePoint or another location, place it in your OneNote application, and view it in the actual note without linking it to an external application. 

Overall, these updates look to make OneNote closer to its more successful family of software in Word, Teams, and Outlook. All the new features will make OneNote more usable, and that's a plus. Not all features seem available, but as they get integrated into OneNote, they should improve the overall experience.

What do you think about these new features for OneNote? Do they miss the mark, or are these good changes? Let us know in the comments. 

What you need to know

• Microsoft is removing the translation feature from OneNote for Windows 10.
• The change is expected to happen in November 2023, with no exact date yet.
• Translation will remain visible beyond this point, but users will encounter an error message.
• Microsoft has provided alternatives for users who want to continue using the feature.

The translation feature in Microsoft OneNote is perhaps one of the most essential accessibility features on the note-taking platform, allowing users to translate selected text into any supported language. In a surprising decision, Microsoft has announced that the feature will no longer be available on OneNote for Windows 10.

According to the official Microsoft support page, the change will take effect later this year in November, as spotted by WinBuzzer. Strangely enough, users will still be able to see the translation feature on OneNote but won't be able to leverage its capabilities. Microsoft explains that users will see an error message whenever they attempt to use it without further explanation for its removal.

Microsoft indicates that the change won't have any functional impact and that users can continue using their notebooks on OneNote for Windows 10 as usual. The only difference is that the native translation feature will no longer be supported. However, if you're a regular translation user concerned about its disappearance, Microsoft has provided several alternatives.

• Download OneNote from the Microsoft Store or the official OneNote website. This is the latest OneNote app with monthly updates through Microsoft 365 that enables you to continue using your existing notebooks and offers the same translation experience you are familiar with in OneNote for Windows 10.
• Purchase or subscribe to any of the following: Microsoft 365 Family or Microsoft 365 Personal, Microsoft 365 Personal, Microsoft 365 Family, Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Microsoft 365 Apps for Business, or Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise. These include the OneNote app that will enable you to continue using your existing notebooks and offer the same translation experience you are familiar with in OneNote for Windows 10.

Imminent transition to the OneNote app

Towards the end of last year, Microsoft kick-started unifying its multiple OneNote Windows apps into one. The company has removed the older OneNote for Windows 10 app from the Microsoft Store and will no longer ship new features. Instead, the company will send some of its features to the OneNote app on Windows. OneNote for Windows 10 is set to hit its end of support in October 2025.

As such, it could be possible that Microsoft is removing some features from OneNote for Windows 10 to hasten the transition process to the OneNote app on Windows.

What you need to know

• Microsoft is making it easier for users to preview videos from Stream (on SharePoint) within OneNote.
• The video streaming experience is exclusively rolling out to OneNote for Windows.
• You must be running version 2306 (Build 16701.10000) or later to access the feature.

Last month, Microsoft highlighted its plan to bring Stream's video streaming experience to OneNote. The company's objective is to let users preview videos from Stream (on SharePoint) in OneNote.

Previously, users had to navigate between multiple apps while trying to preview videos in OneNote which made the process tedious and daunting. Fortunately, Microsoft recently started rolling out the experience to Insiders.

"We have enhanced your video experience by enabling you to play Stream (on SharePoint) videos directly within OneNote. You no longer need to switch to another application. This seamless integration allows you to stay focused on your notes and maintain your productivity without any interruptions," said Daniel Beade, Microsoft's Product Manager on the OneNote team, in the blog post.

For those not conversant with Stream (on SharePoint), it's basically an "intelligent enterprise video experience" designed to help users record, upload, discover, share, and manage videos. 

The platform standouts because it integrates with apps across Microsoft 365, and now OneNote is joining the wave. As such, users will now be able to leverage its capabilities within OneNote.

Users will not be required to make any special configurations to access the experience in OneNote. You can copy and paste the URL of the Stream on SharePoint video you want onto OneNote.

The experience is currently rolling out to Insiders running version 2306 (Build 16701.10000) or later. And as usual, Microsoft rolls out these features in phases. Therefore, you might not be able to access the feature immediately. 

It's also worth noting that the feature is rolling out exclusively to OneNote on Windows users. As such, if you're running OneNote for Windows 10, this feature won't be available.

In other news, Microsoft recently added the option to use superscript and subscript in OneNote for iPad. The feature will allow users to seamlessly incorporate footnotes and type equations into their notes.

What you need to know

• Microsoft has added the option to use superscript and subscript in OneNote for iPad.
• The functionality is currently in preview among Insiders and should make its way to everyone in August 2023.
• Other versions of OneNote already support superscript and subscript, so this feature helps the iPad version catch up.

Microsoft is working on a new feature for OneNote on iPad that brings the app up to date with its counterparts on other platforms. The app will soon support superscript and subscript, allowing users to add footnotes and type equations accurately. Insiders can test out the functionality now, and it should make its way to general availability in August 2023.

"We heard your feedback that many of you use superscript and subscript frequently in other programs and platforms and you want to use them in OneNote for iPad," said Microsoft Product Management intern on the OneNote team Cora Chen in a blog post.

"We’re happy to deliver! With this update, you can use superscript and subscript from the Home tab to quickly create accurate equations, trademarks, footnotes, formulas, and other notations in your notes."

Microsoft outlines how to use the feature as well. "On the Home tab, tap the More Formatting Options button, and then tap Superscript or Subscript."

Superscript and subscript are already supported on other versions of OneNote, so this helps bring the iPad version up to date.

OneNote users with Apple hardware have received several meaningful updates this year. Microsoft unveiled a new OneNote Home tab experience for iPhone last month that went into preview testing recently. Earlier this year, Microsoft added support for dictation with auto-punctuation to OneNote on macOS. That feature was already available on other versions of OneNote but made its way to the Mac version in January.

What you need to know

• Microsoft is testing a new OneNote Home tab experience with iPhone users.
• The feature will let you categorize your notes by date or name.
• You must be an Insider running on version 16.74 (Build 23060500) or later to access this feature.
• Users must be part of Apple's TestFlight program to access the feature, too.

Microsoft unveiled a new OneNote Home tab for iPhone users. The new feature will allow users to easily access and create notes in whichever format they want.

By long pressing OneNote's Home tab on your iPhone, you'll be able to quickly note down an idea you might have, create a to-do list, grab an image and even record a voice memo.

Additionally, the redesign will also allow users to view their notes in a grid or as a list. As such, you can switch to the list view to prevent the app from taking up too much of your screen real estate. 

What's more, you can also categorize them using names or dates, which makes it easier to find specific notes. 

It's also worth noting that you can reorder your notes by tapping on the ellipses at the top right corner and selecting the Filter and Sort option. You can also change the view of your notes by tapping on the ellipses and selecting the List View option.

Microsoft has also shared some tips and tricks that you can use to make the most out of this feature as follows:

• By default, the Home tab will show you a grid view of your recent notes. You can see a thumbnail of each note and its title, as well as any images in the note itself.
• You can sort your notes by title, date created, and date modified.
• You can see a larger preview of each note and its title, as well as the notebook and section it belongs to.

To access the feature, launch OneNote on iOS and tap on the + button on the Home tab. Next, select the specific format you'd like to use to take your notes. 

The feature is currently rolling out to Insiders running Version 16.74 (Build 23060500) or later. Additionally, you must also be part of Apple's TestFlight program to access this feature. Access to the program is often limited to a finite number of users, so you should hurry.

In related news, Microsoft announced its plan to bring Stream 2.0 support and a new unfurl experience to OneNote in a bid to make it easier for users to play and view linked videos within the Windows client.

What you need to know

• You'll soon be able to play and view linked videos within OneNote on Windows.
• The linked videos are resizable and can also be reshaped. 
• Microsoft is yet to announce when the feature is expected to ship to broad availability.
• Stream is a Microsoft 365 Sharepoint service for accessing corporate video and communications. 

Microsoft has highlighted its plans to ship one of the "most-requested" features to OneNote on Windows for educators. The company is working towards adding support Stream 2.0 alongside a new unfurl experience allowing users to embed linked videos to their notes.

And unlike the current arrangement where users are redirected to another app whenever they click on a linked video in OneNote for viewing, they will be able to watch the video within OneNote's desktop client soon.

For those not conversant with Stream 2.0, it is designed to help users record, upload, discover, share, and manage video. It also features better logging and analytics and is integrated with apps across Microsoft 365 to enhance accessibility. Therefore, uploading and using video files stored in SharePoint, Teams, and OneDrive will be easier.

The feature tagged 138601 was added to the Microsoft 365 Roadmap on 14 June 2023. The company has not indicated when this feature is expected to ship to general availability. However, in most cases, these dates are subject to change. We will equally keep you posted in case anything changes.

Microsoft has further added that users can format the linked videos in OneNote, including resizing and reshaping them.

In related news, Microsoft recently added a new feature to OneNote that will let users erase markings they have made on their notes by scribbling over it. The scratch-out gesture can be used to erase words or drawings.

A ton of features have been shipping to the new unified OneNote, including some of the popular features from other versions of OneNote, such as the capability to switch from horizontal tabs to vertical tabs for better navigation. 

Last year, Microsoft hid the old OneNote for Windows 10 from the Microsoft Store, perhaps to get more people to transition to the newer entry. 

What you need to know

• Microsoft is testing a scratch-out gesture in OneNote that allows you to erase content by scribbling over it.
• The feature can be used to get rid of letters, words, or drawings.
• Scratch-out is available to Beta Channel Insiders running version 2304 or later of OneNote.

Microsoft is adding another way to erase content within OneNote. The app already supports digital erasers on the backs of pens and holding a button down to erase. Soon, it will also let you scratch out content.

The new feature, simply called "scratch-out" is currently in testing among Beta Channel Insiders. Those running version 2304 (Build 16322.10000) or later can try it out.

When you scratch out content, OneNote erases it completely. Scribbling over mistakes on paper is a normal way of covering them up, so it should feel natural to do the same thing to erase digital ink.

Microsoft notes in its post announcing the feature that the gesture works best when you cover the content you want to erase completely.

Scratch-out is only available for the unified OneNote, not OneNote for Windows 10. Somewhat confusingly, there have been two versions of OneNote avaialble on Windows for several years, three if you count OneNote for Web. The old OneNote for Windows 10 was hidden from the Microsoft Store last year. 

The new unified OneNote combines features from several versions of the app into a single application that aligns with Windows 11. Microsoft has added some of the popular features from other versions of OneNote to the unified version, such as the option to switch between vertical and horizontal tabs.

What you need to know

• OneNote on Windows now supports horizontal and vertical tabs.
• This brings the design options for OneNote on Windows in line with OneNote for Windows 10 (the two are separate despite having similar names).
• The web, Mac, and iPad versions of OneNote also use a vertical tab layout.

OneNote on Windows can now toggle between horizontal and vertical tabs. The option was announced by Microsoft back in December 2022, and it has since made its way to general availability. Microsoft's Vishnu Nath shared the news about the option rolling out.

Vertical tabs are already an option on most versions of OneNote, including OneNote for web, Mac, and iPad. It's also available on OneNote for Windows 10, which is an entirely separate app than OneNote on Windows.

The new unified OneNote brings together the best features from several versions of the app into one space, aligning Microsoft's efforts on the Windows platform.

"The #1 request we’ve heard from educators and schools looking to move to the OneNote on  Windows (Desktop) version is an option to allow the user interface to look similar to the OneNote for Windows 10 version of OneNote, with pages, sections and notebooks aligned on the left-hand side, and the horizontal tabs to disappear," said Microsoft in December of last year.

For those that prefer the current layout with horizontal tabs, it will remain available.

What you need to know

• The Dictate feature is now available for OneNote for Mac.
• Dictate was already available on OneNote on Windows and the web version of OneNote,
• The tool uses artificial intelligence to let you format spoken text, such as deleting text or pausing dictation.

A powerful feature from OneNote on Windows has made its way to OneNote for Mac. You can now use the Dictate feature when running OneNote on macOS. The tool allows you to format and organize text from speech. It utilizes artificial intelligence to transcribe spoken words into text.

Dictate supports auto-punctuation, though you can disable the feature if you'd like. The feature works with more than 50 languages, all of which are listed in a Microsoft support document. You can also choose to filter out profanity or sensitive language if you'd like.

Here's how to use the feature, as outlined by Microsoft:

1. To launch the dictation experience, click the Dictate button on the Home tab.
2. Click the Dictation Settings button to adjust your preferences and click OK.
3. Start speaking to create your notes.
4. When you’re done dictating, say “stop dictation” or click the Stop Dictation button on the Dictation toolbar.

Microsoft also shared some tips and tricks for the feature:

Click the Help button on the Dictation toolbar to view a list of supported commands in your language.

• If you would prefer not to speak the punctuation marks, click the Dictation Settings button on the Dictation toolbar, and then click the Enable auto-punctuation toggle.
• If you notice accuracy issues, make sure that you are speaking clearly and ensure that there is no background noise.

To use Dictate, your Mac has to have a stable internet connection and a microphone.

What you need to know

• Microsoft will soon add a vertical tabs layout to OneNote on Windows.
• OneNote web as well as the Mac and iPad versions of OneNote already support vertical tabs.
• The new layout will make its way to OneNote in early 2023.

OneNote on Windows will soon support a vertical tabs layout, bringing it in line with other versions of the app on the web, Mac, and iPad. Microsoft's Mike Tholsfen announced the option in a recent Tech Community post and shared screenshots of what it will look like on Windows.

"The #1 request we’ve heard from educators and schools looking to move to the OneNote on Windows (Desktop) version is an option to allow the user interface to look similar to the OneNote for Windows 10 version of OneNote, with pages, sections and notebooks aligned on the left-hand side, and the horizontal tabs to disappear," said Tholfsen.

To meet that request, Microsoft will ship the new layout option in early 2023.

As a reminder, there are two versions of OneNote currently available on Windows — three if you count the web. Microsoft is in the process of unifying the experience into a single OneNote app on Windows. Key features will make their way from the OneNote for Windows 10 app to the unified OneNote.

Microsoft removed OneNote for Windows 10 from the Microsoft Store in October 2022. Those that search for OneNote through the store now will be met with the unified app, which is simply known as OneNote for Windows.

With OneNote for Windows 10 on the way out, Microsoft needs to incorporate many popular features from it to OneNote for Windows. Adding the vertical tabs layout will be another step in that direction.

What you need to know

• Microsoft OneNote has several new features for Insiders to try this fall.
• Many of the options have been available for other versions of OneNote but are making their way to OneNote desktop.
• Mike Tholfsen, a product manager on the Microsoft Education team, demonstrates many of the new features in a recent video.

Office Insiders have several new tools and options to try in OneNote this fall. New pen tools, transcription, ink replay, Immersive Reader for math, and the ability to insert photos from a camera are all in testing. The unified OneNote app is now available in the Microsoft Store as well.

Mike Tholfsen, who is a project manager on the Microsoft Education team, showed the new tools in a recent video. Tholfsen regularly shares how-tos and tips for Office and other Microsoft apps.

Microsoft has confusingly had multiple versions of OneNote on Windows for years. The company is unifying the OneNote desktop experience, though not all features from OneNote for Windows 10 will make their way to OneNote, which is referred to as OneNote desktop by Tholfsen in his video for clarity.

For example, the Ink Replay feature has been available on OneNote for Windows 10 for quite some time, as well as other Microsoft Office applications. It is now in testing for the new unified OneNote app and should become generally available in the future.

The new tools bring some of the most popular features from other versions of OneNote and Microsoft Office to the unified OneNote application. Transcription is powerful within OneNote, as it supports syncing inking and audio recording, allowing you to see what you wrote during specific parts of a recording.

You can test out the latest version of OneNote by signing up to be an Office Insider through Microsoft's website.

What you need to know

• Microsoft is unifying the two OneNote apps on Windows into a single application.
• As part of the process, the company has removed the older OneNote for Windows 10 app from the Microsoft Store.
• OneNote for Windows 10 will continue to work for several years, but it won't receive any new features going forward.
• Microsoft has shifted its focus to the OneNote app on Windows, which will incorporate some features from OneNote for Windows 10.

Microsoft is in the process of unifying its OneNote experience on Windows. In August of 2021, the company announced that it would bring together its multiple OneNote apps on Windows into a single application. The merger took a step forward this week, as Microsoft removed the old OneNote from the Microsoft Store and added the new OneNote.

Up to this point, Microsoft has had two versions of OneNote on Windows, three if you count the web. It's a bit confusing, and the naming structure of the apps hasn't helped. Prior to the merge, there was one app simply called "OneNote" and another called "OneNote for Windows 10," which, just to add to confusion, was also available on Windows 11.

To make things simpler, Microsoft is merging the OneNote experience into a single app. Rather than creating a third OneNote app, the company is bringing features from both apps into the OneNote app on Windows. While OneNote on Windows will gain some of the features of OneNote for Windows 10, it's important to note that it will not gain everything from the older app.

Microsoft outlines its plans and answers questions about the switch in a recent Tech Community post.

With the introduction of the OneNote app on Windows to the Microsoft Store, the OneNote for Windows 10 app has been removed from the Microsoft Store, or at least hidden. The old app will continue to work, but it won't get any new features going ahead. It will reach end of support in October 2025, giving holdovers a while to migrate.

Of course, you may already have the OneNote app on Windows. It's been available for free for quite some time. Today's news is simply that the app is available through the Microsoft Store and that the older OneNote app's listing is hidden.

If you don't want to move away from the OneNote for Windows 10 app, you can still download it through this link. That version of the app won't appear if you search for "OneNote" in the Microsoft Store, but if you use the direct link, you'll be able to grab the older version (via The Verge).

What you need to know

• Microsoft is detailing its new ‘Pen Focused Mode’ in OneNote on Windows.
• The new feature is a full-screen option when inking, so there are no distractions.
• The new ability is rolling out to some Office Insiders in the beta channel.

With the launch of the new Surface Pro 9 today, Microsoft is also releasing its new ‘Pen Focused View’ for OneNote on Windows. And Pratik Das, Product Manager on the Office Natural User Interface team, gives an in-depth look at the new feature in the latest blog post.

The tl:dr of Pen Focused View is it is effectively a full-screen inking mode in OneNote. 

Whereas OneNote is known chiefly for keyboard notetaking with the ability to add ink, it was never designed to be an “inking first” type experience. Instead, Microsoft has things like Whiteboard and Journal, but neither is explicitly focused on notetaking per se.

Now, users can enter a full-page view with a simple toggle under the Drawing tab. Even more, the view is set by default when you open OneNote and your Surface Pen is undocked, e.g., double-click the top button. Of course, like all things, this feature is an option, and it can be disabled under Options > Advanced > Pen.

Even the Pen Toolbar can be hidden, giving a very full-screen effect.

Microsoft suggests this new feature can be used for jotting down “notes with your pen during a meeting, lecture, or training session,” “brainstorm a concept with ink,” and pasting “a screenshot and use ink to add ink annotations.”

One catch to this is Pen Focused View is only available to those enrolled in the Office Insider program, specifically the Beta channel. You’ll need Version 2210 (Build 15724.10000) or later to get the feature (the current Beta build is 2211). And even then, Microsoft remarks that not everyone gets the feature due to them “slowly releasing to larger numbers of Insiders.”

Enrolling in the Office Insider Program is easy, especially with our quick guide, which explains everything.

Overall, this new OneNote feature seems especially useful for those who love to ink for taking notes but didn’t care for the compromised experience with OneNote.

What you need to know

• A new Dictate feature is rolling out to Microsoft OneNote.
• The feature supports AI-powered voice commands to control dictation, such as deleting text or undoing a recent step.
• Dictate is available for anyone using OneNote for the web and Insiders using OneNote for Windows.

Microsoft has a new Dictate feature in the works for OneNote. At the moment, the tool is available for anyone using OneNote for the web and Insiders using OneNote for Windows. It supports AI-powered voice commands that can be used to format and edit text, such as deleting a word or undoing a recent step. Microsoft plans to add more voice commands to Dictate over the coming months.

Dictate works with over 50 languages and provides an alternative way to input text within OneNote.

"Now it’s easy to break away from the keyboard and stay in the flow by using Dictate with AI-backed voice commands to add, format, edit, and organize your text," explains Sofia Thomas, Product Manager of Microsoft's Office Voice Team. "Over the next few months, we’ll be adding new voice commands as well as some that are already available in other Office apps to OneNote."

Microsoft outlines the steps to use AI voice dictation in its Insider blog post: 

• To launch the dictation experience in OneNote, click the Dictate button on the Home tab.
• Click the Dictation Settings button to adjust your preferences.
• Start speaking to create your notes.
• When you’re done dictating, say “stop dictation” or click the Stop Dictation button on the Dictation tab.

To use the feature, you need to have a stable internet connection and, of course, a working microphone.

Dictate is rolling out to everyone using OneNote for the web. It's only available for Insiders running Beta Channel Version 2207 (Build 15427.10001) on OneNote for Windows.

What you need to know

• Microsoft has unveiled a huge update coming soon to OneNote on Android.
• The new OneNote introduces an updated UI and new "Home" tab.
• The Home tab enables quick capture of text, voice, ink, and photos. 

Microsoft has unveiled a huge update coming soon to the OneNote app on Android that introduces a new "Home" experience tab that the app now defaults to when you open it. This new Home tab provides an overview of recent sticky notes, as well as entries in your OneNote notebooks, including text, voice notes, ink, and photos.

In addition to the new Home tab, the app is getting an improved UI that better utilizes gestures. Users can now swipe down to sync notes, and long-pressing on a card on in the Home tab will present the user with different options such as deleting, moving, copying, sharing, or adding notes to your home screen.

There's also a new quick capture bar along the bottom of the app, which provides one-touch access to creating a text entry, voice note, inking session, or photo capture.

Unfortunately, Microsoft notes that this new OneNote experience is not available on Android tablets or the Surface Duo.  The company does say it will be bringing these new experiences to OneNote on other platforms soon, so perhaps Microsoft views Android tablets and Surface Duo as "other platforms?" 

Either way, users can try out the new OneNote experience on Android today by downloading the latest build of OneNote that's rolling out now. The update is rolling out in waves, so you may not get it right away.

What you need to know

• Microsoft is working to unify the OneNote and OneNote for Windows 10 apps into a single experience.
• The company recently discussed its progress in the unification process.
• The updated OneNote has a refreshed visual interface, an optional simplified ribbon, and new features for inking and input.

Microsoft is on a mission to unify the OneNote experience on Windows. At the moment, there are two OneNote apps on Windows. Microsoft plans to bring the feature sets of those apps together to create a unified OneNote with the best of both worlds. A recent Tech Community post from the company outlined the changes that have rolled out as well as features that are on the way.

The app simply called "OneNote" is the one that will receive new features, including imported functionality from the other OneNote app. "OneNote for Windows 10" continues to function, but the future of the platform is elsewhere on Windows.

The updated OneNote should help users better capture, organize, and share content, according to Microsoft.

The refreshed OneNote has a new navigation pane and full-screen mode. The page list, section tabs, and notebook dropdown all have a new look to align with Windows 11. The app uses the Mica effect, which is a type of blur that's used throughout Microsoft's OS.

Much to the delight of corner enthusiasts, the updated OneNote has rounded corners throughout the app. Microsoft said that it " obsessed over every rounded corner and animation" when redesigning the app.

The updated draw tab of the app now works similarly to those in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The new OneNote supports Ink to shape, a ruler, and Ink to Text. Tactile signal support allows OneNote to provide feedback when writing on the Surface Slim Pen 2 on the Surface Laptop Studio or Surface Pro 8.

OneNote also has an optional simplified ribbon that takes up less room than the standard one.

Note that some of the features are available now while others are on the way.

Here are the features that are already available for OneNote users in the Current Channel:

• Ink to shape
• Ink to text with font size awareness
• Page sorting
• Update under lock  

The ability to insert pictures from a camera and the updated share experience are available now for Insiders. Microsoft also has plans for more writing features, including pencil, ink replay, and a new pen focus view.

A transcription and ink tool is also on the way. The feature allows you to annotate, write notes, and highlight while the app transcribes someone's speech. OneNote will also have new dictation features in the future.

The latest version of OneNote (the one gaining new features) comes preinstalled as part of Office on Windows 11. It can also be downloaded as a standalone app through Microsoft's website.

What you need to know

• OneNote has a laundry list of features that have either recently rolled out, are rolling out, or are upcoming.
• One of those is auto-inking with a stylus.
• Improved link sharing within Teams is also coming up.

OneNote in Teams and OneNote for the web are always improving, and Microsoft's latest blog post is proof of that fact. Eight new improvements are either already rolled out, in progress, or slated as upcoming.

If you want the most detail on these eight items, check out Microsoft's blog. Otherwise, here's the short version of what you can expect, according to Microsoft:

1. New mode switcher (Starting to roll out)
2. Improved copy/paste (Rolled out)
3. Zoom in and zoom out (Rolled out)
4. Set picture to background (Starting to roll out)
5. Remember the last page you were on (Starting to roll out)
6. Auto-inking with stylus (Starting to roll out in Chrome and Edge browsers, Teams)
7. Re-size embedded web content as videos (Rolled out)
8. Improved link sharing experience within Teams (Upcoming)

Two of the major items of note there are auto-inking and improved link sharing. The former means that the moment your stylus makes contact with your touch-friendly device's canvas, you can get drawing. Drawing with your finger is also an option, for those of you who prefer that to the stylus route.

As for improved link sharing, coming to OneNote in Teams, here's the scoop on that: Teams will let you know if the person you're messaging with a OneNote link can access the file. If they can't, you can hit the file preview to quickly adjust file permissions. Ergo, you won't have to leave the chat message to fiddle with that sort of thing. The recipient(s) can then open the file on Teams for PC. Mobile's getting the feature soon as well, though there isn't a hard ETA there.

We're back with another exciting episode of the Windows Central Podcast, and this week, we've got the latest happenings with Windows 11, a unification of OneNote apps, initial reports on Windows 365, and more.

This episode of the Windows Central Podcast was recorded on August 6th 2021.

Links:

• Windows 11 Build 22000.120 is now rolling out to Insiders in the Beta and Dev Channels | Windows Central
• Rounded corners are officially the most popular Windows 11 design feature | Windows Central
• The first look at Windows 11's new Snipping Tool is here | Windows Central
• Microsoft to unify OneNote apps on Windows into single experience | Windows Central
• Windows 365: Pricing, availability, features, and everything you need to know | Windows Central
• Xbox Game Pass for PC is not good enough | Windows Central
• Steam Deck: Specs, cost, and everything you need to know | Windows Central
• Razer Anzu smart glasses review: Niche, but not just a gimmick | Windows Central

Subscribe to the podcast

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Hosts

• Daniel Rubino
• Zac Bowden

Make this show great by participating!

Send in your comments, questions, and feedback to:

• Email: wcpodcast@windowscentral.com
• Twitter: @WindowsCentral with hashtag #wcpodcast

What you need to know

• Microsoft will unify the OneNote for Windows 10 and OneNote apps.
• The updated OneNote app will be free, just like the standalone version that's available now.
• People using OneNote for Windows 10 should receive an in-app invitation to update to the OneNote app in the second half of 2022.

Right now, there are two versions of OneNote available for Windows 10, the OneNote app that comes with Office and OneNote for Windows 10. Microsoft will unify these apps into a single OneNote experience. Microsoft explains in a Tech Community post that it is able to combine the apps thanks to improvements in Windows and Office.

The unification won't happen right away. Microsoft will ship a series of updates for OneNote over the next 12 months, including a visual refresh, a new navigational UI layout option, and improvements to inking.

In the future, people using the OneNote for Windows 10 app will receive an in-app invitation to update to the OneNote app. Microsoft anticipates that these invitations will start rolling out in the second half of 2022.

Microsoft's Tech Community post announcing the change has a section answering frequently asked questions. It clarifies that there isn't a third OneNote app coming. Instead, the current OneNote app is "evolving to include new features and key existing features from OneNote for Windows 10." Once that work is completed, people on OneNote for Windows 10 will receive an invitation to switch to the OneNote app.

The updated OneNote app will be free, just like the standalone version of OneNote currently available.

Even after people receive an invitation to move from OneNote for Windows 10, they'll have some time to transition. Like Windows 10 the operating system, OneNote for Windows 10 will reach its end of support in October 2025.

What you need to know

• Samsung and Microsoft announced today that Samsung phones are getting more integrated with Microsoft 365.
• Soon, your Samsung Reminders and Notes can easily be synced to To Do and OneNote.
• The features were announced at Galaxy Unpacked, where Samsung introduced the new Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra.

Samsung and Microsoft have had a growing partnership over the last couple of years, resulting in a number of special integrations between Windows and Samsung's phones. At the launch of Samsung's new Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra, the two companies announced several expansions to this collaboration, one of which is closer integration between Samsung's apps and Microsoft 365. Specifically, Microsoft To Do and OneNote are cozying up with Samsung Notes and Reminders.

As detailed on stage and in a Microsoft blog post, Notes and Reminders can now easily sync with To Do and OneNote. The goal is to make it easier to pick up where you left off on your phone on your PC. From Microsoft:

As for To Do, your Samsung Reminders will automatically sync with Microsoft To Do, Outlook, and Microsoft Teams. You can view and edit them across each of these services, and they'll stay synced up with your phone. For example, if you decline a phone call and create a reminder to call that person back, you'll see that reminder appear in To Do with the option to open the dialer.

There's no word on when these features will launch, but they'll presumably be available initially with the new Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra.

On Windows 10, if you use the desktop version of OneNote, you can password protect sections for an extra layer of privacy to prevent other people from accidentally accessing certain notes with sensitive information.

Although the ability to protect your notes using a password is a useful feature, it's been designed to encrypt sections, not the entire notebook, and protected notes won't appear in searches. You can also use different passwords for each section, but you have to make sure to remember your passwords. If you forget your passwords, you won't be able to access your notes, even if you have a Microsoft account to access your OneNote notebooks.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to protect OneNote's sections with passwords. In addition, we'll also outline the steps to use a protected section as well as manage password settings.

• How to add password to section in OneNote
• How to lock and unlock section of OneNote
• How to change password of section in OneNote
• How to remove password of section in OneNote

How to add password to a section in OneNote

To add a password to a section of OneNote, use these steps:

1. Open OneNote.
2. Right-click the section you want to make private and select the Password Protection menu.

3. Select the Add Password option.

4. Create a strong password for the section.

5. Confirm the new password.
6. Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, the section (not the notebook) will be encrypted with the new password, and it'll be unlocked until you lock it manually.

How to lock and unlock section of OneNote

When using the password protection option with OneNote, you'll always need to lock and unlock sections manually.

Lock section

To lock a section of OneNote, use these steps:

1. Open OneNote.
2. Right-click the section you want to lock and select the Password Protection menu.

3. Select the Lock Section option.Quick tip: You can also select the "Lock All Protected Sections" to lock every section you configured with a password.

After you complete the steps, no one will be able to access the section to view its content.

Unlock section

To unlock a section of OneNote protected with a password, use these steps:

1. Open OneNote.
2. Select the section that's currently locked.
3. Confirm the password in the prompt that appears on the right side.

Once you complete the steps, the pages of the protected section will be available for anyone with access to the Windows 10 account.

How to change password of a section in OneNote

To change the password of a section in OneNote, use these steps:

1. Open OneNote.
2. Right-click the unlocked section and select the Password Protection menu.

3. Select the Change Password option.

4. Confirm the old password.
5. Create a strong password for the section.

6. Confirm the new password.
7. Click the OK button.

After you complete the steps, you can start using the new password to unlock the section.

How to remove password of a section in OneNote

To stop using a password to access a section of OneNote, use these steps:

1. Open OneNote.
2. Right-click the protected section and select the Password Protection menu.

3. Select the Remove Password option.

4. Confirm the current password.
5. Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, the section will no longer be protected by a password, and anyone with access to the device will be able to view contents as long as you're logged in OneNote with your Microsoft account. If you have additional sections using passwords, you may need to repeat the steps on each section to disable the encryption feature.

What you need to know

• Dark mode is now live in OneNote for Android.
• This update also adds a "modern" inking experience to the mix.
• Other tweaks include pull-to-refresh and the ability to reorder sections.

If you've been waiting for OneNote on Android to finally jump on the dark mode wagon, the time has arrived. Microsoft announced this week that dark mode is now rolling out to OneNote for Android on phones and tablets, bringing it up to par with the iOS app. There are also several other tweaks coming along with this update, including a "modern" inking experience.

The dark mode is pretty straightforward. You can enable it from your app settings, at which point you'll be prompted to close the app and open it again to set the theme. The white background of the app is then replaced with a black background and text that's white or grey. The look can also be set to follow your default system theme.

The inking experience now features more colors as well. From Microsoft:

Lastly, you can now reorder notebook sections, which means both pages and sections can now be moved around at will. A new gesture has also been added, which allows you to drag your finger down and let go to re-sync your notebooks.

Microsoft's blog post on the update makes it unclear when this update will arrive for everyone. However, an update to the OneNote Insider Tech Community page makes it clear that it's at least available for beta testers as of this week. Should testing go well, it should arrive for everyone in the coming weeks.

What you need to know

• Microsoft is preparing to merge modern features and code with its OneNote 2016 desktop app.
• Features like @mentions, To Do integration, and Microsoft Search are in the pipeline.
• The news comes after Microsoft revealed this week that OneNote 2016 will get extended support, along with a dark mode.

Microsoft gave OneNote 2016 a stay of execution earlier this week, revealing that it is extending support for the app to October of 2023. As it turns out, Microsoft has bigger plans for the OneNote desktop app, however. In an Ignite 2019 session today, Microsoft laid out plans for merging modern code and features back into the OneNote 2016 desktop app, which is a pivot in focus to begin operating under one codebase.

When it announced extended support for OneNote 2016, Microsoft said that a dark mode is also coming to the app. Beyond that, however, Microsoft plans to bring more modern features like @mentions and integration with Microsoft Search to the desktop app. There are also plans to integrate Microsoft To Do, which has already come to apps and services like Outlook and Microsoft Launcher on Android.

Notably, Microsoft previously continued to push the OneNote Universal Windows Platform (UWP) app over its traditional desktop counterpart as part of the Office suite. As part of this pivot, Microsoft is also shifting back to OneNote 2016 as the default version of the app that will be deployed and installed with Microsoft 365 subscriptions.

"We also want to make deployment and installation easier for organizations and individuals, so for Windows users, starting in March 2020, when you deploy or install Office 365 subscriptions that include the Office desktop apps or Office 2019, the OneNote desktop app will be installed by default alongside Word, Excel, and PowerPoint," Microsoft said in a blog post this week.

Where that leaves the UWP app is unclear, but we'll presumably see Microsoft flesh out its vision for OneNote in the coming months.

Updated November 7, 2019: A Microsoft engineer clarified the team's path in a Reddit post, stating the following:

What you need to know

• Microsoft announced an extension of support for OneNote 2016.
• OneNote 2016's mainstream support now matches Office 2019's.
• OneNote 2016 will also gain a dark mode.

OneNote 2016 may be a few years old, but Microsoft realizes that it is the preferred version of OneNote for some people. To allow people to use the version of OneNote that they like, Microsoft announced an extension of support for OneNote 2016. Mainstream support for OneNote 2016 now lasts until October 10, 2023 and extended support lasts until October 14, 2025.

The extension of mainstream support aligns OneNote 2016's support cycle with that of Office 2019. Microsoft also announced that starting in March 2020, when a person deploys or installs certain Office 365 subscriptions, the OneNote desktop app will be installed by default along with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. People can also install OneNote 2016 directly from Microsoft.

In addition to the extension of support, Microsoft announced that OneNote 2016 will gain a dark mode. This dark mode helps OneNote 2016 match with other versions of OneNote. A new post from the Office 365 blog details the extension of support and OneNote's dark mode.

What you need to know

• OneNote, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel for iOS now have a dark mode.
• The dark mode has been in testing for beta testers since earlier this month.
• All of Microsoft 365 will receive dark modes over time on iOS and Android.

Updated October 15, 2019: Dark mode is now rolling out for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on iOS as well. The original story follows.

Microsoft OneNote now has a dark mode for iOS users. OneNote is the lastest Microsoft 365 app to jump on the dark mode train, following OneDrive and Microsoft To Do. Microsoft is working on bringing a dark mode to all of Microsoft 365, and it's expected that Word, Excel, and PowerPoint could soon gain dark modes as well.

Dark modes all generally serve the same purpose. They replace the majority of white backgrounds and some lighter elements with dark counterparts. The end result is an app that reduces eye strain and can save battery life depending on the device that you're using. OneNote is a particularly bright app when in light mode because of the large white canvases and menus within the app. Dark mode switches these to canvasses that are easier on the eyes.

Microsoft has been testing dark mode through beta testers since earlier this month. It is now generally available. Dark mode for OneNote on iOS comes with version 16.30. The update is rolling out now through the App Store.

What you need to know

• Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote are now testing dark mode on iOS 13.
• The move is part of an overall dark mode rollout across the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
• Insiders beta testing each app through TestFlight can grab an early look at dark mode across all four apps on iOS 13 now.

More apps in the Office ecosystem across iOS 13 are picking up a fresh dark mode look today — at least for beta testers. Microsoft revealed today that the dark modes, which were announced earlier this summer, are now rolling out for Office Insiders testing Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and OneNote on iOS 13.

These dark modes mostly look as you'd expect, with black backgrounds highlighted by white text across each app. There's also plenty of each app's brand color throughout, which pops against the black background. Dark mode can be enabled in each app by toggling your iOS 13 system appearance settings from light to dark.

These rollouts are part of a larger push from Microsoft to roll out dark mode across its Microsoft 365 app lineup. We've seen dark mode roll out to Outlook and OneDrive so far, along with Microsoft To Do earlier today. In August, Microsoft released a video offering an early peek at what dark mode will look like across its lineup.

Assuming testing goes well, Microsoft is planning to release dark mode across these apps to everyone on iOS 13 next week.

All of Microsoft's iOS and Android beta programs, and how to sign up

What you need to know

• OneNote for iOS now supports inking and writing notes with fingers.
• The same update also brings the ability to insert perfect shapes.
• Inking with fingers is already support on OneNote for Windows 10.

OneNote for iOS has a new update that brings support for inking with fingers as well as the ability to insert perfect shapes into notes. The update brings OneNote for iOS to version 16.29 and is available to all users through the App Store.

Users can now draw, write notes, and mark up documents using their fingers, rather than having to use an input device like an Apple Pencil or another supported stylus. This feature is already available on the Windows 10 version of OneNote but is new for iOS according to the app's change log. The addition of finger inking should make it easier for users to add notes, highlights, and other annotations. While many users have Apple Pencils or other supported styli, many elect to only use the iPad with their hands.

The addition of support for shapes also makes it easier to enhance notes. Users can drag and drop shapes and resize them inside of their notes. This is another feature that is already available on the Windows 10 version of OneNote that should be a welcome addition for iOS users.

What you need to know

• iOS users can now import Outlook meeting details into OneNote.
• You can import the date, location, agenda, and attendees using the new feature.
• A similar feature is already available on the Windows 10 version of OneNote.

OneNote on iOS recently received an update that allows users to import Outlook meeting details into OneNote. Users can import the date, location, agenda, topic, and attendees list from an Outlook meeting into OneNote using the new feature. The changelog for OneNote on the App Store outlines the change.

• Get a head start on your meeting notes: Quickly import useful details from any scheduled Outlook meeting into your notes - including date, location, agenda, topic, and attendees.

A similar feature previously rolled out to the Windows 10 version of OneNote. It's a helpful tool for jumping into notes for a meeting without having to spend time adding details that have already been recorded once through Outlook.

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What you need to know

• OneNote on iOS and Android have been updated with new features for images.
• OneNote on Android now lets you set images as backgrounds.
• OneNote on iOS lets you add images to Sticky Notes.

OneNote received an update on iOS and Android that brings new features for images (via OnMSFT). The new features make it easier to enhance notes with images. OneNote on iOS gained the ability to set an image as a background and OneNote on Android now lets you add images to Sticky Notes.

The ability to add Sticky Notes on the Android version of OneNote helps you sync enhanced notes across devices. Sticky Notes can sync to your Windows 10 PC and are designed for quickly jotting things down. In addition to the Sticky Note feature, the OneNote on Android received some bug fixing:

• Add images to Sticky Notes: Insert images from your device or directly from your camera.
• Fixed a typing issue where the cursor would occasionally jump after using auto-correct.

Being able to set a picture on a background within OneNote for iOS makes it easier to mark up an image. With the image as a background, you can ink over it and annotate it without having to deal with the image being an inserted box. Additionally, OneNote for iOS gained the ability to check a page's sync status:

• Set Picture as Background: Lock inserted pictures to the page background, allowing for easier drawing and annotating over images in your notes.
• Page Sync Status: Click the Page Sync Status button to see when the current page was last synced, or to get more information when a temporary issue prevents automatic syncing.

OneNote is available for free on both iOS and Android and allows you to sync notes across all of your devices.

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Each and every one of these charging gadgets will keep your favorite gear and gadgets going for longer, and none of them costs more than $30.

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This compact dual-output powerbank can speedily recharge any and all your devices, thanks to a two-amp "fast charge feature," using its micro-USB out port. Its simple design includes an LED indicator, and it costs about as much as a single ticket to the movies.

Panasonic eneloop AA batteries (From $13 at Dell)

Panasonic's rechargeable batteries are among the best available, and just a couple of them will keep your favorite remote, mice or other peripherals powered up when you need them. They're also eco. And the company's affordable charger fits and charges both AA and AAA batteries at the same time.

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This unobtrusive Qi wireless charging pad looks good (and kind of like a UFO …) and easily charges all your Qi-compatible device up to 5W. Its LED indicator lights up when you're charging. And it costs just $30.

On Windows 10, when copying and pasting content from an external source (such as a website or document), OneNote will paste the text along with the source formatting and source link whether you use the "Ctrl + V" keyboard shortcut or "Paste" option from the right-click context menu.

If you want to paste only the text, you always have to remember to open the context menu, click the sub-menu, and select the "Keep Text Only" option, which is not a complicated process, but it takes extra steps, and you're not likely to remember it every time you import fragments from the web or another document.

Luckily, if you copy and paste content regularly, OneNote includes an option to change the default paste settings to keep text without weird formatting or links.

In this Windows 10 guide, we walk you through the steps to change the default configuration of OneNote to paste just the text without formatting or link.

How to set the default paste option for OneNote

To change the default paste settings for OneNote to keep text only, use these steps:

1. Open OneNote.
2. Click on Settings and More (three-dotted button) in the top-right corner.
3. Click the Settings option.

4. Click on Options.

5. Under the "Paste Options" section, use the drop-down menu as the Keep Text Only option.

6. Turn off the Include link to source option.

Once you complete these steps, when copying content from the web, you can quickly use the "Ctrl + V" keyboard shortcut to paste only the text without the formatting or link to the original source.

If you need to keep or merge the formatting, you can still right-click, click the "Paste" sub-menu, and select the pasting option you need.

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Each and every one of these charging gadgets will keep your favorite gear and gadgets going for longer, and none of them costs more than $30.

VisionTek 8,000 mAh micro-USB power bank ($13 at Dell)

This compact dual-output powerbank can speedily recharge any and all your devices, thanks to a two-amp "fast charge feature," using its micro-USB out port. Its simple design includes an LED indicator, and it costs about as much as a single ticket to the movies.

Panasonic eneloop AA batteries (From $13 at Dell)

Panasonic's rechargeable batteries are among the best available, and just a couple of them will keep your favorite remote, mice or other peripherals powered up when you need them. They're also eco. And the company's affordable charger fits and charges both AA and AAA batteries at the same time.

Belkin Qi Wireless Charging Pad ($30 at Dell)

This unobtrusive Qi wireless charging pad looks good (and kind of like a UFO …) and easily charges all your Qi-compatible device up to 5W. Its LED indicator lights up when you're charging. And it costs just $30.

What you need to know

• Flipgrid will be the default video recording tool inside of OneNote starting in the Fall of 2019.
• Flipgrid is a video platform for schools that allows students to create and share videos on specific topics.
• Microsoft purchased Flipgrid in June 2018.

Flipgrid will be the default video recording tool inside of Microsoft's OneNote starting in the fall of 2019. Flipgrid is a video platform for schools that allows students to create and share videos on specific topics and projects. Its goal is to increase engagement between students.

Microsoft purchased Flipgrid in June of 2018. Now, just over a year later, it's been announced that Flipgrid will become the default video recording tool for one of Microsoft's primary education applications. Flipgrid will become the default video recording tool for OneNote on the web in the Fall of 2019 and is coming to other platforms in the future.

Students and teachers can use Flipgrid to record and embed videos to further illustrate points or share feedback and insight.

Microsoft has released or announced multiple updates to their education platforms and services this month including updates to Microsoft Whiteboard, Minecraft Education Edition, and dozens of new features for OneNote.

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What you need to know

• OneNote and Class Notebooks have received 30 updates.
• Many of these focus on distributing information to specific groups or individuals.
• OneNote Class Notebooks and Microsoft Teams now integrate better than before.

Thirty upgrades are rolling out for OneNote and Class Notebook. A number of the updates to Class Notebook focus on increasing options for distributing content. You can now distribute an individual page to a specific student, create custom groups for distributing pages, distribute multiple pages at once, and distribute a Section Group in a private student notebook. All of the distribution options make it easy to share specific content with those who need to see it without showing it to anyone else. The distribution features are rolling out to Office Insiders now.

Teachers can also lock pages to edits. For example, if they set a due date for an assignment, they can lock the page at the exact time that the assignment is due. This converts the locked page to a read-only page so students can't try to sneak in content after a deadline. This feature recently rolled out to users worldwide on Windows 10, Mac, iPad, and online.

One of the most important updates is the ability to import older notebook content into new notebooks in Teams. This makes it easy for educators to take previous content that they'd like to use again and import it into notebooks for new students.

Additionally, Microsoft Teams now allows educators to integrate OneNote with TurnItIn. The feature is integrated into Teams for Education and automatically checks OneNote pages for plagiarism.

OneNote has also received several updates. Students can generate practice math quizzes directly inside of OneNote. Educators also have an option to send OneNote content to Outlook, set default templates, and publish notebooks to make them available to other people. These updates are rolling out to Office Insiders and will be available generally in the future.

The entire list of available updates can be seen on Microsoft's Education blog.

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What you need to know

• OneNote's Android Beta app has a new icon.
• The app also has a new notebook experience which allows you to reorder pages.
• Sticky Notes inside of the app now support images.

Microsoft is on a tear when it comes to updating the look and feel of their applications. The beta version of OneNote for Android is the latest app to see these changes, including a new icon and a new notebook experience. The application now also supports images inside of Sticky Notes.

Microsoft's new OneNote icon meets the modern design language of the other Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, Your Phone, and Outlook. The new notebook experience allows you to reorder pages and fits in with the modern design of Microsoft's recently updated applications. Additionally, users can now add images inside of Sticky Notes saved to OneNote.

To get the latest update, make sure you've signed up to OneNote's beta program and refresh for updates in the Google Play Store.

See at Google Play

Affordable accessories that'll pair perfectly with your PC

Every one of these awesome PC accessories will enhance your everyday experience — and none cost more than $30.

KLIM Aim RGB gaming mouse ($30 at Amazon)

Whether you're a gamer or not, this is an absurdly good mouse for the price. It's ambidextrous, has a responsive sensor, a braided cable, tank-like build quality, and, yes, it has RGB lighting, though you can turn it off if that's not your thing.

AmazonBasics USB speakers ($16 at Amazon)

These neat little speakers may only pack 2.4W of total power, but don't let that fool you. For something so small you get a well-rounded sound and a stylish design. And they only cost $16.

Razer mouse bungee ($20 at Amazon)

Use a wired mouse? You need a mouse bungee to keep your cable tidy and free of snags. You get no drag on the cable, and this one has subtle styling, a rust-resistant spring and a weighted base, all for $20.

What you need to know

• Microsoft announced several new features for its Office 365 suite today.
• Chief among the additions is the official rollout of a new dark mode for OneNote on Windows.
• Excel for iOS will now let you scan photos of physical spreadsheets to digitize them.

Microsoft today brought several new features to its Microsoft 365 ecosystem, but it's the updates to OneNote and Excel that are likely to catch the most attention.

First up is OneNote, which now sports a dark mode to give your eyes a rest when you're working in the dark. The mode, which has been in testing with Insiders for several weeks now, is available through OneNote's settings menu, and you can even set the app to change automatically with your system theme.

If you frequently work with spreadsheets, the latest update to Excel for iOS is also a big deal. The app now allows you to scan pictures of physical spreadsheets and have them automatically converted to digital Excel files.

The process looks fairly seamless, simply requiring you to open up the camera mode from within the app and snap a picture. From there, you can define an area of the image you want Excel to convert. The app will then have you review any areas that need a little extra human help to make sure they've been converted correctly.

Once you're finished, the spreadsheet or table will appear in the Excel app as a digital file. The feature is available now on iOS and Android and works in 21 languages, Microsoft says.

For a full look at what Microsoft has shipped out for Microsoft 365 in May, you can check out the full blog post.

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What you need to know

• The latest update to OneNote for iOS lets you set pictures as backgrounds.
• The feature makes it much easier to annotate your images, allowing for inking and drawing over them.
• Rolling out now with the latest OneNote update on iPhone and iPad.

OneNote is making it easier to add annotations to your images with its latest update on iOS. Now available for iPhone and iPad, the latest update to Microsoft's signature note-taking app includes the ability to set pictures as backgrounds on your notes.

Using the feature involves a relatively simple set of actions. Once you've added an image to your note, you can press and hold on the image to bring up the context menu. You'll see a new option labeled "Set Picture as Background." Tap it, and you'll then be able to ink and draw over the top of the picture you've selected.

You can grab the new feature with the latest update rolling out now for OneNote on iPhone and iPad.

See at App Store

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Take a gander at these awesome PC accessories, all of which will enhance your Windows experience.

Anker 4 port USB 3.0 hub ($10 at Amazon)

Whether on a desktop or laptop PC, you always need more ports to connect things to. This hub gives you an additional four USB 3.0 Type A ports.

Ikea Fixa Cable Management System ($11 at Amazon)

This IKEA cable management kit is your ticket to a clean setup. It's simple and functional.

NZXT Puck ($20 at Amazon)

This clever little accessory has powerful magnets on the rear to make it stick to any of the metal panels on your PC case or anything else. It's great for hanging accessories like headsets.

Updated May 7, 2019: Microsoft Product Manager Mike Tholfsen has now made it official.

If you were hoping to shield your eyes from OneNote's bright backgrounds when working at night, you'll get your wish soon. As first spotted by Reddit user Grindiot, Microsoft is currently rolling out a dark mode for testing with OneNote Insiders.

The dark mode coats the entirety of OneNote with a range of dark-gray colors, the most prominent of which is the note area itself. In the settings menu, you can toggle OneNote between its dark and light themes, or tell it to follow your Windows theme automatically. The only downside, as noted by one Reddit user, is that switching to dark mode currently darkens your pen colors as well, making some of them less legible.

In addition, Microsoft this week began rolling out a new dialogue box when creating a new notebook, which is intended to be a little more helpful by setting up default sections depending on your scenario. That's in addition to a new context menu that features some Fluent Design elements.

We aren't seeing the new dark mode in OneNote just yet, so it appears that it's slowly rolling out to testers. However, you can grab the latest version of OneNote via the Microsoft Store now to see if it's available for you.

See at Microsoft

Cheap PC accessories we love

Take a gander at these awesome PC accessories, all of which will enhance your Windows experience.

Anker 4 port USB 3.0 hub ($10 at Amazon)

Whether on a desktop or laptop PC, you always need more ports to connect things to. This hub gives you an additional four USB 3.0 Type A ports.

Ikea Fixa Cable Management System ($11 at Amazon)

This IKEA cable management kit is your ticket to a clean setup. It's simple and functional.

NZXT Puck ($20 at Amazon)

This clever little accessory has powerful magnets on the rear to make it stick to any of the metal panels on your PC case or anything else. It's great for hanging accessories like headsets.

OneNote has been busy adding several new features since Microsoft switched its focus to the Universal Windows Platform (UWP) version of the app, and it's about to get another handy one. In a recent Twitter post (via Neowin), Microsoft's OneNote project manager Ben Hodes revealed that you'll soon be able to create default templates for section pages.

If you find yourself frequently using similar layouts for your section pages, then this feature will become very handy. The new "Set as Default Template" option will make it easy to create a page layout and then use it across any new page you create.

In addition to the template feature, Hodes added a nod to another minor new capability headed to OneNote. Appearing in the same menu is the option to sort pages. It looks as though you'll have several different filters to sort your pages by, but we'll have to wait until the feature is available to see the full breadth. However, this aligns with another OneNote feature Microsoft debuted last year, which was the ability to add custom tags to your notes for better sorting.

There's no word on when either new feature will make its way to the release version of OneNote.

See at Microsoft

Cheap PC accessories we love

Take a gander at these awesome PC accessories, all of which will enhance your Windows experience.

Anker 4 port USB 3.0 hub ($10 at Amazon)

Whether on a desktop or laptop PC, you always need more ports to connect things to. This hub gives you an additional four USB 3.0 Type A ports.

Ikea Fixa Cable Management System ($11 at Amazon)

This IKEA cable management kit is your ticket to a clean setup. It's simple and functional.

NZXT Puck ($20 at Amazon)

This clever little accessory has powerful magnets on the rear to make it stick to any of the metal panels on your PC case or anything else. It's great for hanging accessories like headsets.

Microsoft introduced a new look for its Office app icons late in 2018, and they've been slowly making their way out to users since. The latest app to see an icon overhaul is OneNote, which recently picked up its redesigned look on both Windows 10 and iOS (via OnMSFT).

You'll now find the refreshed icon, complete with a modern look that matches the other redesigns, in the start menu, on your home screen, and within the app itself.

In addition to the revamped look for its icon, OneNote on iOS also now supports the second generation Apple Pencil and has added "phrase search." Here's a look at the official release notes:

• Support for Apple Pencil (2nd Generation): Draw, handwrite, and mark up notes even faster by double-tapping your Apple Pencil to change drawing tools without interrupting your flow.
• Phrase Search: You can now use quotes around a phrase to search for that exact phrase instead of individual words.

You can check out the new icon on both Windows 10 and iOS now. Presumably, Android will see a similar update before too long as well.

• See at Microsoft
• See at App Store

Cheap PC accessories we love

Take a gander at these awesome PC accessories, all of which will enhance your Windows experience.

Anker 4 port USB 3.0 hub ($10 at Amazon)

Whether on a desktop or laptop PC, you always need more ports to connect things to. This hub gives you an additional four USB 3.0 Type A ports.

Ikea Fixa Cable Management System ($11 at Amazon)

This IKEA cable management kit is your ticket to a clean setup. It's simple and functional.

NZXT Puck ($20 at Amazon)

This clever little accessory has powerful magnets on the rear to make it stick to any of the metal panels on your PC case or anything else. It's great for hanging accessories like headsets.

OneNote is an incredibly popular notetaking program from Microsoft which is used by millions of customers around the world. While OneNote features a variety of tools like the ability to draw, it doesn't feel as unified with the operating system as a whole. For example, in its current state, it lacks a dark mode. This means that the application is always incredibly bright, no matter if your operating system is customized to go easy on the eyes.

Luckily, that's about to change very soon. According to a report by Aggiornamenti Lumia, Microsoft is adding a dark theme to OneNote very soon. It's unclear when this feature will launch, but it looks like it's already rolling out to a select group of Windows Insiders.

Aside from dark mode, OneNote appears to be getting improved nativation. Microsoft's Vice President of Notes and Tasks Laura Buttler said a "new majorly improved navigation" system is coming as well, and that the screenshot was from an older build on Twitter. Hopefully the changes will make OneNote even easier to use.

OneNote is available on a variety of platforms from Windows to Mac, so it's quite a versatile tool. You can easily carry over your progress from one device to another. Be sure to give it a go if you haven't already.

See at Microsoft

The Amazon Echo is the most recognizable smart speaker with its Alexa AI assistant compatible with a large number of products and services. While there's no official Microsoft skill for OneNote, thanks to the developer community, you can still use your voice to add things to your notebook.

Products used in this guide

• Amazon: Amazon Echo ($100)
• Amazon: OnePad Alexa skill (Free)
• Microsoft: OneNote (Free)

For the purposes of this guide, we're referencing the standard Amazon Echo, but the process is identical for all Echo products, and it also works just fine with the devices with screens, such as the Echo Show and the Echo Spot.

How to add notes to Microsoft OneNote with an Amazon Echo

The process is very simple, requiring you to only add the third-party Alexa skill that makes it all happen and link your Microsoft account.

1. Open the Amazon Alexa app on your smartphone or in your browser.
2. Open the skills and games section.
3. Search for the OnePad skill in the search box.

4. Tap enable to add the skill to your Amazon Echo.
5. Login to your Microsoft account from the web browser window that pops up to link your account to the skill.

No Microsoft Account login information is added to the skill directly, and it uses a standard OAuth process for authenticating your account.

How to add notes to Microsoft OneNote

The skill will automatically just add things you tell Alexa to your OneNote notebook without you needing to set anything up.

To add items from your Amazon Echo, simply speak to Alexa as follows:

• "Alexa ask OnePad to note (insert note here.)"

Alexa will then respond with:

• "You want to save (your note) in (your notebook section), is it correct?"

To confirm simply say "yes" or if it's wrong say "no" and try again.

By default, OnePad will store in Quick Notes, but you can add notes to any section of your OneNote notebook by simply telling Alexa to save it there. If you don't have a section with the name you want, you can just tell Alexa to add a note there and it will create the section for you.

What you can't do is use Alexa to see what's already in your OneNote notebook, and you're only able to add things using your Echo. Regardless, it's still a very handy way to jot down things as they pop into your head without having to reach for your phone or laptop.

Also make sure you speak clearly and not too fast, otherwise the Echo won't be able to process it and you'll get an error.

Our top equipment picks

All you need is one of Amazon's Echo products to enjoy voice command bliss. We think the second-generation Amazon Echo is the one to go for.

The regular second-generation Echo is the best all-around choice in Amazon's range, mixing a great balance of stylish design, good sound quality, and an affordable price.

Additional equipment

The Echo isn't the only product that's great to put around your home; there are some fantastic alternatives that cost less or even have a display.

Amazon Echo Dot ($50 at Amazon)

The third-generation Echo Dot is a huge improvement on its predecessor in both sound and looks, while remaining compact and extremely affordable.

Amazon Echo Spot ($130 at Amazon)

Alexa takes on a new dimension when you add a screen, and the Echo Spot is a perfect companion for the office or any room in the home.

OneNote is gearing up to add another highly requested feature on Windows 10 and Mac, intended to make it easy to keep your notes organized. Starting in January 2019, both versions of the app will pick up support for custom tags, allowing you name and add icons to keep notes sorted however you please.

Creating tags won't require any new settings to be enabled, Microsoft says. Instead, you'll soon be able to click the "Tags" dropdown to create a new tag. From there, you can designate a specific name for your tag and give it an icon of your choosing. You'll also be able to see any tags you've previously deleted, along with custom tags created from another device or by other users in that notebook.

Custom tags in OneNote should begin rolling out on Windows 10 and Mac over the "next few weeks," Microsoft says.

• See at Microsoft
• See at Mac App Store

Since the death of Windows phones (shout out to those still hanging on), I've struggled to find a phone that I really enjoy. The closest, up until now, was the BlackBerry KEY2, which made blogging on Word for Android completely viable with its tactile QWERTY keyboard. However, as a mid-range device, I found myself longing for more screen real estate, a better camera (literally, any other camera), and more customization options.

I bit the bullet on a Samsung Galaxy Note 9, and I am so glad I did.

It's the little things

I'm not going to deep dive into the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 hardware, but if you're interested, our friends at Android Central have an excellent review over here. For me, the biggest complaint about Android has always been in the little things I miss from Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows 10 Mobile.

As a relative newcomer to the Android ecosystem, one of the central criticisms of Samsung phones seems to pertain to its software. People often call it bloated and messy and decry things like Samsung's Bixby assistant, which cannot be disabled via Samsung's own settings. Thankfully, Android is heavily customizable, and Samsung offers OS tweaks that some other vendors simply don't.

One of the things I miss most about Windows phone is system-level accent colors and dark modes. Samsung brings this with gusto with its Samsung Themes app, allowing me to skin system apps like Settings and the Dialer, in addition to the Notification Center. Personalization was a big draw for me on Windows 10 Mobile, and with the Note 9, it's like I'm back on my red and black Lumia 950 XL.

Whether or not you like Samsung's launcher experience is personal preference. Again, as a heavy Microsoft ecosystem user, simply installing the Microsoft Launcher and setting it to the default brushes away a lot of the extraneous Samsung features, such as the screen-edge navigation bar.

I was also daunted by the prospect of having such a huge phone again without Windows 10 Mobile's one-handed navigation mode. Samsung's phones also have these features, allowing you to either swipe up from the corner or tap the home button three times to shrink the display into the corner, allowing you to reach those pesky hamburger menus with greater ease.

Additionally, Microsoft's SwiftKey seems to have improved leaps and bounds since I last used it, to the point where I can finally say it's better than word flow on Windows Phone 8.1 and 10 Mobile. SwiftKey is also heavily customizable visually, allowing me to match it up to my system theme, and also making it larger for more accurate swiping. I barely miss the QWERTY keyboard on my KEY2 now, although I'm still not sure swiping on glass is reassuring enough for writing out full blog posts.

Inking on Android, wishing for Andromeda

Beyond obvious things like stellar battery life, a stunning display, and an impressive camera, one of the aspects I didn't expect to love so much is the S-Pen.

Finding ink support in the Android world isn't easy. Effectively, the only big-name brand doing it is Samsung, and perhaps that's for good reason. Samsung does it bloody well.

The S-Pen is about as powerful as the Surface Pen theoretically, stored neatly within the body of the Note 9 with 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity. I've actually found it performs better with tilt shading, and the tip of the pen provides a type of resistance I'd more associate with pen and paper than what you get with the Surface Pen. The only downside is that it's quite small, and the active button on the stylus is positioned in such a way that accidental presses happen often.

Additionally, the palm muting on the Galaxy Note 9 isn't the best, when compared to a larger device like a Surface, but it's completely usable for heavy note-taking and light artwork in apps like Adobe Photoshop Sketch, which work well with the S-Pen and its features. Being able to use the S-Pen as a camera shutter is also a nice touch.

The Note 9 makes me yearn for a world where a device like Surface Andromeda actually exists.

The future of mobile inking

Clearly, Microsoft is deeply invested in inking, particularly for the education sector. I certainly find that in the German classes I'm taking, the notes I made with the S-Pen have stuck better in my mind than the notes I made with the BlackBerry KEY2's QWERTY keyboard. The issue for me is, despite how large the Galaxy Note 9 actually is, it's still quite a cramped experience for handwriting, at least for someone like me with an "unrefined" inking style.

Samsung and Google are already reportedly working on a collaboration to make folding Android displays a reality, while we've known for a while Microsoft has been spamming patents related to folding tablets under the Surface Andromeda codename. I doubt Andromeda will realistically compete with the Samsung "Andromeda," should either device ever make it to store shelves, purely because of the app gap issue. But Microsoft's services will remain present on Android, making the marriage of Android inking and Microsoft Office a match made in digital heaven.

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OneNote fans are in for some handy new features headed to the note-taking app over the rest of October. Microsoft this week announced several updates coming to OneNote for Windows 10, Mac, and on the web this month, including cloud attachments, tag search, and even an Emoji keyboard (via MSPU).

The biggest functional addition here is cloud attachments, which is headed to OneNote on Windows 10 and Mac. Essentially, cloud attachments allow you to ensure any file you add to a note will stay constantly updated to its latest version. Once enabled in OneNote's settings, attaching a file to a note will automatically upload it to OneDrive. Any changes made to the file will then be reflected on your note. And for Office documents, your OneNote notebook will display a live preview, showing updates in real time.

Also coming to Windows 10 and Mac is the ability to search tags in OneNote. Available by clicking the search button next to your notebook name, tag search will let you easily hone in on specific pages, sections, and notebooks that have been tagged with your search query.

On top of the Windows 10 and Mac tweaks, OneNote Online is getting its own set of enhancements. You'll now be able to insert pictures from your camera with the web version of the app, and the addition of an Emoji keyboard will help keep things playful. OneNote Online is also adding options to customize how autocorrect functions, and a new addition to the right-click menu will let you copy and share links to specific sections.

All of these features are set to roll out across OneNote in "the coming weeks."

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OneNote is a great, arguably industry-leading note taking tool. The free application is bundled with Windows 10, and is available on virtually every device you may own. The app synchronizes your content across devices, allowing you to share and collaborate on notes with friends and family, and if you have the educational licenses, your entire classroom.

Indeed, OneNote like many of Microsoft's products have enterprise and education-level versions, which often some with some sort of fee. For Office 365 users, OneNote comes with some intriguing extra features, such as rainbow inking, which you might think is a bit of a useless feature.

Ian Mikutel from the Microsoft Whiteboard team recently shared some interesting insights into why OneNote has rainbow inking, reminding us in the tech bubble that just because some of us might think a feature is useless, other people certainly won't.

Responding to a thread on reddit which opened with a dismissive comment about the rainbow and galaxy inking options, Mikutel jumped in to share an interesting story about how the colourful inking solutions can inspire youngsters to engage in class.

It's an important thing to consider; productivity tech and software doesn't always have to be boring and functional. Microsoft itself often struggle to identify where it falls on the line between fun and work, claiming to be a productivity company in one breath while touting heavy Xbox and gaming investment in the next. I think the company could stand to embrace fun a little more, even in Office 365.

If you're an Office 365 subscriber, give rainbow inking a try, it might brighten up your day.