Microsoft OneNote is a versatile tool for note taking and organization. To fully benefit from the features of a notebook, it is important to understand how it is structured. This guide gives you a comprehensive overview of the basic structure of a notebook in OneNote and guides you step by step through the process of creating and organizing your notes.
Key Insights
- A notebook in OneNote is similar to a physical folder.
- Notebooks consist of sections where pages and subpages are located.
- Sections can be assigned to different topics, which facilitates content organization.
Step-by-Step Guide
To create a notebook in OneNote, start by opening the application. You should be able to create a new notebook or open existing ones. Go to the file menu and select the "New" option.

In the next step, you can name the new notebook. Remember to choose a suitable name that reflects the content of the notebook, for example, "Studies" or "Projects". This will make it easier for you to navigate between different notebooks later on.

The notebook serves as a kind of folder that can contain multiple sections. These sections are comparable to different categories within your folder. You can choose a thematically appropriate title for each section to keep the content structured. For example, if you create a notebook for your studies, the sections could be dedicated to individual subjects, such as "Computer Science" or "Mathematics".
After setting up the sections, you can start creating pages within each section. Each page can contain specific information about a topic or task. Simply click on the plus symbol to create a new page and give it a title that describes the content.
On the pages, you can now make notes, enter text, and even insert graphics or tables. OneNote offers you the flexibility to design your pages as needed to work efficiently.

In addition to organizing pages and subpages, you can also customize the display options. Through the "File" menu, you can choose whether the page tab should be displayed on the left or right, providing you with a better overview.
In each section, you have the option to further organize pages by renaming, deleting, or moving them. If you find during use that you want to rearrange content, OneNote offers various tools to do this effortlessly.
Summary
In this guide, you have learned about the basic structure of a notebook in Microsoft OneNote. From creating a notebook, setting up sections to organizing pages and subpages - everything is designed to enable you to work effectively with your notes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I create a new notebook in OneNote?Go to "File" and select the "New" option to create a new notebook.
Can I reopen previously created notebooks?Yes, you can always access previously created notebooks by selecting the "Open" option.
How do I rename sections in a notebook?You can right-click on the section and choose "Rename".
Can I create subpages in OneNote?Yes, by right-clicking on a page, you can define it as a subpage.
How do I customize the display options in OneNote?Go to "File" and choose the options to display the page tab on the left or right.