I’ve used OneNote for years. How did I miss these 4 settings?

I’ve used OneNote for years, which apparently gave me simply sufficient confidence to imagine I knew what I used to be doing. I’ve notebooks for work, random concepts, recipes, journey plans, and all of the little issues I swear I’ll come again to later.

Then I began poking round OneNote on a random Monday morning.

Bad concept.

I discovered options I had in some way missed all these years, regardless of utilizing OneNote often. They weren’t buried in some secret Microsoft vault both. Some had been sitting on menus I’d apparently by no means bothered to discover. And now that I learn about them, a couple of have already made their manner into my on a regular basis routine.

OneNote can save your sources

My analysis simply bought much less messy

Before I begin writing an article, I often go down the analysis rabbit gap first. I’ll open one supply, then one other, then in some way find yourself with 20 tabs open as a result of each web page has one helpful element I wish to come again to. And that’s earlier than I even began writing.

Once I’m deep into writing, although, I typically must verify the place a selected truth got here from. And with so many sources concerned, going again by way of my browser historical past or attempting to match random hyperlinks to particular notes is the very last thing I wish to do. I’d slightly have the supply connected to the data whereas I’m taking notes, so I don’t must retrace my steps later.

That’s why I turned on OneNote’s “Include hyperlink to supply when pasting from the Web choice. On the Windows desktop version, go to File -> Options -> Advanced -> Editing, then verify the field.

Now, after I paste content material from the net into OneNote, it will probably mechanically embrace the supply hyperlink. One much less factor for me to recollect — and one much less browser tab graveyard to keep up.

Let OneNote lock your notes

Because I gained’t keep in mind to lock them

I’ve a couple of OneNote sections that I don’t need simply anybody opening. They have private notes, saved data, and some issues I’d slightly hold personal. OneNote lets me password-protect these sections on Android, whereas on Windows, you possibly can management when OneNote mechanically locks protected classes. So, I can hold them away from curious eyes.

On Android, simply open your part listing, long-press the part you wish to shield, faucet the three dots, and select Password shield. On Windows, head to File -> Options -> Advanced, scroll all the way down to the Passwords part, and select how lengthy OneNote ought to wait earlier than locking your protected sections. You can select from a number of time intervals starting from one minute to in the future, or have it lock as quickly as you navigate away.

It’s a small setting, however one much less factor I’ve to recollect.

OneNote can seize notes sooner

Stop opening the app each time

I’m all the time considering of one thing I would like to recollect on the most random occasions. It may very well be an article concept whereas I’m away from my desk, one thing I would like so as to add to my shopping list, or a random thought I do know I’ll neglect 5 minutes later. Usually, I’d open OneNote, discover the precise pocket book, after which begin typing. By then, I’d generally forgotten what I wished to write down.

That’s why I just like the OneNote badge on Android. It provides me a small floating shortcut for creating a fast notice with out opening the total app first. To flip it on, open OneNote -> faucet on the three dots -> Settings -> OneNote floatie and allow it. Once it’s arrange, I can faucet the floating badge each time I must jot one thing down.

The OneNote floatie is an Android function, so that you gained’t discover this shortcut on Windows.

It’s a small shortcut, but it surely makes capturing random ideas a lot sooner after I’m in a rush.

OneNote allows you to choose a default part

So my notes cease going in all places

I’ve totally different OneNote sections for various components of my life, so I like conserving issues of their correct place. My work notes go in a single part, journey concepts in one other, and I’ve a separate place for random issues I don’t wish to neglect. But fast notes can simply mess up that system when OneNote saves them someplace I’m not anticipating.

That’s why I began utilizing OneNote’s default part setting on Android. It lets me select which part new notes must be saved to, so I don’t have to decide on a piece each time. To set it up, open OneNote -> faucet on the three dots- > Settings -> Notebooks -> Default part, then select the part you need.

I set mine to the part the place I hold my on a regular basis notes. Now, after I save one thing rapidly, I already know the place it can present up. I don’t have to maneuver it later or marvel which part I ought to put it in.

It’s mainly giving my fast notes a everlasting deal with.

I suppose I’m falling for OneNote once more

After using OneNote for years, I clearly nonetheless had a couple of tips to be taught. These aren’t large OneNote upgrades, however they will make a distinction in how I take advantage of the app each day. I’m glad I lastly stumbled throughout them, and I’ll undoubtedly be conserving them turned on.