How to create a new Notebook in OneNote

If you are new to OneNote then you are likely wondering how to create a new notebook for you to store information. Personally, I have around 15 different notebook files which I use for various different topics and projects and it allows me to keep everything organised and stored in a relevant location. Although OneNote allows you to create as many sections and pages as you want, the ability to create entirely new notebook files give you the flexibility to use OneNote for almost any type of organisation you want.

In this article I am going to outline how to create a new notebook for business and also how to create a new Class notebook which can be used by schools and educational institutes. For these exercises, I am going to use OneNote (desktop app). If you are not sure which version you have, or you wish to use the same, check out my article on how to identify which version of OneNote you have.

Create a new Notebook

Firstly I want to create myself a new notebook to be able to start planning my next holiday (whenever that might be *wink*). I have used OneNote for this in the past and it was amazing because I could share it with friends who were also travelling with me and we could each add information where necessary about accommodation, travel arrangements, places to visit etc. OneNote is an amazing tool to be able to plan and collaborate with others and integrates perfectly with Microsoft Teams.

To create a new notebook in OneNote:

1. Open OneNote.
2. The last notebook you had open will be displayed.
3. From the Ribbon, select the File tab and choose New.
4. You will now need to select the location you want the notebook to be stored:

5. I generally save all my notebooks to my OneDrive or SharePoint site so I have access from any location. Select the location you wish to use.
6. In the Notebook Name field, type a name for the notebook.
7. Click Create or Create Notebook depending on where you are storing the notebook:

8. You may receive a notice asking if you wish to share the notebook with other people, select Not now for the time being. You can always share the notebook later.
9. Give OneNote a moment while it creates the new notebook.
10. The new notebook will be displayed with one section and one page ready to go:

11. You can now begin using the new notebook and adding content.

Create a new Class Notebook

The use of OneNote for education provides a very specialised set of features relevant to classrooms and teaching. A OneNote Class Notebook provides every student with a personal workspace, a content library where teachers can upload handouts and a space to collaborate on lessons and activities. This provides invaluable functions where home-based learning is a necessity but also for a centralised point of call for resources with face to face teaching.

I highly recommend teachers utilise the OneNote.com website to see how OneNote Class Notebook can help your class.

1. Open Class Notebook and sign-in with the login provided by your school or district.
2. You will now see the Welcome screen:

3. From the options, select Create a class notebook.
4. You will be asked the name of your class, enter the name as you would like it displayed and click Next:

5. You will now see a summary of the section groups you will have within the notebook and the associated permissions for teachers versus students, click Next:

6. Now you will have the option of adding another teacher to use the class notebook. This is great if you have a teaching aid or support staff who will assist you. Enter their email address in the field provided and click Next:

7. Now you can enter the email addresses of your students then click Next.
8. Finally, you will see the sections which will be created in each student’s private notebook. You have the ability to edit these by removing any you do not need, and use the Add section button to add sections you would like:

9. Click Next once you have finished.
10. You can now preview what your Teacher’s notebook and the student’s notebooks will look like. If you are happy with them, click Create.
11. Your OneNote Class Notebook will now be set up, give it a few moments.
12. Click the link to Open in OneNote:

13. The OneNote Class Notebook will now be displayed:

I hope this helps you get started creating with OneNote. Be sure to check out other OneNote articles and comment below with any questions.