Check out what's new for OneNote desktop this fall in a hands-on video
Microsoft is bringing the best of Office and other versions of OneNote to the unified OneNote desktop app.
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.
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Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He's covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean's journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.