OneNote - Windows 10 vs. 2016

Historically, to use OneNote, users needed to have Microsoft Office; however, OneNote is now included in the Windows 10 operating system. Currently, you can use both OneNote 2016 and OneNote for Windows 10 but Microsoft will eventually remove OneNote 2016. To move your information from OneNote 2016 to OneNote for Windows 10 before this happens, click the “Import from OneNote 2016” option on the side menu.  

OneNote for Windows 10 works similarly to OneNote 2016, but it does offer more features and is auto-updated regularly. Checkout the information below for the differences between OneNote 2016 and OneNote for Windows 10.

  • OneNote for Windows 10 Updates
    • OneNote for Windows 10 auto saves notebooks to OneDrive making your notebook easier to access. Whereas OneNote 2016 stores notebooks to your S: drive by default
    • Move across devices and platforms with ease thanks to a new look designed for simplicity, consistency, and accessibility on Windows 10, Mac, iOS, Android, and Web
    • View all your notes sorted by when you last updated them
    • Preview your notes without having to open the page
    • Improve reading comprehension with Immersive Reader
    • Use Researcher to find relevant quotes, citable sources, and images to start your outline
    • Transform your drawings into shapes automatically
    • See who’s working with you in a shared notebook and jump straight to the page they’re on
    • Share a single page instead of the entire notebook
    • Replay your handwriting forward and backward to hide and reveal content, provide step-by-step instructions or better understand the flow of others’ thoughts
    • Write or type an equation and OneNote will help you graph or solve it step-by-step with the Ink Math Assistant
    • Use pencil ink to draw or sketch
    • Jazz up your notes and annotations with new ink colors like rainbow, galaxy, gold and more
    • Use your device’s camera to capture documents, whiteboards, receipts and more directly into OneNote
    • Maximize drawing space by hiding the page list and Ribbon
    • Find what you’re looking for with TellMe
    • Windows 10 integration, that includes:
      • Click the button on a digital pen to open OneNote, even when your device is locked
      • Quickly jump to a new page by selecting the Note button in the Action Center
      • Write on a webpage in Microsoft Edge and save your annotations to OneNote
      • Share notes with any app with the Share button
  • Start Menu & Taskbar Differences

    There are also some visual differences between the two versions. If you have both versions on your computer, you will see the first difference in the versions on the Start menu.

     OneNote in StartMenu

    The taskbar icons also have slight differences.

    Taskbar Icon Differences

  • Ribbon Differences

    OneNote 2016 – has the standard Office ribbon.

    OneNote 2016

    OneNote for Windows 10 – has a condensed ribbon.

    OneNote Windows 10