Why OneNote Desktop is better than OneNote for Windows 10

OneNote recently announced that they will be taking all the excellent features from OneNote for Windows 10 and adding them to the Desktop verion. As it stands in 2021 Microsoft is supporting both versions. So here are some reasons why you should use OneNote Desktop over OneNote Windows 10.

OneNote Update: Over the next 12 months Windows 10 features will be added to the OneNote Desktop version

FREE OneNote Courses: Save these playlists!

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[AnteroNeves]

I believe two of the best feature of OneNote Desktop are the ability to use keys shortcuts and personalize the quick access.

[kahuna]

Thanks for your videos on OneNote.
Without these, I would be totally confused with both versions and which app to use!

[AdamsTaiwan]

OneNote works as a great tool for semi-automatic workflows. I often have a series of tasks that I must have a check list to remind me of the steps that I need to do. Sometimes in the check list are items that I can use a program to process automatically. Only OneNote for the Desktop allows me to click a link and open a folder or run an application. Originally, I did this just for myself, however, now that my company shares Notebooks, I can also share processes that can be run from our NAS.

[momenkhalaf]

and the most important option for me in onenote desktop is the Custom Ribbon ( UI) 😉

[alphabanks]

Thanks for this video I'm going back to OneNote Desktop I'm always having problems out of the Windows 10 version.

[peterzacho]

Thanks for clearing that up. I had same "that's why" moment the lost video's. Thanks

[fatihertem]

I use OneNote Desktop for my job, which requires more area; and OneNote windows10 for my personal notes.

[gyozakeynsianism]

This is a nice and very clear rundown of the differences between desktop OneNote and UWP OneNote. Personally, while I like some of the options (like discrete pages) in the desktop version, I find they are overshadowed by the slow and sometimes unreliable sync (I've had many corrupted pages in the past), a relatively poor inking experience including a really bad pen picker and pen picker customization, and the fact that the desktop version is a resource hog, or at least has been in the past. Plus, the Windows 10/UWP version has most or all of the organizational and sharing options I need. (It helps that I don't use Outlook!) In any case I'll be sticking with the UWP until it's sundowned, and I'm fairly confident that MS will make the ultimate OneNote a great experience for all users. (I mean, just look at what they've done to Office in the past 10 years. Things are much better.)

Oh and about 2023: No big deal, you can just brand your 20th anniversary series as a RUN UP to the 20th anniversary! Problem solved. :-D

[TheKitchenApothecary]

I've started handwriting a lot of notes now using one note for android (still leaps behind desktop/w10/ ios versions), and if I want to print those notes or save to a pdf, the windows version always crops them in a weird way. The desktop version allows you to save as a pdf a GIANT note which you can zoom in on. The windows 10 version doesn't allow this which suuuucks.

[y.s.]

Is onenote different if you have windows 11?

[ArielPaz]

So I noticed that my OneNote files are being saved on OneDrive as pdfs. When I try to open them, Adobe Acrobat Reader gives an error saying file type not supported. Then I tried to change the file type and noticed I have both a OneNote app and a OneNote for Windows 10 app. Would you know how to make the system save the files so they open properly? Thank you in advance.

[FrostDirt]

In OneNote 2016, the normal cursor doesn't appear and it's very hard to see the pointer to the point that it becomes unusable. Also, my handwriting becomes pixelated and rough/not smooth. I wish I can use the Desktop OneNote because of it's customisability.

[subramaniantr]

One note for windows 10 is way smoother in drawing options compared to the One Note. I'm unable to use the full version simply because the drawings suck to the core with lines getting quantized like steps. Thoroughly confused why they maintain two such versions with the costlier version that sucks.

[richardhugunine]

I'm still using the standalone version of OneNote I got in 2013. How am I going to upgrade to the newest version? I'm totally confused.

[petergeranor]

How can I get Onenote desktop version? I have a subscription to 365 and I have downloaded Onenote, but the only version I can get is Onenote for windows 10.

[_Digitalguy]

Isn't recording meets, classes etc, with the rear webcam one of the main differences between desktop and Windows 10 version?

[riskirills]

Do i have to purchase office to have desktop one note?

[michaelhedrick]

Late to the conversation, but I've run into an annoyance that I didn't see in the video. The fact that you can instantly print out a file that is in OneNote Desktop, but there is no similar capability in OneNote for Windows 10 version. You have to insert the file from an outside source to print out vs a simple right-click and insert as printout. I'm not simply overlooking something am I?

[darius-b]

"As soon as the ink is dry!"....😂

[prinkush]

While One Note desktop is great, I'm struggling with aligning the display of the same. The display of One Note for Win10 is much more neat so it would be great if the display in One Note desktop can be replicated from one note for Win10.