Ever find yourself recreating the same layout every time you start a new page in OneNote? OneNote templates solve exactly that problem — they let you save a page’s look and content once, then reuse it whenever you need it, whether that’s for meeting notes, a to-do list, or your own custom format. Once you know where to find them, you’ll wonder how you managed without them.
Where do I find OneNote templates?
Here’s the one catch upfront: templates only exist in the OneNote desktop app. If you’re using OneNote on the web, this feature simply isn’t there yet, so it’s worth switching over to desktop for this bit.
Once you’re in the desktop app, head to the Insert tab and click Templates. A pane opens on the right with a full list, split into Academic, Business, Decorative, and Planners.
Trying a few out (there’s no preview, sadly)
There’s no preview button, so the quickest way to see what a template looks like is just to click it and have a look. It’s worth trying a couple before committing, since the built-in options vary more than you’d expect — some are quite detailed, others much simpler.
Once you’ve picked one, you just use the page as normal. There’s no extra setup — the formatting’s already done for you.
Can I make my own OneNote template?
Yes, and this is the part I use the most. If you’ve got a layout you use again and again — I have one for my Standard Operating Procedures — you can build the page exactly how you want it, then save it as a template from the bottom of the Templates pane.
Give it a sensible name, click save, and it’ll appear under a new “My Templates” section from then on, ready whenever you need it.
You can also set a template as the automatic default for an entire section, so every new page starts pre-formatted without you lifting a finger. And if you ever change your mind, there’s a “default blank” option waiting to undo it — nothing here is permanent.
Where do I find OneNote templates if I want to start again from scratch?
Head back into the Templates pane, choose “Always use a specific template,” and switch it to the default blank option. Your next new page will be untitled and empty, just like OneNote normally starts. It’s a two-click fix, so there’s no pressure to get this right-first time.
FAQ
Do OneNote templates work on mobile or the web app?
You can’t create or apply a template from the web or mobile apps — that’s desktop-only. But if a template’s already been applied on desktop (including as a section default), pages made from it will look right and sync normally when you view them on web or mobile.
Will editing a template change pages I’ve already created from it?
No, templates only affect new pages going forward. Anything you’ve already created stays exactly as it is.
Written with the help of Claude AI, from an original transcript
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