Last Updated: August 8, 2025

Microsoft OneNote has revolutionized the way we capture, organize, and share information. While the application offers powerful features through its graphical interface, mastering keyboard shortcuts can dramatically boost your productivity and streamline your workflow.

This comprehensive guide covers 55+ essential OneNote shortcuts for both Windows and Mac users, transforming you from a casual note-taker into a OneNote power user.

Why OneNote Keyboard Shortcuts Matter

OneNote keyboard shortcuts aren’t just time-savers – they’re productivity game-changers. Studies show that keyboard shortcuts can reduce task completion time by up to 64% compared to using mouse-only navigation. For users who spend significant time in OneNote, these shortcuts can save 2-8 minutes per hour of use.

Key benefits of mastering OneNote shortcuts include:

• Enhanced speed: Perform common tasks in seconds rather than minutes
• Improved focus: Keep your hands on the keyboard and maintain concentration
• Reduced strain: Minimize repetitive mouse movements and clicking
• Better accessibility: Essential for users with mobility challenges
• Professional efficiency: Streamline note-taking during meetings and presentations

Essential Navigation Shortcuts

Efficient navigation forms the foundation of OneNote mastery. These shortcuts help you move seamlessly between notebooks, sections, and pages without losing your flow.

Core Navigation Commands

Action	Windows	Mac	Description
Create a new section	Ctrl+N	Cmd+N	Add a new section to the notebook
Add a new page in the current section	Ctrl+T	Cmd+T	Open an existing notebook
Open notebook	Ctrl+O	Cmd+O	Search within the current page
Search all notebooks	Ctrl+E	Cmd+E	Activate search across all notebooks
Search current page	Ctrl+F	Cmd+F	Search within current page

Page and Section Navigation

Moving between pages and sections becomes effortless with these shortcuts:

• Next page: Ctrl+Page Down (Windows) / Cmd+Page Down (Mac)
• Previous page: Ctrl+Page Up (Windows) / Cmd+Page Up (Mac)
• Next section: Ctrl+Tab (Windows) / Cmd+Tab (Mac)
• Previous section: Ctrl+Shift+Tab (Windows) / Cmd+Shift+Tab (Mac)

Advanced Navigation Tips

Pro Navigation Techniques:

• Use Ctrl+G (Windows) to open the “Go To” pane for quick navigation
• Press F11 to toggle full-screen mode for distraction-free note-taking
• Alt+Left/Right arrows navigate backwards and forward through your page history

Text Formatting Shortcuts

Professional-looking notes require proper formatting. These shortcuts help you format text quickly without interrupting your thought process.

Basic Text Formatting

Action	Windows	Mac	Description
Bold text	Ctrl+B	Cmd+B	Apply or remove bold formatting
Italic text	Ctrl+I	Cmd+I	Apply or remove italic formatting
Underline text	Ctrl+U	Cmd+U	Apply or remove underline
Strikethrough	Ctrl+Hyphen	Cmd+Hyphen	Apply or remove strikethrough
Highlight text	Ctrl+Shift+H	Cmd+Shift+H	Highlight selected text in yellow

Advanced Formatting Controls

Font Size and Style Shortcuts:

• Increase font size: Ctrl+Shift+> (Windows) / Cmd+Shift+> (Mac)
• Decrease font size: Ctrl+Shift+< (Windows) / Cmd+Shift+< (Mac)
• Clear formatting: Ctrl+Spacebar (Windows) / Cmd+Spacebar (Mac)

Format Painter Functions:

• Copy formatting: Ctrl+Shift+C (Windows) / Cmd+Shift+C (Mac)8
• Paste formatting: Ctrl+Shift+V (Windows) / Cmd+Shift+V (Mac)8

Organizational Shortcuts: Lists and Structure

Well-organized notes improve readability and comprehension. These shortcuts help you structure content effectively.

List Creation Shortcuts

Action	Windows	Mac	Description
Bulleted list	Ctrl+Period	Cmd+Period	Create or remove bullet points
Numbered list	Ctrl+Slash	Cmd+Slash	Create or remove numbered list
Increase indent	Alt+Shift+Right	Cmd+]	Indent paragraph to the right
Decrease indent	Alt+Shift+Left	**Cmd+

Heading Styles

Proper heading hierarchy improves note organization:

• Heading 1: Ctrl+Alt+1 (Windows) / Cmd+Alt+1 (Mac)
• Heading 2: Ctrl+Alt+2 (Windows) / Cmd+Alt+2 (Mac)
• Heading 3: Ctrl+Alt+3 (Windows) / Cmd+Alt+3 (Mac)
• Normal style: Ctrl+Shift+N (Windows) / Cmd+Shift+N (Mac)

Tags and Organization System

OneNote’s tagging system transforms scattered notes into organized, searchable content.

Essential Tag Shortcuts

Tag Type	Windows	Mac	Purpose
To-Do tag	Ctrl+1	Cmd+1	Create actionable task items
Important tag	Ctrl+2	Cmd+2	Mark critical information
Question tag	Ctrl+3	Cmd+3	Flag items needing follow-up
Definition tag	Ctrl+5	Cmd+5	Highlight key definitions
Remove all tags	Ctrl+0	Cmd+0	Clear all tags from selection

Tag Management Tips

Advanced Tagging Strategies:

• Use Ctrl+Shift+F (Windows) to open the Find Tags pane
• Customize tags through the Home tab for personalized organization
• Combine multiple tags on a single item for enhanced categorization

Table Creation and Management

Tables organize complex information effectively. OneNote offers intuitive shortcuts for table manipulation.

Table Shortcuts

Action	Windows	Mac	Description
Create table	Tab (after text)	Tab (after text)	Add a new row at the end of table
New row	Enter (at end of row)	Enter (at end of row)	Insert a column to the right
Insert row below	Ctrl+Enter	Cmd+Enter	Insert a new row below the current row
New column right	Ctrl+Alt+R	Cmd+Alt+R	Insert a column to the left
New column left	Ctrl+Alt+E	Cmd+Alt+E	Add a new row at the end of the table

Table Navigation

Efficient Table Movement:

• Tab key: Move to the next cell
• Shift+Tab: Move to the previous cell
• Alt+Enter: Create a new paragraph within a table cell

Advanced Content Insertion

OneNote supports rich content beyond basic text. These shortcuts help you insert various content types quickly.

Content Insertion Shortcuts

Content Type	Windows	Mac	Description
Hyperlink	Ctrl+K	Cmd+K	Insert or edit hyperlink
Current date	Alt+Shift+D	Cmd+D	Insert current date
Current time	Alt+Shift+T	Cmd+Shift+T	Insert current time
Date and time	Alt+Shift+F	Cmd+Shift+D	Start the math equation editor
Math equation	Alt+Equal	Ctrl+Equal	Insert a line break without new paragraph
Line break	Shift+Enter	Shift+Enter	Insert a line break without a new paragraph

Math and Drawing Tools

Advanced Content Features:

• Drawing mode: Alt+D+P (Windows) for pen tools
• Equation shortcuts: Type \sqrt For the square root in the equation editor
• Screen clipping: Windows+Shift+S (Windows 10) for screenshots

Quick Actions and Productivity Boosters

These shortcuts handle common tasks that occur frequently during note-taking sessions.

Essential Quick Actions

Action	Windows	Mac	Description
Quick Note	Ctrl+Shift+M	Cmd+Shift+M	Check spelling on the current page
Spell check	F7	F7	Undo the last action
Full screen view	F11	F11	Toggle full screen mode
Undo	Ctrl+Z	Cmd+Z	Redo the last undone action
Redo	Ctrl+Y	Cmd+Y	Select all content on the page
Select all	Ctrl+A	Cmd+A	Select all content on page

Clipboard Operations

Standard clipboard shortcuts work seamlessly in OneNote:

• Copy: Ctrl+C (Windows) / Cmd+C (Mac)
• Cut: Ctrl+X (Windows) / Cmd+X (Mac)
• Paste: Ctrl+V (Windows) / Cmd+V (Mac)

Platform-Specific Considerations

Windows-Specific Features

Windows users have access to additional shortcuts and integration features:

• Windows+Alt+N: Create a Quick Note from anywhere in Windows
• Windows+Shift+S: Take a screenshot and insert it into OneNote
• Alt+F4: Close the OneNote application
• Ctrl+Alt+D: Dock OneNote window to the desktop side

Mac-Specific Features

Mac users benefit from system-wide shortcuts and macOS integration:

• Cmd+Shift+W: Close current notebook
• Cmd+Option+C: Copy formatting (Format Painter)
• Cmd+Option+V: Paste formatting
• Fn+Delete: Delete character to the right (on MacBook)

Cross-Platform Differences

Key differences between Windows and Mac shortcuts:

• Control vs. Command: Windows uses Ctrl, where Mac uses Cmd
• Alt vs. Option: Windows Alt key corresponds to Mac Option key
• Some shortcuts remain platform-specific due to system integration differences

Productivity Tips and Best Practices

Learning Strategy

Effective shortcut mastery approach:

1. Start with the 5-10 most-used shortcuts rather than trying to learn everything at once
2. Practice daily – consistency beats intensity for muscle memory development
3. Create a personal cheat sheet with your most frequently used shortcuts
4. Use the “21-day rule” – it takes about 21 days to form a habit

Time-Saving Combinations

Powerful shortcut combinations:

• Ctrl+E, then search term: Quick universal search across all notebooks
• Ctrl+T, then type section name: Rapidly create and name new sections
• Ctrl+1, then type task: Instantly create actionable to-do items
• Alt+Shift+D, then space, then content: Date-stamp your notes automatically

Meeting and Collaboration Shortcuts

Optimize OneNote for meetings:

• Ctrl+Shift+M: Create quick meeting notes
• Ctrl+K: Link to meeting documents or resources
• Ctrl+2: Tag important decisions or action items
• F7: Quick spell-check before sharing notes

Troubleshooting Common Shortcut Issues

Shortcut Conflicts

Resolving keyboard shortcut conflicts:

• Some shortcuts may conflict with other applications or system shortcuts
• Use Windows keyboard settings or Mac System Preferences to remap conflicting keys
• Consider using AutoHotkey (Windows) or Karabiner (Mac) for advanced customization

Regional Keyboard Differences

International keyboard considerations:

• Shortcuts may vary slightly on non-US keyboard layouts
• Some special characters require different key combinations
• Consider your regional settings when learning shortcuts

Version Differences

OneNote version considerations:

• Different OneNote versions (2016, Windows 10 app, Mac, Web) may have slight shortcut variations
• Keep your OneNote version updated for the latest shortcut support
• Some shortcuts only work in desktop versions, not web versions

Advanced Customization

Creating Custom Shortcuts

Personalization options:

• Windows: Use PowerToys Keyboard Manager to create custom shortcuts
• Mac: Use System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts to customize
• AutoHotkey scripts: Create complex automation for Windows users

Workflow Integration

Integrate shortcuts with your workflow:

• Combine OneNote shortcuts with system-wide productivity tools
• Use clipboard managers to enhance copy-paste operations
• Consider voice-to-text software for hands-free note-taking

Conclusion

Mastering OneNote keyboard shortcuts transforms your note-taking experience from good to exceptional. The 55+ shortcuts covered in this guide represent the most valuable time-savers for both Windows and Mac users. By implementing these shortcuts gradually and practicing consistently, you’ll develop muscle memory that makes OneNote feel like a natural extension of your thoughts.

Start with these high-impact shortcuts today:

• Ctrl+N/Cmd+N for new pages
• Ctrl+T/Cmd+T for new sections
• Ctrl+E/Cmd+E for universal search
• Ctrl+B/Cmd+B for bold formatting
• Ctrl+1/Cmd+1 for to-do tags

Remember that consistency trumps perfection – it’s better to master a few shortcuts completely than to memorize many without developing muscle memory. With practice, these shortcuts will become second nature, allowing you to capture and organize information at the speed of thought.

The investment in learning these shortcuts pays dividends in productivity, focus, and professional efficiency. Whether you’re a student, professional, or anyone who values organized information, these OneNote shortcuts will transform your digital note-taking experience.

FAQ

Q: Do OneNote shortcuts work across all versions?
A: Most shortcuts work across OneNote versions, but some may vary between OneNote 2016, OneNote for Windows 10, and OneNote for Mac. The desktop versions typically have the most complete shortcut support.

Q: Can I customize OneNote keyboard shortcuts?
A: Yes, you can customize shortcuts through system settings. Windows users can use PowerToys or system keyboard settings, while Mac users can use System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts.

Q: What’s the fastest way to learn OneNote shortcuts?
A: Start with 5-10 essential shortcuts, practice them daily for consistency, and gradually add more. Focus on shortcuts for tasks you perform most frequently.

Q: Are there shortcuts for OneNote’s drawing tools?
A: Yes, drawing shortcuts include Alt+D+P for pen tools, Alt+D+E for eraser, and Alt+D+T for typing mode on Windows.

Q: Do shortcuts work the same way in OneNote Online?
A: Many shortcuts work in OneNote Online, but some desktop-specific shortcuts may not be available. The web version has more limited shortcut support compared to desktop applications.

Q: How do I resolve shortcut conflicts with other applications?
A: Use your operating system’s keyboard settings to remap conflicting shortcuts, or consider using third-party tools like AutoHotkey (Windows) or Karabiner (Mac) for advanced customization.

Q: Can I create Quick Notes with keyboard shortcuts?
A: Yes, use Ctrl+Shift+M (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+M (Mac) to create Quick Notes. Windows users can also use Windows+Alt+N from anywhere in the system.

Q: Are there shortcuts for OneNote’s search functionality?
A: Yes, Ctrl+E (Windows) or Cmd+E (Mac) activates universal search across all notebooks, while Ctrl+F (Windows) or Cmd+F (Mac) searches the current page.