Microsoft OneNote - Installing OneNote for Windows and Password Protection (Desktop app)

Overview

OneNote can be installed on a PC, a Mac, in a browser, or on a mobile device, and each version of OneNote lets you access your cloud-connected notebooks. 

If your notebook contains personal or sensitive information, it is a good idea to use passwords to restrict access to your notes. In OneNote, passwords may be applied to a notebook one section at a time, so you can choose what information you would like to protect.

Procedures

Installing OneNote (Desktop app) for Windows

1. Go to: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/install-or-reinstall-onenote-for-windows-c08068d8-b517-4464-9ff2-132cb9c45c08
2. Click Download OneNote.
3. Run the .exe file (Submit a request if you have questions on installing)

Password Protecting a section (Desktop app only)

If your notebook contains personal or sensitive information, it is a good idea to use passwords to restrict access to your notes. In OneNote, passwords may be applied to a notebook one section at a time, so you can choose what information you would like to protect.

1. From the Review Tab -> Password and then click Set Password… from the side panel that opens on the right.
2. Enter and confirm a password and then click OK.
   OR
3. Right-click on the section tab you would like to protect and choose Password Protect This Section and then the Password Protection dialog box appears to Enter and Confirm a password.
   
   IMPORTANT passwords are case sensitive and if you lose or forget the password, OneNote cannot recover the password.
   
   
   [Password Protection dialog box highlighting Enter and Confirm Password fields]

An Existing Section Backups dialog box appears letting you know about existing backup copies of the section.

[Existing Section Backups dialog box showing options to delete or keep existing backups]

4. Choose either to delete or keep existing backups.

To Remove the Password

1. Right click on the section tab and choose Password Protect This Section… and choose the Remove Password… button from the side panel on the right.
2. Type the current password and the password is removed.

References/Links 

What's the difference between the OneNote versions?

Last Reviewed: 17-Nov-2023