Template Issues

How to Add a Custom Header to OneNote Pages or Templates

Amos Gikunda Oct 13, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to add a customized page header containing a company logo and extra meeting information above the page title.

How to Add a Custom Header to OneNote Pages or Templates

Product: Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Creating standardized meeting-notes templates for a domain or company environment.
Observed behavior: OneNote does not natively support an editable page-header area above the title like Microsoft Word does.

Before you start

Ensure you have the company logo image and standard meeting details ready to paste into your OneNote notebook before creating the template.

Solution 1Recommended

Simulate a Header Using a Table and Save as Template

Since OneNote lacks a dedicated header section, you can format a table at the top of the page body and save it as a custom template for future use.

Because OneNote is an infinite canvas rather than a paginated document editor like Word, it does not support fixed headers or footers above the page title. You must place your header-like content directly within the page body.

Create a New Page

Open OneNote and add a new, blank page to your notebook.

Insert a Table

Click directly beneath the page title. Go to the 'Insert' tab on the ribbon and choose 'Table' to organize your logo and meeting information neatly.

Add Header Content

Insert your company logo into one cell of the table and type the meeting details (such as date, attendees, and subject) into the adjacent cells.

Access Page Templates

Navigate to the 'Insert' tab on the top menu and click on the 'Page Templates' button to open the templates pane.

Save as Template

At the bottom of the Templates task pane, click 'Save current page as a template'. Give your template a memorable name so you can easily reuse this custom layout in the future.

Template Limitations: Unlike Word headers, this content will act as regular page text. It will not automatically repeat on newly added pages unless you set this saved template as the default for the section.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Need Native Headers? Switch to WPS Office

If your workflow heavily relies on structured meeting minutes with native headers, footers, and pagination, WPS Office provides a fully featured word processor as a completely free, lightweight alternative to Microsoft Office.

1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office for free from the official website and install it on your device.
2. Open WPS Writer: Launch WPS Writer, which functions similarly to Microsoft Word, and create a new document.
3. Insert Professional Headers: Go to the 'Insert' tab and click 'Header and Footer' to easily add logos and text that repeat automatically on every page.

Free, lightweight, and incredibly easy to useFully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formatsNative support for professional headers, footers, and watermarksFamiliar UI ensures seamless migration from Microsoft Office

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a custom footer in OneNote?

No, just like headers, OneNote does not have a native footer feature. Any footer information must be manually typed at the bottom of your page's text container.

How do I make my custom header template the default in OneNote?

Open the Page Templates pane, look for the 'Always use a specific template' dropdown at the very bottom, and select your newly saved template. All new pages created in that specific section will now load with your custom header.

Does OneNote print my custom header on every page?

If your custom header is part of the page body, it will only print on the first physical printed page of that specific OneNote note. For repeating printed headers across multiple printed pages, you can use the Print Preview settings to add basic text like dates or page numbers, but it does not support custom images or logos.

Document & File Issues