How to Find Official and Community OneNote Templates
Question details
Users are looking for ways to access and download additional OneNote templates, such as Eisenhower matrices or productivity layouts, because the built-in selection is limited.
- Product
- Microsoft OneNote
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Finding and applying custom or external page designs to enhance note-taking and productivity.
- Observed behavior
- The default installation of OneNote offers a restricted number of templates, prompting users to seek third-party or community-created alternatives.
Ensure you are connected to the internet to browse external sites and verify that your OneNote application is updated to successfully import custom template files.
Find and Apply Built-in OneNote Templates
Use Microsoft OneNote's native feature to browse and apply default page templates provided by Microsoft.
OneNote comes with a variety of built-in templates categorized into Academic, Business, Planners, and more. While limited, these are natively supported and safe to use.
Launch OneNote and navigate to the notebook section where you want to add a page. Click on the 'Insert' tab in the top ribbon and select 'Page Templates'.
In the Templates task pane on the right side of the screen, click the small arrows next to categories like Academic, Blank, Business, Decorative, or Planners to expand them.
Click on the name of any template in the list. OneNote will immediately create a new blank page using that specific layout and background.
Search for Community-Created Templates Online
Download custom productivity templates from trusted third-party websites to get layouts not included by default.
Try WPS Office for a Massive Built-in Template Library
If you find Microsoft OneNote's template selection too limited and downloading from third-party sites risky, consider WPS Office. It provides an extensive, built-in library of high-quality templates for documents, planners, and spreadsheets. As a powerful Microsoft Office alternative, it fulfills all your productivity needs effortlessly.
- 1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free version for your operating system.
- 2. Access the Template Gallery: Open WPS Office and click on 'Templates' from the home screen to browse thousands of categorized designs.
- 3. Create Your Document: Select a template that fits your productivity needs (like a matrix or planner) and click 'Use Now' to start editing immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I save a custom page as a template in OneNote?
Once you have customized a page layout to your liking, open the Page Templates pane from the Insert tab. Look at the very bottom of the pane and click 'Save current page as a template'. You can then name it and use it for future pages.
Are downloaded OneNote templates safe to use?
Official templates from Microsoft are completely safe. When downloading community templates, ensure you get them from reputable sources. Avoid clicking on deceptive ads disguised as download buttons, and always scan the downloaded .one files with an antivirus program before opening them.
Why can't I find the Page Templates option in OneNote for Windows 10?
The 'OneNote for Windows 10' app does not support the full Page Templates feature found in the desktop version. To access and manage page templates fully, you need to use the desktop version of OneNote (formerly OneNote 2016), which is included with Microsoft 365.
Can I use custom .one templates on OneNote for Mac?
OneNote for Mac does not natively support importing custom .one template files or saving pages as templates in the same way the Windows version does. A common workaround is to open the template on a Windows machine, sync it to your notebook via OneDrive, and then access that synced page on your Mac.
