Template Issues

How to Include Subpages in a OneNote Template

Anum Mushtaq Oct 15, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to know if it is possible to create a standard OneNote page template that automatically includes a hierarchy of subpages for organizing daily tasks.

Can a OneNote Template Include Subpages?

Product: Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Organizing daily tasks or projects using a structured template that requires a main page and multiple associated subpages upon creation.
Observed behavior: Standard OneNote page templates only save the content and layout of a single page, failing to automatically generate a hierarchy of subpages when applied.

Before you start

Ensure your OneNote notebooks are fully synced to the cloud before duplicating entire sections to prevent any version conflicts or syncing delays.

Solution 1Recommended

Duplicate a Complete Section as a Template

Since standard page templates cannot hold subpages, duplicating an entire section that contains your desired hierarchy is the most effective workaround.

OneNote allows you to copy entire sections, which preserves the relationship between main pages and subpages perfectly. By keeping a master template section, you can duplicate it whenever you need a fresh set of hierarchical pages.

Create a master section

Create a new section in your notebook and name it 'Template' or 'Master Structure'. Set up your main page and all desired subpages exactly as you want them.

Open the context menu

Right-click the section tab at the top or side of your OneNote window.

Select the copy option

Click on 'Move or Copy' from the dropdown menu.

Duplicate the section

Choose the destination notebook where you want the new hierarchy to appear, and click the 'Copy' button. You can then rename the duplicated section as needed.

Duplicate a Complete Section as a Template

Hierarchy Preserved: Duplicating a section carries over all text formatting, tags, and up to three levels of page hierarchy seamlessly.

Solution 2

Use a Single-Page Table Template

If you do not strictly require a multi-page hierarchy, consolidating your tasks into a structured table on a single page template is the native way to save structured layouts.

Solution 3

Manually Create the Subpage Hierarchy

Apply a single-page template first, then manually add and demote additional pages to create your subpage structure.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many levels of subpages can I create in OneNote?

OneNote supports up to three levels of page hierarchy: a main page, a subpage, and a sub-subpage. You can easily create these by right-clicking a page in the navigation pane and selecting 'Make Subpage' repeatedly.

Why doesn't the 'Save current page as a template' option include my subpages?

The template engine in Microsoft OneNote is designed strictly to capture single-page layouts and content. It does not recognize or capture the structural relationship between multiple separate pages in the notebook navigation pane.

Can I set a default template for a specific OneNote section?

Yes. Open the 'Page Templates' pane from the Insert tab. At the bottom of the pane, look for 'Always use a specific template' and select your preferred template from the dropdown menu. Every new page created in that specific section will automatically apply the chosen layout.

Will a duplicated section retain the original template's tags and formatting?

Yes, when you copy or duplicate an entire section, all internal content, text formatting, to-do tags, file attachments, and page hierarchies are duplicated exactly as they appear in the source section.

Document & File Issues