How to Change the Default App That Opens OneNote Links
Question details
The user wants to configure OneNote paragraph links to open directly in the OneNote desktop application instead of OneNote Online.
- Product
- Microsoft OneNote
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Clicking a shared paragraph link or internal OneNote link on a desktop computer.
- Observed behavior
- The links automatically open in OneNote Online via a web browser, ignoring the preferred desktop application, and Microsoft Office's Link Handling settings do not override this behavior.
Ensure you have the full OneNote desktop application (such as OneNote 2016 or OneNote for Windows 10) installed on your computer and signed into the same Microsoft account that you use for OneNote Online.
Use the 'Open in Desktop App' Feature from OneNote Online
Since Microsoft currently forces these links to open in a web browser initially, the most reliable workaround is to transition to the desktop app manually from the browser interface.
Microsoft has acknowledged that Office's Link Handling setting currently does not control OneNote links. While you cannot prevent the link from initially opening in the browser, you can easily switch to your installed desktop app using built-in options.
Click your shared OneNote paragraph link. It will automatically load the notebook in OneNote Online using your default web browser.
Once the web page has fully loaded, look at the top ribbon menu inside the OneNote Online interface.
Click the 'Open in Desktop App' (or 'Open in OneNote') button located on the ribbon.
If your web browser prompts you for permission to open an external application, check the 'Always allow' box and click 'Open' or 'Yes'.
Check Default Protocol Associations in Windows Settings
Ensuring your Windows system is explicitly set to open ONENOTE protocol links with the desktop app can help mitigate some unintended browser redirection issues.
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- 1. Download the installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button for your operating system.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my OneNote links always default to the web browser?
Microsoft Office's current Link Handling configuration does not cover OneNote links. Consequently, paragraph links default to OneNote Online to ensure universal access, regardless of whether the recipient has the desktop application installed.
Can I force all Microsoft Office links to open in desktop apps?
For Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, you can navigate to File > Options > Advanced in any desktop app and check 'Open supported hyperlinks to Office files in Office desktop apps'. Unfortunately, this setting currently ignores OneNote links.
How do I copy a link to a specific paragraph in OneNote?
Right-click the text, image, or block of content in your OneNote notebook and select 'Copy Link to Paragraph' from the context menu. This creates a hyperlink that points directly to that specific section of your notes.
