Office Settings & Configuration

How to Fix Send to OneNote Not Working in Microsoft Outlook

Maira Mehtab Sep 27, 2026 871 views

Question details

The user is unable to successfully use the Send to OneNote feature within Microsoft Outlook to transfer data, even after disconnecting and reconnecting the two applications.

Product: Microsoft Outlook and OneNote
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Exporting or sending email contents from Outlook directly into OneNote notebooks.
Observed behavior: The Send to OneNote command fails to execute or transfer the expected email data to the selected OneNote notebook.

Before you start

Before proceeding, confirm the specific versions of the operating system, Outlook, and OneNote you are using, as troubleshooting steps can vary between Office 2016, Office 2019, and Microsoft 365 versions.

Solution 1Recommended

Enable the Send to OneNote Add-in

Outlook sometimes disables the Send to OneNote COM add-in automatically to improve startup performance. Manually re-enabling it often restores the feature.

If the button is missing or unresponsive, the underlying add-in responsible for the connection might be inactive or disabled by the application's safety mechanisms.

Open Outlook Options

Launch Microsoft Outlook, click on the 'File' tab in the top-left corner, and select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.

Navigate to Add-ins

In the Outlook Options dialog box, select 'Add-ins' from the left-hand sidebar.

Manage COM Add-ins

At the bottom of the window, ensure 'COM Add-ins' is selected in the Manage dropdown menu, then click the 'Go...' button.

Enable the Add-in

Locate 'OneNote Notes about Outlook Items' in the list, check the box next to it, and click 'OK'. Restart Outlook to apply the changes.

Add-in Reactivated: If the add-in was listed under 'Disabled Application Add-ins', you may need to select 'Disabled Items' from the Manage dropdown first to re-enable it.

Solution 2

Verify Microsoft Account Synchronization

Both applications must be logged in using the exact same Microsoft account to successfully share and sync data.

Solution 3

Install Microsoft 365 Updates

Outdated versions of Office applications can cause integration features to break due to known bugs that have already been patched.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Send to OneNote button missing from my Outlook ribbon?

The button can disappear if the OneNote COM add-in is disabled or if the ribbon has been customized. You can restore it by going to File > Options > Add-ins to re-enable 'OneNote Notes about Outlook Items', or by right-clicking the ribbon and selecting 'Customize the Ribbon' to manually add the command.

Does the Send to OneNote feature work with OneNote for Windows 10?

The specific COM add-in for Outlook is primarily designed for the OneNote desktop app (formerly OneNote 2016). If you are using the OneNote for Windows 10 app, you may need to use the 'Send to OneNote' print driver by selecting 'Print' in Outlook and choosing OneNote as your printer.

How do I fix the Send to OneNote button if it is grayed out?

A grayed-out button usually indicates a syncing or authentication issue. To fix it, ensure that both Outlook and OneNote are signed into the same Microsoft account and that you have installed the latest Microsoft Office updates via the Office Account settings.

Office App Problems