How to Restore the OneNote Prompt for Choosing a Printout Location
Question details
The user needs to re-enable the setting that prompts them to choose a destination notebook or page when inserting a printed document into OneNote.
- Product
- Microsoft OneNote
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Inserting a printed document or PDF file into a notebook.
- Observed behavior
- OneNote automatically inserts the printout into a default location without asking the user where it should go, usually because the prompt was previously disabled.
Ensure you have the classic Microsoft OneNote desktop application open and that your system's 'Send to OneNote' printer feature is functioning.
Enable the Printout Location Prompt in Advanced Settings
Modify OneNote's built-in options to restore the dialog box that asks for a specific location when inserting a printout.
This is the standard and most effective method to fix the issue. It reverses the setting that gets toggled if you previously checked 'Always send printouts to the selected location'.
Launch Microsoft OneNote. Click on the 'File' tab in the top-left corner of the ribbon, then select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.
In the OneNote Options window, click on 'Advanced' in the left-hand sidebar.
Scroll down the right pane until you find the 'Printouts' section. Check the box next to 'Prompt to select a location on print'.
Click the 'OK' button at the bottom of the window to apply the new setting. The next time you print to OneNote, the location prompt will appear.
Repair or Reinstall Microsoft Office
If enabling the prompt in the Advanced settings does not work, repairing the OneNote installation can resolve underlying application glitches.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why did OneNote stop asking me where to put printouts?
This usually happens because the 'Always send printouts to the selected location' checkbox was ticked the last time you inserted a document. Doing so saves that location as the default and skips the prompt for future printouts.
Where do OneNote printouts go when the prompt is disabled?
If the prompt is turned off, OneNote automatically sends the printout to the location you last selected as the default, which is often your 'Unfiled Notes' section or the current page you have open.
Does this setting apply to OneNote for Windows 10?
The classic OneNote desktop app and OneNote for Windows 10 have different interfaces. In OneNote for Windows 10, printout settings are managed by clicking the three dots in the top right, selecting Settings > Options, and scrolling down to the 'Send to OneNote' section.
Will enabling this prompt affect how screen clippings are handled?
No, screen clippings are managed by a separate setting. You can find and adjust the screen clipping destination preferences in the 'Send to OneNote' tool settings or under the same 'Advanced' menu in OneNote Options.
