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Can OneNote Mentions Notify Other People?

Huda Qurayshi Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to know if using @mentions or tags in OneNote will automatically send a notification or alert to the tagged team members.

Can OneNote Mentions Notify Other People?

Product: Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Collaborating with colleagues in a shared notebook and trying to draw someone's attention to a specific note or task.
Observed behavior: Users are unsure if typing an @mention inside a OneNote page successfully triggers an email or push notification to the tagged person.

Before you start

Ensure you are signed into your Microsoft account and verify that the notebook is already shared with the colleagues you wish to collaborate with.

Solution 1Recommended

Understanding OneNote Mention Limitations and Using Alternatives

While OneNote does not natively support @mention notifications, you can manually share links or submit a feature request to Microsoft.

Currently, Microsoft OneNote does not support @mentions or tags that send direct notifications to other people. Unlike Word or Excel, typing '@' followed by a person's name in OneNote will not automatically alert them.

To work around this limitation, you can manually direct your colleagues to specific sections of your notebook using the built-in sharing and linking features.

Share the Notebook

Click the 'Share' button in the top right corner of the OneNote window. Enter the email addresses of the people you want to collaborate with and click 'Send' to invite them to the notebook.

Copy Link to a Specific Paragraph

Navigate to the specific text or paragraph you want your colleague to see. Right-click the text, select 'Copy Link to Paragraph', and paste this link into an email or instant message to manually notify them.

Submit a Feature Request

To encourage Microsoft to add the mention feature, go to the 'Help' tab in OneNote, select 'Feedback', and submit a request explaining your need for @mention notifications.

Understanding OneNote Mention Limitations and Using Alternatives

Microsoft 365 Mentions: Although OneNote lacks this feature, other Microsoft 365 applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint do support @mentions in comments.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do @mentions work in other Microsoft 365 apps?

Yes, Microsoft 365 applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint fully support @mentions within their commenting systems. When you mention someone in those apps, they receive an automated email notification.

How will someone know if I tag them in OneNote?

Since OneNote does not send automated notifications for tags or mentions, you must manually inform the person. You can do this by right-clicking the relevant section, copying the link to the paragraph, and sending it to them via email or chat.

Will Microsoft add @mentions to OneNote in the future?

Microsoft frequently updates its suite of applications based on user feedback. While there is no official release date for this feature in OneNote, users are encouraged to submit feature requests through the OneNote feedback portal to increase its prioritization.

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