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How to Create Custom Tags in OneNote for iPad

Bushra Parveen Oct 16, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to know how to create custom tags directly within the OneNote application on an iPad.

How to Create Custom Tags in OneNote for iPad

Product: Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS: iPadOS / iOS
Scenario: Organizing and tracking notes, tasks, or ideas using personalized tags on a mobile device.
Observed behavior: The option to create custom tags is missing from the tag list menu in the iPad and iPhone versions of OneNote.

Before you start

Ensure you have access to a Windows PC or Mac with the desktop version of Microsoft OneNote installed, and verify that your notebook is syncing to the same Microsoft account used on your iPad.

Solution 1Recommended

Create Custom Tags on Desktop and Sync to iPad

Since the iPad application does not natively support creating custom tags, you can create them on a desktop computer and sync them to your iPad for continuous use.

Microsoft currently limits the tag customization feature to its desktop environments. However, tags applied on a desktop client will sync across platforms.

By creating a custom tag on your PC or Mac and applying it to a page, you can access and use that same tag from the 'Recent Tags' section on your iPad.

Open OneNote on a PC or Mac

Launch the OneNote desktop application on your computer and ensure you are signed into the exact same Microsoft account that you use on your iPad.

Create a New Custom Tag

Navigate to the 'Home' tab on the ribbon. Expand the Tags gallery and select 'Customize Tags' or 'Create New Tag' (depending on your operating system), then design your tag with a name, icon, and font color.

Apply the Tag to a Synced Notebook

Type a sample line of text on any page within the notebook you share with your iPad and apply your newly created custom tag to it.

Sync and Access on iPad

Open OneNote on your iPad and wait for the notebook to sync. Tap on the tagged text, open the tags menu, and you will now see your custom tag available to use on other notes.

Create Custom Tags on Desktop and Sync to iPad

Microsoft Feedback Community: To request native custom tag creation for iOS, you can vote for this feature on the official Microsoft feedback community forums.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the 'Customize Tags' option missing on my iPad?

Microsoft has not developed the feature to create or edit custom tags for the mobile versions of OneNote (iPad and iPhone). Currently, mobile users can only apply default tags or tags that have been synced from a desktop application.

Will my custom tags disappear from my iPad if I delete the sample text on my PC?

If you remove all instances of the custom tag from your synced notebooks, the tag may eventually drop out of your recent tags list on the iPad. It is recommended to keep a dedicated 'Tags List' page in your notebook where all custom tags are applied.

Can I edit an existing custom tag directly from the iPad app?

No. Just as you cannot create them, you cannot modify the icon, name, or formatting of a custom tag on an iPad. All modifications must be performed using the OneNote application on a Windows PC or Mac.

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