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How to Open a Specific Default Page at Startup in OneNote

Nimra Malik Sep 25, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to configure Microsoft OneNote to automatically open a specific page, such as a table of contents or daily planner, every time the application is launched.

How to Open a Default Page at Startup in OneNote

Product: Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Setting up OneNote to launch directly into a frequently used page instead of the most recently viewed page.
Observed behavior: OneNote opens to the last viewed page by default and lacks a built-in application setting to specify a default startup page.

Before you start

Ensure you have the OneNote desktop application installed and decide which specific page you want to use as your default startup destination.

Solution 1Recommended

Create a Custom Desktop Shortcut for the Target Page

Since OneNote does not have a built-in startup page setting, creating a desktop shortcut using the target page's link is the most effective workaround.

This method utilizes OneNote's deep linking capability to launch the application and navigate directly to your desired page in a single click.

Copy the page link

Open OneNote and locate the page you want to open at startup. Right-click the page name in the page list panel and select 'Copy Link to Page'.

Create a new desktop shortcut

Right-click on an empty area of your Windows desktop, select 'New', and then click 'Shortcut'.

Paste and format the link

In the location field, paste the copied link. The link often contains both a web URL and a local client link. Delete the web URL portion (starting with https://) and keep only the local application link (starting with onenote:).

Name the shortcut

Click 'Next', type a recognizable name for your shortcut (for example, 'OneNote TOC' or 'Default Notes'), and click 'Finish'.

Pin to taskbar for quick access

For even faster access, right-click your newly created desktop shortcut and select 'Pin to taskbar'. You can now use this icon to launch OneNote directly to your preferred page.

Create a Custom Desktop Shortcut for the Target Page

Launch on Boot: If you want this page to open automatically when you turn on your computer, press Windows + R, type 'shell:startup', and move your new shortcut into the Startup folder.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a built-in option to set a default startup page in OneNote?

No, currently OneNote does not provide a native setting in its Options menu to specify a default startup page. By default, the application is designed to remember and open the last page you visited, which is why creating a custom desktop shortcut is required.

Why does the copied link open in a web browser instead of the OneNote desktop app?

When you use the 'Copy Link to Page' feature, OneNote copies two links: a web URL for OneNote Online and a local app URI. When pasting it into a shortcut, you must delete the web link (https://...) and retain only the text starting with 'onenote:' to ensure it opens in the desktop app.

Will this custom shortcut work if I sync my notebooks to a different device?

The shortcut contains a unique identifier for that specific page. While it works flawlessly on the device where it was created, you may need to recreate the shortcut on a new device to ensure the local file paths and app configurations align properly.

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