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How to Use Presenter View for Private Notes in Microsoft OneNote
Question details
The user wants to project lecture material to an audience using OneNote while simultaneously keeping private speaker notes visible only on their own screen, similar to PowerPoint's Presenter View.
- Product
- Microsoft OneNote
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Lecturing or presenting content to an audience while needing to reference hidden, private notes.
- Observed behavior
- OneNote lacks a dedicated Presenter View feature, meaning any content displayed in full screen is visible to the audience without a way to hide specific notes.
Ensure you have a secondary monitor or projector connected to your device, and that your operating system's display settings are set to 'Extend these displays' rather than 'Duplicate'.
Use Multiple OneNote Windows with an Extended Display
Since OneNote lacks a native Presenter View, utilizing two separate windows across two monitors allows you to show content to your audience while keeping your private notes hidden on your primary screen.
This workaround mimics a traditional presenter view by leveraging your operating system's multi-monitor capabilities. It requires you to manage two separate instances of the OneNote application.
Connect your secondary display (projector or monitor) and set your operating system display settings to 'Extend'.
Launch Microsoft OneNote and navigate to the notebook page containing the lecture content you wish to show your audience.
Press 'Ctrl + M' on your keyboard, or right-click the OneNote icon on your taskbar and select 'OneNote' to open a new, separate window.
Drag the first OneNote window to your secondary display (the projector). Keep the newly opened second window on your primary computer screen, and navigate to your private notes.
On the window shown to the audience, click on 'View' in the top ribbon and select 'Full Page View' (or press F11) to hide the menus and provide a clean presentation layout.
Create Professional Presentations with WPS Office
While OneNote is excellent for note-taking, it lacks a dedicated Presenter View for formal lectures. WPS Presentation is a powerful, free alternative designed specifically for live presentations. It features a built-in Presenter View that lets you easily project your slides to an audience while keeping your speaker notes completely private on your own screen.
- 1. Open WPS Presentation: Launch WPS Office and open your presentation file.
- 2. Enable Presenter View: Navigate to the 'Slide Show' tab and ensure the 'Use Presenter View' checkbox is selected.
- 3. Start presenting: Click 'From Beginning' to start the slideshow. Your audience will see the slides on the projector, while you see your private notes on your screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Microsoft add a native Presenter View to OneNote?
Currently, Microsoft has not announced any official plans to add a dedicated Presenter View to OneNote. The application remains primarily designed for freeform note-taking and collaboration rather than structured live presentations.
Can I link my OneNote notes to a PowerPoint presentation instead?
Yes. You can use the 'Linked Notes' feature in OneNote to tie specific notes to a PowerPoint file. However, this is mainly designed for reviewing notes during the creation process, not for displaying private notes during a live slideshow.
What is the keyboard shortcut to open a new OneNote window?
You can quickly open a new, separate instance of OneNote by pressing 'Ctrl + M' on Windows. This allows you to view two different pages or notebooks simultaneously on different monitors.
