There are two types of OneNote applications available on your computer; one is called OneNote for Windows 10 and the other is called OneNote 2016. Both may appear the same but have some additional features of their own. OneNote (also called OneNote for Windows) is referred to as the version of the application which is installed on your computer by default whenever you install Windows 10. This version is only available on Windows 10. OneNote 2016 refers to the application which is installed through Microsoft Office when you install it on your computer. This version can be installed on Windows 10, 8, and 7. This version looks similar to other office applications such as Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
Do note that there are other versions of OneNote available as well such as OneNote 2013 etc. Each iteration of Office always contains a OneNote application along with other crucial applications such as Word or Excel.
The version you choose to use entirely depends on the features you want to avail of. OneNote 2016 may contain some legacy functions which are mostly available at your Office or School, but OneNote for Windows 10 contains innovative new features that are not available in the desktop version and it is truly one of the best note-taking apps out there. OneNote for Windows 10 is also constantly updated and contains performance and security fixes from time to time.
What are the features only available for OneNote for Windows 10?
There are loads of new features that are only available for the Windows 10 version. We have only listed a few of them down below:
- You can move across devices with ease due to cross-platform compatibility.
- Immersive reader to improve comprehension.
- Researcher to search for relevant quotes, images, or citable sources to start your outline.
- You can share a single page instead of sharing an entire notebook.
- Ink Math Assistant to solve equations.
- Transform drawings into shapes.
- Highlighter and pen customizations.
- Convert handwritten ink to typed text with retained style formatting and color.
- Ability to check who is working with you and jump straight to the page they are on.
There are loads of other features also available in the application. You can refer to Microsoft’s official website to learn more.
Note: You can also just move the OneNote 2016 Notebook to any other OneDrive Account anytime. This increases the portability provided by the application by a lot.
What are features only available for OneNote 2016?
Although OneNote for Windows 10 is packed with immense features, there are some functionalities that are only available in OneNote 2016.
- Store notebooks on your local hard drive instead of in the cloud.
- Ability to apply templates to pages to maintain a specific layout or look.
- Certain Office integration features are also available such as Outlook tasks or embedded excel spreadsheets.
- Ability to categorize notes with custom tags to find them quickly later on.
Another point worth noting is that different versions of OneNote do not sync with each other. If you add information to one OneNote application, it will not be replicated on the other application even if you have signed in with your Microsoft Account.
How do I install OneNote 2016 on my computer?
Installing OneNote 2016 is quite easy. OneNote for Windows 10 will not be removed from your computer when you install the latter. At this time, you don’t have to pay to download OneNote 2016. You can download it from the official website directly to your computer. The website may prompt that you have already installed OneNote. It prompts that you have OneNote for Windows 10 installed. Don’t get confused and click the correct link to download.
- Navigate to the official OneNote website.
- Click “Windows Desktop”. After a moment a file will start downloading after you specify the location where to save.
- Install the executable, restart your computer and OneNote 2016 will be installed.
