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How to use OneNote 2016 without OneDrive using Office 365 and/or Office 2016? Both paid subscriptions.

Anonymous
2018-02-19T09:35:29+00:00

I have a Mac and MacBook, one with an Office 365 subscription the other with a purchased version of Office 2016 (HUP through work). Previously I have been using Onenote and I have notebooks saved on my disk. At work I use Windows, at home MacOS, all up-to-date versions. Still I have not found a way to use OneNote without OneDrive. I have uninstalled and reinstalled to no avail. I'm pretty fed up with this situation and I would have abandonned OneNote all together if not for all the work I've done previously.

I found messages telling OneDrive is required with the free version but I can't make it work with my paid version either. If there is a way, please let me know.

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneNote | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-02-19T09:42:31+00:00

    I am sorry, but I have to tell you that the only OneNote version that supports locally saved notebooks is OneNote 2010/2013/2016 for MS Windows. On MacOS it does not make a difference if you installed OneNote as part of Office 365 or the standalone app from the store; OneNote for MacOS only supports notebooks stored in the cloud (OneDrive or OneDrive for Business), as well as all other OneNote versions like for iOS, Android or the Windows 10 app.

    From a technical view, OneNote (especially on MacOS) isn't even a part of MS Office although it's installed along with it. The version that you can install from teh MacOS app store is basically the same as the "bundled" one.

    This is most likely not a technical restriction but a political decision by Microsoft who considers OneNote "cloud software" since about 2014.

    Please note that I am just an expert user but in no way related to Microsoft. I am just the messenger here.

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-05-21T18:18:31+00:00

    SWishner has summed it pretty well. One Note Mac is nothing like OneNote Windows.  Its format is only in PDF. And then there is no Page setup to allow customizing pages. And it pretty useless to try to print up Notes. Mac Users are actually better off using Evernote which does enable saving on a Local hard drive and can customize the color of Background, and of Rows. OneNote Mac does allow custom Background colors, but that is it. OneNote  Mac was just added to placate Mac users wanting an equal version of OneNote Windows. But naturally, we had to settle.

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-05-21T02:00:03+00:00

    Hi,

    I've been able to make OneNote work but not with the new features of sending meetings or event details. What you need to do is, from a windows machine, move the notebook to SharePoint and send a link to the notebook to yourself. One from your mac. It is a bit sketchy and not 100% but I was able to get it to work.

    Thanks,

    Cheryl

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