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OneNote 2016 vs. OneNote for Windows 10

Anonymous
2017-10-06T18:46:33+00:00

Why are there two different versions of OneNote?

I have been using computers since the mid-1980’s, and now I design websites. So I am pretty good at dealing with software.

And I spent a fair amount of time using both OneNote (when it first came out) and Evernote. Since I don’t like using two different systems to accomplish the same goal, I went with OneNote preferring its features over Evernote.

And let me make it clear that I love OneNote!

But I find that I can now access three versions of OneNote:

  • OneNote 2016 (which I use extensively)
  • OneNote for Windows 10
  • OneNote on OneDrive (or Live or whatever this month’s name is for the cloud service)

And NONE of those versions is the same! AND they don’t sync with each other!!

I like the increased functionality of the older version of OneNote and the variety of options available in the ribbon, so I prefer it to the WIN 10 version. But the cloud version of OneNote 2016 doesn’t even look close to what I have on my desktop version.

Before you (Microsoft) or anyone else starts to respond with, “Well what you need to do…”, don’t bother; I’ve tried everything. Read lots of forum pages. Watched a ton of Youtube tutorials. And nothing works.

So my actual question becomes: WHY? Why would you have two versions of a program that will not sync between platforms?????

I don’t give a f**king rat’s ass about how this week’s update has new pen colors, or how we can now imbed cat videos using only two steps instead of the previous three steps.

What I want is the ability to do my online work and know for a certaintythat I have the same files on my tablet when I’m out of the office as I do when sitting in front of my desktop. Why is that too much to ask?

For myself, I think it’s time to take another look at Evernote. Yes there is a subscription cost but at least I would know that my work is more “secure”. And that is far more important than friggin’ useless updates for better colored pens.

This is 2017, get your **** together!

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneNote | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-06-23T15:35:28+00:00

    Don't you dare go from Personal to Home, you will never be able to back to your old files even though you use the same account. Things were getting better with Office, OneNote, and OneDrive. Now they have fallen into a mess of incompatibilities. I just want OneNote to sync to the cloud for backup. I just want OneDrive to sync properly. If I delete a file in the cloud I don't necessarily want it to delete the files on the local drive. SyncToy gives you that option, why the flying fig not OneDrive.

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-04-21T22:57:27+00:00

    No problem, glad to help.

    I've been in love with OneNote for over 10 years now, and keep trying to get more people on board with how great it is. I try to make sure I spell out what the limitations could be (depending on the version and the device) so I don't get blow-back when they try to use it.

    I use it for everything: personal, my business, my jobs. I tend more toward the full version (2016 right now) since I've been using the full version for years and have Onetastic and Gem for OneNote.

    As an FYI:

    I found the easiest way to get comfortable with it (in all it's forms) is to use it for personal stuff. That way, if I mess something up, it's only me that is affected. I've had the same personal notebook for 8 years. Everything goes there to be organized later. If a section or section group becomes too big, I move it to a notebook for it's own topic area.

    If a new version comes out, I test it with a "Test" notebook first before moving ahead with any work/business notebooks. My Test notebook has odds & ends of stuff that, if I killed it, it wouldn't make a difference.

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-01-15T15:09:27+00:00

    My biggest issue is that OneNote app creates its own database separate from OneNote 2016 when syncing from the cloud.  I'm already running low on disk space so this doesn't work for me.  I'd love to be able to use some of the unique features of OneNote app, but the cost is too high.  I guess I'll stick with OneNote 2016 on my Surfaces and OneNote app on my phones and iDevice.  Also, three things that I can do on my Surface (embedded spreadsheets, recording stuff while taking notes, and my OneTastic add-ins) aren't available in the app.  Ah well.

    I guess I should add that my notebooks sync between all of my devices:  Pixel 2, Surface Pro 3, Surface Pro 2, iPad Pro, HP Elite X3

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-04-04T13:13:48+00:00

    It is showing "working online" because you have syncing turned off.  Select ... (3 dots in upper right) then "Settings", then "Options".  Turn on "Sync notebooks automatically".

    You appear to have the current version of Windows 10 OneNote.  It will update automatically with Windows Update.

    There is no need to export notebooks, just have them sync to the same account.

    Insure Windows 10 OneNote and Office 365 OneNote are using the same account and they will sync automatically.  You'll then be able to use either version of OneNote.  I use both on 2 computers, depending on what I'm doing and they see the same notebooks.

    To see what account you are using in Windows 10 OneNote, select ... (3 dots), then "Accounts".

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  5. Anonymous
    2018-01-04T05:45:00+00:00

    Thanks, Larry . . . I'll spend some time on it tonight or in the morning. I thought I was opening them with the same account . . . but, maybe not.

    ` George "jorge"

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