How do I share a microsoft class notebook with a colleague? When I do so through onenote, only the welcome page is shared

Question

I have successfully done so through onedrive by sharing a onedrive file and copying and pasting a link into an email, but I was not able to receive a file successfully this way

Answer 1

Hi @MsSahrenaLondon-1832,

Thanks for posting your question to Q&A Forum.

Regarding your issue about sharing a Microsoft Class Notebook with a colleague, but they only see the Welcome page when accessing it via OneNote. This is a known limitation, and you can read about it via this document: Unable to view content within a shared Class or Staff Notebook in OneNote for the web

When you use the Share feature in OneNote for the web or desktop apps, it typically only grants access to the Welcome page of the Class Notebook. This is because Class Notebooks are structured with special permissions for sections like the Collaboration Space, Content Library, and student notebooks, which aren't exposed through standard OneNote sharing.

To properly share a Class Notebook with a colleague (e.g., a co-teacher or staff member), you can follow these steps:

Option 1: Add Your Colleague as a Teacher (Best for Full Access)

1. Go to the Class Notebook Management Portal
2. Sign in with your Microsoft account.
3. Select the notebook you want to share.
4. Click “Add or remove teachers”
5. Enter your colleague’s email address and click Next.
6. Confirm and click Update.

This gives them full access to all sections: Content Library, Collaboration Space, and Student Notebooks.

Option 2: Share a View/Edit Link to the Entire Notebook

1. Open the notebook in OneNote desktop or web.
2. Click File → Share → Share Entire Notebook.
3. Choose “Copy Link to Notebook”.
4. Set permissions (View or Edit).
5. Send the link to your colleague.

You have to make sure the notebook is stored in OneDrive or SharePoint — otherwise, sharing won’t work properly.
You can read about it through this document: How to share a OneNote notebook

Option 3: Export and Send as a Static File (PDF or OneNote Package)

If your colleague only needs to view the content:

1. Go to File → Export
2. Choose Notebook → OneNote Package (.onepkg) or PDF
3. Send the file via email or cloud storage

If your colleague still can’t see sections like Content Library or Collaboration Space, use the Fix Permissions Tool by following this guide: Fix Class Notebook when Welcome, Collaboration Space, or Content Library are missing

If your colleague still sees only the Welcome page, you have to verify the following information with your college and your school IT administrator.

• Confirm they’re signed in with their school account, not a personal Microsoft account.
• Verify they’ve been added as a co-teacher via the Class Notebook management portal.
• Ensure their license includes SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business.

Should the issue persist, or you have any questions related to this issue, please don't hesitate to reach out, I'd gladly to assist you further.

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Answer 2

Good day @MsSahrenaLondon-1832,

Hope things are running smoothly on your end.

Following up on the support thread we've been working on. I hope the information I shared in my previous answer resolve the issue you were facing. If you are still facing the same issue or need assistance with anything else, kindly respond to this email, and I will be happy to help.

We want to make sure everything is working as expected and that your experience remains uninterrupted.

Thank you for your patience and understanding throughout the troubleshooting process. 

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

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Answer 3

Good day @MsSahrenaLondon-1832,

I hope you are having a great day.

It was truly a pleasure working with you on this thread. I understand that you might have other important matters at hand to attend to and do not have convenient time for this at the moment. If you're still encountering any problems or have run into new challenges, please let me know which steps you're currently stuck on and happy to provide further help whenever you need it. 

If you have any further questions, feel free to tag me in your reply so I can assist you directly.

Looking forward to your update.

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