OneNote lets you export pages in several different file formats. Here is how to convert OneNote to PDF in concise and straightforward steps.
For a lot of Windows users, OneNote is the de-facto program for note-taking. A few of the main reasons being its ease of use, synchronization with Microsoft account, free to use with almost no limitations, excellent support for touch and pen, student-specific features and functions, etc. Most of all, one of the unique features of OneNote is its infinite canvas. Rather than limiting you to a traditional vertical page layout, OneNote lets you write anywhere you want. The canvas expands on both the X-axis and Y-axis. As you can guess, the expanding canvas is very helpful for many note-taking applications, especially for students and creative work.
Though not every time, there might be situations where you need to export OneNote pages to PDF. For example, maybe you want to share your notes with someone who is not using OneNote or save it in a widely supported format. In those cases, what is better than the good-old PDF format? The good thing is, OneNote lets you export notes in several different forms, including but are not limited to PDF, Word, XPS, etc. In addition, the wide range of export options means that you don’t have to worry about compatibility.
Generally, exporting OneNote to PDF is recommended because of its simple nature, compatibility, and ability to retain the note’s format and styling. This quick and straightforward guide lets me show you the steps to export OneNote to PDF in Windows.
Important note: There are two major versions of OneNote, i.e., the OneNote 2016 (MS Office) version and the OneNote Windows Store version. Depending on the version you are using, the steps are different. So, follow the steps based on the OneNote version you are using.
Export OneNote to PDF (Windows Store version)
If you are using the OneNote Windows Store version, follow the below steps to export OneNote to PDF.
- Open OneNote for Windows.
- Open the Notebook and select the page to export.
- Click the “Menu” icon on the top-right corner.
- Select the “Print” option.
- Select “Microsoft Print to PDF” from the “Printer” dropdown.
- Click the “Print” button.
- Select a destination.
- Type a name in the “File Name” field.
- Click the “Save” button.
- With that, you have exported OneNote to PDF.
First, open the Start menu, search for “OneNote for Windows,” and open it. After that, open the notebook of your choice and select the page you want to export to PDF. Here, click on the “Menu” icon (three horizontal dots) appearing in the top right corner and select the “Print” option.
Now, select the “Microsoft Print to PDF” option from the “Printer” dropdown menu. Next, configure the orientation option if necessary. After that, hit the “Print” button.
In this window, select a folder to save the file, type a name in the “File Name” field, and hit the “Save” button.
As soon as you do that, OneNote will export the page as a PDF document and saves it with the name you’ve given in the place you chose earlier. Then, if you open the File Explorer and go to that location, you will see the exported PDF document.
Export OneNote 2016 to PDF
If you are using OneNote 2016 or the OneNote desktop version, follow the below steps to export the OneNote page to PDF.
First, open the OneNote application by searching for it in the Start menu. After opening the application, open the Notebook and select the page you want to export.
After that, click the “File” option on the top bar (Ribbon) and select “Export” on the sidebar.
OneNote lets you export the entire notebook, section, or page. Select what you want to export under the “Export Current” section. In this case, I’m trying to export a page. So, I selected the “Page” option. Next, select “PDF (*.pdf)” option from the “Select Format” section. Finally, click the “Export” button.
Select a folder to save the file, type a name for the file in the “File Name” field and click the “Save” button.
As soon as you do that, the file is instantly exported and saved as a PDF document in the destination folder you chose earlier.
An important thing to keep in mind
While exporting OneNote to PDF, there is one crucial thing you should keep in mind. That is, if your OneNote page is not a regular size. i.e., suppose you are making use of the infinite canvas. In that case, you might have to change the page’s orientation while exporting or change the OneNote page styling/formatting to make it look good in a regular PDF document. Otherwise, the exported PDF document might not appear how you think it should appear.
That is all. It is that simple to export OneNote to PDF in Windows.
I hope that helps.
If you are stuck or need some help, comment below, and I will try to help as much as possible.
Related: How to password protect OneNote
