Redeem now - The only way to rename a notebook in OneNote is to use the OneDrive website.
- The OneNote app for PC also lets you change a notebook's "display name," which changes its name in that app only.
- Once you rename a OneNote notebook, you may need to sync the app again before it opens.
When you create a new OneNote notebook, the most important option that you have to decide on is its name. This name saves to the app and your OneNote account online, and you can change it whenever you want — but not wherever you want.
How to rename a notebook in OneNote
Every version of the OneNote app lets you make notebooks, delete them, and organize them. But for whatever reason, no version of OneNote lets you rename your notebooks.
To rename a notebook, you'll instead need to log into your OneDrive account online. OneDrive is the cloud storage service that holds all of the files you make using Microsoft 365 apps, along with a few others.
1. Open a web browser and head to the OneDrive website. You'll need to log into the same Microsoft account that you use with OneNote.
Quick tip: If you've been using OneNote without being logged in, you need to log in with the app and sync all your notebooks before doing this.
2. Under My Files, open the Documents folder. You should find a list of all your OneNote notebooks. Alternatively, find the notebook you want by searching for it with the search bar at the top of the window.
3. Once you've found the notebook you're trying to rename, hover your mouse over it and click the empty circle to the top-right of it, or tap and hold your finger on it. This will select it.
4. In the toolbar at the top of the screen, click or tap Rename. If you're using a phone, you might need to tap the three dots in the toolbar first to find this option.
5. Give your notebook a new name and then select Rename.
Once you've saved the new name, you might need to open a OneDrive app and re-sync all of your notebooks before using them again.
Renaming a notebook will also stop sharing it with any of your collaborators, meaning they'll lose all access. You'll need to re-share the notebook with anyone that needs it.
How to change a OneNote notebook's display name
Every OneNote notebook also has a display name, which is just the name that they show up with in your specific OneNote app. You can change this name using the PC version of OneNote, but just remember that it'll only change the name in that app, not anywhere else.
Quick tip: Make sure you're using the standalone OneNote app, not OneNote for Windows 10, which is a separate application.
1. Open OneNote on your PC and open a notebook.
2. Click the notebook's name in the top-left corner to open the list of all your notebooks.
3. Right-click the notebook you want to rename, then select Properties.
4. Change its name using the Display name option, then click OK.
William Antonelli Tech Reporter for Insider Reviews William Antonelli (he/she/they) is a writer, editor, and organizer based in New York City. As a founding member of the Reference team, he helped grow Tech Reference (now part of Insider Reviews) from humble beginnings into a juggernaut that attracts over 20 million visits a month. Outside of Insider, his writing has appeared in publications like Polygon, The Outline, Kotaku, and more. He's also a go-to source for tech analysis on channels like Newsy, Cheddar, and NewsNation. You can find him on Twitter @DubsRewatcher, or reach him by email at wantonelli@businessinsider.com. Read more Read lessncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o8HSoqWeq6Oeu7S1w56pZ5ufonyowcidnKxnpJqwqXvRnqWapZViu7DAxJumqKNdpLumus6tnA%3D%3D