Microsoft OneNote 2016 features several settings you can customize to maximize the user interface and experience. Below we share 18 easy ways to customize OneNote. You can customize which tools show there, which streamlines common tasks. Describes the Microsoft OneNote 2016 for Mac 15.15.1 update. This update was released on October 16, 2015. Try Microsoft Edge A fast and secure browser that's designed for Windows 10 No thanks Get started. This site uses cookies for analytics, personalized content and ads.

Update 9/23/2015: The standalone version is finally out and incredibly, as of version 15.14, still no local Save As in OneNote. Thank goodness for alternatives like. Like version 15.7 currently available in Apple’s App Store, the spanking-new OneNote 2016 Preview heavy-handedly coerces the user to log in with a Microsoft account. Either you can log in to Microsoft, or you can quit the app. Simple as that. If you submit and use a Microsoft account, you might think freedom awaits.

“Where do you want to go today?” Nevermind. Microsoft knows where.

And they will tell you where: your Microsoft OneDrive account. Eat Your OneNote and Like It Beginning with OneNote 2013, Microsoft nudged users in the direction of Microsoft’s cloud products, but with OneNote 2016 Mac they demand a Microsoft sign-in and Microsoft cloud storage. But don’t worry it’s “free.” Don’t you feel the freedom? The initial Preview is version 15.8, a minor step forward from the version in the app store, and that’s exactly what it feels like. The “Where” drop-down list above, historically a “Save As” location selector, is not a list at all. It comically has only One Option: OneDrive.

It might as well be replaced with a button: When Apple adheres to a singular vision despite the naysayers and produces what Apple thinks the customer needs instead of what the customer wants, it’s somewhat annoying and sometimes a little endearing. Why is it that when Microsoft tries the same thing and denies the ability to use local files, it’s just maddening? It seems unnecessarily heavy-handed — taking away something that has been a part of the feature set since inception — and for what purpose? Errant strategery.

“But Alex,” you say. “You’re livin’ in the past. How can you have your pudding if you don’t eat your meat? Cloud is The Way. Share it all with the One.

Allow the One to read it. You don’t need local storage anymore. These aren’t the droids you’re looking for.” Maybe. Cloud has its virtues.

Gmail is solid cloud email if a little creepy. But in the words of John Locke, “don’t tell me what I can’t do.” Time will tell if Microsoft continues to force their cloud-centric vision and de-feature OneNote. The rest of Office 2016 for Mac; Word, Excel and PowerPoint, work just fine offline and with local storage. Hope springs eternal that the ability to “go local” with OneNote is forthcoming. If you love OneDrive and can’t wait to with your data, download the OneNote 2016 for Mac preview. If not, you can.

The real problem with cloud-only access for OneNote is that it makes the program a useless tool for many corporate users. Large companies have very strict data policies that absolutely prohibit people from storing company data (including things like notes from meetings) in the cloud. You can argue all day about whether the policies makes sense, but at the end of the day they ARE the policies corporate users have to live. OneNote is a very useful tool in a corporate environment, and the Windows version allows for local storage of notebooks. My guess is that this restriction is aimed at keeping Windows embedded in corporate settings as they see MacBooks becoming more common in the workplace. I work in public education and Onenote has the potential to be EXACTLY what I need to organise my class information, lesson plans, student lists, attendance records, marks, and track the strengths and weaknesses of individual students along with their progress.

One little problem – we’re not allowed to store sensitive data, such as class lists and marks, in the cloud. Even if I WERE to go ahead and use it anyway, the proxy settings of the department prevent the app from contacting the server. So I CAN’T access my files, create new notebooks or save any changes I make. Seriously, Microsoft? This app would be AMAZING for me. I also work in public education and Onenote has the potential to be EXACTLY what I need to organise my class information, lesson plans, student lists, attendance records, marks, and track the strengths and weaknesses of individual students along with their progress.