How to Record Audio in OneNote (2026)
OneNote can record audio right onto a page — handy for lectures and meetings. The standout feature: if you type while recording, OneNote links each note to the moment in the audio, so you can click a line and jump straight to what was being said.
1. Start a Recording (Windows)
- Click where you want the recording.
- Go to the Insert tab.
- Click Record Audio.
A toolbar appears and an audio icon drops onto the page. Type your notes as it records.
2. Stop and Play Back
- On the Recording / Playback tab, click Stop.
- Click the play button on the audio icon, or hover a typed line and click the play arrow that appears next to it to hear that exact moment.
3. Turn On Audio Search
To search inside recordings:
- File > Options > Audio & Video.
- Check Enable searching audio and video recordings for words.
OneNote will index spoken words so you can find them later.
4. OneNote on Mac, Web & Mobile
Mac OneNote and the web app don’t support inline audio recording. On iOS and Android, tap the Insert / camera-audio menu and choose to record audio. To capture audio on Mac, record with Voice Memos and attach the file via Insert > File.
5. Troubleshooting
Record Audio is greyed out
You’re on Mac or the web. Use the Windows desktop app or the mobile app.
Playback links to typed notes don’t show
Note-to-audio linking only works for text typed during the recording. Notes added afterward aren’t timestamped.
No sound is captured
Check the microphone selected in File > Options > Audio & Video, and your system’s input device.
Related OneNote guides: How to insert a PDF · How to use tags · How to link notes · How to share a notebook · How to sync OneNote
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