How to Use Handwriting Recognition in Microsoft OneNote

Key Takeaways

• OneNote allows you to take notes quickly, move them around in any order, and even categorize them into multiple notebooks.
• You may convert handwritten notes and mathematical formulas into text.

How to Take Handwritten Notes in OneNote

Step 1: On the OneNote app, click the Draw option > select your preferred pen or highlighter tool. The cursor changes shape when you select the tool.

Step 2: Start writing on the canvas.

Each pen/highlighter tool also offers different settings to change size and color. You can access these by clicking on the tool again to open a drop-down menu.

Once you’ve completed a page, you can switch to the next one by clicking on the Add page button at the bottom of the second column.

Convert Handwriting to Text

After taking down your notes, you can convert them into a text file, and OneNote does a pretty good job. To convert your handwritten notes into text, follow these steps:

Step 1: Click on the Draw menu > select the Lasso Select tool in the top toolbar. This tool will help you select the handwriting you wish to convert into text.

Step 2: Draw a selection around your handwritten notes that you wish to convert into text.

Step 3: Now, click the more icon and select the Ink to Text option to instantly convert your selected handwriting into text.

You should now see your handwritten text looking like it was typed with your keyboard.

Convert Ink to Math

Besides converting handwritten words to text, OneNote allows you to convert handwritten mathematical writings or formulas as well. Follow these steps.

Step 1: On the OneNote app, click the Draw option > select your preferred pen or highlighter tool. The cursor changes shape when a tool is selected.

Step 2: Start writing any mathematical text, formulas, or equations.

Step 3: Click on the Draw menu > select the Lasso Select tool in the top toolbar.

Step 4: Draw a selection around your handwritten notes.

Step 5: Now, click the more icon > select Ink to Math to instantly convert your selected handwriting into math.

Step 6: Edit the writing as you please using the Write, Erase, Select and Correct, and Clear options > click Insert.

Note: You could follow some basic fixes if OneNote is not opening.