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OneNote can attach an audio or video recording directly to a page. On current Windows desktop versions, click in the page, open Home, and choose Record Audio or the video-recording command when available. OneNote starts recording as soon as it inserts the media icon, so have the page and microphone or webcam ready first.
The exact command depends on whether you use OneNote for Microsoft 365, OneNote 2024, OneNote for Mac, a mobile app, or the browser version. The retired OneNote for Windows 10 app uses a different menu.
Record audio in OneNote on Windows
These instructions apply to OneNote for Microsoft 365, OneNote 2024, OneNote 2021, and OneNote 2016.
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- Click in the page at the location where the recording should be inserted.
- Choose Home > Record Audio.
- Wait for OneNote to insert the media icon. Recording starts automatically.
- When you finish, select Pause to temporarily stop, or Stop to finish the recording.
To listen to it later, click the recording icon on the page and select Play. The computer must have a working microphone. A webcam is not needed for an audio-only recording.
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If Record is not visible
Some current OneNote builds expose the recording controls only after you select Transcribe. Select Transcribe and look for the Record control. If you are using the old Windows 10 app, use its separate instructions below.
Record video in OneNote
On a Windows desktop build that provides video recording, click in the page and use the recording command on the Home tab. Choose the video option rather than Record Audio, then allow OneNote to use the webcam and microphone if Windows asks.
- Open the target page and click where the video should appear.
- On the ribbon, open Home.
- Select the video-recording command.
- Allow camera and microphone access if prompted.
- Record your presentation, demonstration, or explanation.
- Select Pause when you need a break, or Stop to end the recording.
OneNote places the resulting media object on the page. Select it and use Play to review the recording. If your build shows only Record Audio, video recording may not be exposed in that version or configuration; check the available commands after selecting Transcribe.
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Use keyboard commands on Windows
With the cursor on the OneNote page:
| Action | Keyboard command |
|---|---|
| Open the Insert tab | Alt+N |
| Start audio recording | Press A after opening Insert |
| Pause or resume | Alt+J, A, U |
| Stop recording | Alt+J, A, S |
| Play the selected recording | Ctrl+Alt+P |
The recording shortcuts are particularly useful with a screen reader or when you do not want to move between the page and ribbon.
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Record audio in OneNote for Mac
- Place the cursor on the page where the recording belongs.
- Choose Insert > Audio recording.
- If macOS displays “Microsoft OneNote would like to access the microphone,” select Allow.
- Record your audio and use the audio controls to stop when finished.
If microphone permission was previously denied, open macOS privacy settings and enable OneNote under the microphone permissions before trying again.
Record on iPhone or iPad
- Place the cursor in the page content block.
- Select Audio.
- Approve microphone access if iOS or iPadOS asks.
- When finished, select Stop recording.
OneNote inserts the recording with a musical-note icon. Tap the icon to play it.
Record on Android
- Place the cursor where you want the recording.
- Select Audio, then select Start.
- Approve microphone access. Android may offer While using the app or Only this time.
- Select Stop to finish and insert the recording.
Record in OneNote for the web
OneNote for the web can record audio. Microsoft recommends using Microsoft Edge, although microphone access is controlled by the browser.
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- Click in the page where the recording should go.
- Select Audio.
- When the browser asks to use the microphone, select Allow.
- Stop the recording when finished.
With the simplified ribbon, the documented keyboard sequence to start is Alt+Period, N, A. To stop, press Alt+Period, J, A, S. To play a recording, navigate to it and press Enter.
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Link typed notes to a recording
OneNote can associate notes with the point in time at which you typed them. Start the recording, then type notes on the same page while it plays or records. Later, open the recording’s Audio & Video tab and select See Playback. OneNote moves through the time-linked notes as the recording plays.
This does not mean that every piece of text on the page is synchronized. Text added after the recording is finished is not documented as being linked to its playback time.
OneNote for Windows 10: the old path
The legacy OneNote for Windows 10 app used a different command: Insert > Audio. Selecting Audio started recording immediately and displayed a Recording tab with a timer.
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- Click in the page.
- Choose Insert > Audio.
- Record your audio.
- Select Stop on the Recording tab.
To continue a stopped recording, select Record. To play one, double-click its audio icon. The old player included controls for pausing, moving back 5 minutes or 15 seconds, and moving forward 15 seconds or 5 minutes.
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Microsoft ended support for OneNote for Windows 10 in October 2025. It is not the current Windows app, and Microsoft directs users to the Microsoft Store version or the OneNote app included with Microsoft 365. In the Windows 10 app, deleting an audio icon deletes the recording immediately and Microsoft says it cannot be restored through OneNote.
Fix microphone and recording problems
| Problem | What to check |
|---|---|
| No recording command | On current desktop OneNote, check Home > Record Audio. Try Transcribe if the Record control is hidden. In the old Windows 10 app, use Insert > Audio. |
| OneNote cannot access the microphone | Check the operating system’s microphone permission, make sure the microphone is not disabled, and confirm that a working microphone is selected. |
| The browser cannot record | Use the browser’s site-permission control to allow microphone access, then reload OneNote for the web. Edge is Microsoft’s recommended browser for this feature. |
| Recording begins before you are ready | This is expected. In current desktop OneNote, Home > Record Audio starts when the media icon is inserted. The Windows 10 app also starts immediately after Insert > Audio. |
| Typed notes do not follow playback | Only notes typed while the recording is in progress are documented as time-linked. Text added later will not automatically receive playback timestamps. |
FAQ
Can OneNote record audio?
Yes. In current OneNote for Windows, click in the page and choose Home > Record Audio. On Mac, use Insert > Audio recording. OneNote for the web and the mobile apps also provide an Audio command.
Can OneNote record video?
Some desktop OneNote versions provide a video-recording command on the Home tab. A webcam and microphone are required for video. If the command is missing, check the controls exposed after selecting Transcribe and verify that your OneNote build supports video recording.
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Insert > Audio is the path used by the retired OneNote for Windows 10 app. Current Windows desktop OneNote normally uses Home > Record Audio. Some builds expose Record after you select Transcribe.
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Does OneNote record audio in the browser?
Yes. In OneNote for the web, select Audio and allow microphone access in the browser. Microsoft recommends Microsoft Edge.
Do OneNote recordings sync with the notebook?
The recording is inserted into the OneNote page as a media object, so it is associated with that page and notebook. Allow time for the notebook to synchronize before closing OneNote or switching devices.
Can I recover a recording deleted from OneNote for Windows 10?
Microsoft states that deleting a recording in the old OneNote for Windows 10 app deletes it immediately and it cannot be restored through OneNote.
The Bottom Line
For current Windows desktop OneNote, click in the page and use Home > Record Audio; use the video command on the same ribbon when your build provides it. Mac, mobile, and web versions use an Audio command, while the retired Windows 10 app uses Insert > Audio. Grant microphone or camera permission before recording, and type notes during the recording if you want OneNote to synchronize them with playback.
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