Microsoft OneNote supports Microsoft Purview Sensitivity Labels, enabling organizations to classify and protect information directly within their notebooks. This capability aligns OneNote with the broader labeling experience used across Microsoft 365 apps.
How sensitivity labels work in OneNote
In OneNote’s hierarchy, sensitivity labels are applied at the section level.
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Labels are not applied to an entire notebook.
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Labels are not applied to individual pages.
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Labels are not applied to section groups.
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When a section is labeled, all pages within that section automatically share the same protection, ensuring consistent policy enforcement.
This section‑level model allows notebooks to contain multiple sections with different labels, providing flexibility while maintaining compliance requirements.
Where sensitivity labels are supported
Sensitivity labels in OneNote are supported across:
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OneNote for Windows (Win32) - Min version: 16.0.19426.20218
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OneNote for Android - Min versions: 16.0.19426.20218
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OneNote for Mac and iOS - Min version: 16.103
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OneNote for Web
Important: Users on unsupported versions may encounter access denied errors when accessing sections protected with encrypted sensitivity labels.
Applying a sensitivity label to a section
To apply a sensitivity label:
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Select the OneNote section you want to protect.
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Use the sensitivity label option from the title bar, the section’s context menu or overflow menu (for Mobile apps).
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Choose the appropriate label.
All pages within that section will follow the selected sensitivity label protection and restriction(s).
Enable sensitivity labels in your organization
To enable sensitivity labels in OneNote for your organization, please visit this page ‘Enable sensitivity labels for files in SharePoint and OneDrive’ for detailed guidance.
FAQs
Does OneNote support auto labeling or recommended labeling of content?
Not yet. OneNote supports manual labeling, so new sections remain unlabeled until a user applies a sensitivity label. Default labeling and automatic or recommended labeling based on content are not available at launch.
I already have Microsoft Purview sensitivity labels enabled in my organization. Will sensitivity labels in OneNote be enabled automatically?
Sensitivity labels in OneNote are not enabled automatically, even if Microsoft Purview sensitivity labels are already set up in your organization. Tenant admins need to enable this capability for OneNote. For guidance on how to do this, please visit this page
Why am I seeing an “access denied” error when opening labeled sections in OneNote?
Users who are running older, unsupported versions of OneNote may see access denied errors when trying to open sections protected with encrypted sensitivity labels. In some cases, access may also be denied because the permissions defined in the sensitivity label do not grant access to the user, which is expected behavior. To avoid version‑related issues, ensure you are using a supported version of the OneNote app.
Why can’t some of my colleagues see sensitivity labels in OneNote?
If your IT admin has enabled sensitivity labels in OneNote, users on older, unsupported versions may not see the labeling experience. Make sure everyone is using a supported version of the app.
