How to Migrate from OneNote to Apple Notes in 2026

Microsoft OneNote to Apple Notes migration: export OneNote notebooks as PDF or use the OneNote Importer tool from Apple (available on Mac). The Apple-provided importer is the cleanest path for large OneNote libraries.

Method 1: Apple OneNote Importer (Mac)

Apple provides a free app called "Import from OneNote" available in the Mac App Store. Steps: install the app, log in with your Microsoft account, select notebooks to import, choose destination (Apple Notes or specific folder), import. Preserves pages, sections, and some formatting.

Limitations: requires Mac (not available on iPhone directly). Import happens on Mac, then syncs to iPhone via iCloud. Section groups may flatten. Complex formatting (tables, embedded spreadsheets) may not transfer perfectly.

Method 2: Export to PDF from OneNote

In OneNote (Mac or Windows): File > Export > select pages or sections > PDF format. Saves each section as a PDF. Share to Nemos or Files app on iPhone. Nemos OCRs PDF content and makes it searchable.

Method 3: Copy-Paste for Small Sections

For individual notebooks with critical content: open OneNote on Mac or iPad, select all text in each page (Cmd+A), copy, paste into Apple Notes. Manual but preserves all text content. Best for important notebooks you actively use.

What Transfers Well vs Poorly

Transfers well: text content, basic formatting (bold, headers), images, checklists.

Transfers poorly: Microsoft-specific features (Excel/Word embeds, OneNote stickers, hand-drawn ink strokes, section groups with complex hierarchy), and document links within OneNote.

After Migration

Apple Notes search indexes all migrated content. Spotlight searches Apple Notes. The Notes widget on iPhone home screen provides quick access.

What You're Actually Migrating

OneNote migration is complex because OneNote's data model doesn't map cleanly to Apple Notes. Notebooks → Folders, Sections → Folders within folders, Pages → Notes. Formatting often degrades. Embedded files (PDFs, images) may not transfer.

Practical approach: migrate active content manually (your 20-30 most-used notes), export everything else as PDFs for archive access.

For the archive: Nemos accepts exported PDFs. Import your OneNote export into Nemos. The content becomes searchable via OCR without requiring you to migrate formatting or fix broken structure. Archive access is usually just "I need to find that thing I wrote in 2022" — semantic search handles that without perfect note formatting.

For new captures: establish Apple Notes as your going-forward active notes system. Nemos for mobile capture and archive access. Separation keeps Apple Notes clean.