Migrate Evernote to OneNote: Full Guide

Yes, you can migrate from Evernote to OneNote, and the built-in importer is the easiest method for most users. This guide walks you through the entire process, what to expect, and how to handle common issues like formatting and attachments.

Why Switch from Evernote to OneNote?

Evernote has long been a popular note-taking app, but many users switch to OneNote because it’s free for most personal use, offers deeper integration with Microsoft Office, and has a more flexible canvas for arranging content. OneNote also provides better support for drawing and handwriting, and its notebook structure can feel more intuitive for organizing large amounts of information.

What the Built-in Importer Does

Microsoft provides a free tool called the Evernote to OneNote importer (available for Windows and Mac). It transfers your notes, notebooks, tags, attachments, and even some formatting directly into OneNote. The importer works by reading Evernote’s export format and recreating each note as a OneNote page, preserving the notebook and section structure as closely as possible.

How to Migrate: Step-by-Step

1. Back up your Evernote data – In Evernote, go to File > Export and save a copy of your notebooks as .enex files. This is a safety net in case anything goes wrong.
2. Download and run the importer – Go to the Microsoft OneNote importer page and download the tool for your operating system.
3. Sign in to both accounts – You’ll need to sign in to your Evernote account (to let the importer access your notes) and your Microsoft account (where OneNote will store the imported data).
4. Select what to import – The importer shows a list of your Evernote notebooks. You can choose all or pick specific ones.
5. Start the import – Click Import and wait. The time depends on the number and size of your notes. You’ll get a summary when it’s done.

What Gets Lost or Changed in the Move

No migration is perfect, and you should know the limitations:

• Formatting: Some rich text formatting, like certain fonts or highlight colors, may not translate exactly. Tables generally come over well, but complex layouts can shift.
• Attachments: Files attached to notes are imported as embedded copies. They work, but the original file metadata (like creation date) may be lost.
• Tags: Evernote tags become OneNote tags, but they appear as note tags rather than a hierarchical tag system. You can’t filter by tag the same way in OneNote.
• Note links: Internal links between Evernote notes are usually converted, but if they point to notes you didn’t import, they’ll break.
• Audio and video: These are imported as attachments, not as playable media embedded in the page.

Alternative: Manual Export and Import

If the importer fails or you only want a few notes, you can do it manually:

1. In Evernote, select the notes you want and go to File > Export.
2. Choose the .enex format (this is Evernote’s XML-based format).
3. In OneNote, go to the notebook where you want the notes, then click File > Open > Import and select the .enex file.

This method gives you more control but is tedious for large libraries.

How to Choose: Evernote vs OneNote

Before migrating, consider what matters most to you:

• Evernote excels at web clipping, OCR search (even in images), and a clean, linear note layout. It has a robust tag system and a strong mobile app.
• OneNote shines with its free-form canvas (you can click anywhere and type), better table handling, and integration with Microsoft Teams, Outlook, and Word. It’s also free for personal use on most platforms.

Common Problems and Solutions

Users often run into these issues during migration:

• Import fails or hangs: Try exporting your Evernote notebooks to .enex files and then importing those files directly into OneNote (File > Open > Import). This bypasses the live connection.
• Tags don’t appear: OneNote doesn’t have a tag hierarchy. You can manually add tags using the Tags menu in OneNote, but it’s not automatic.
• Images are missing: If images don’t come over, check that they’re not linked files. In Evernote, right-click the image and select Save Image As to embed it.
• Large notebooks: If you have thousands of notes, break the import into smaller chunks (e.g., one notebook at a time) to avoid timeouts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I import from Evernote to OneNote on a Mac?

Yes, Microsoft provides a Mac version of the importer. The process is similar: download the tool, sign in to both accounts, select notebooks, and import.

Will my Evernote notes be deleted after import?

No, the importer only reads from Evernote. Your original notes remain untouched. You can delete them later if you want.

Can I migrate from Evernote to OneNote for free?

Yes, the importer is free, and OneNote’s basic personal use is free. You may need a Microsoft account, but that’s also free.

What about Evernote’s web clipper content?

Web clippings are imported as regular notes. The formatting may be simplified, but the content and images are preserved.

Is there a way to keep my Evernote tags in OneNote?

Not directly. OneNote uses a different tagging system. You can manually recreate important tags, but there’s no automatic conversion.

What if I have more than 100,000 notes?

The importer may struggle with very large libraries. In that case, export your Evernote data to .enex files in batches and import them one by one. Consider cleaning up old notes before migrating.

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