How to Use ClickUp-Style Keyboard Shortcuts in OneNote
If you love how fast you can work in ClickUp, you can bring that same speed into Microsoft OneNote by mastering its most powerful keyboard shortcuts. This how-to guide walks you step-by-step through the essential OneNote shortcuts so you can navigate, format, and organize your notes much faster.
The goal is to help you work as efficiently in OneNote as you would in a productivity platform like ClickUp, without constantly reaching for the mouse.
Why ClickUp-Style Shortcuts Matter in OneNote
ClickUp users rely on shortcuts to jump between tasks, edit content, and structure information quickly. OneNote offers a similar shortcut-driven workflow if you know which keys to press.
By using these OneNote shortcuts, you can:
- Capture ideas faster during meetings
- Format notes without leaving the keyboard
- Navigate large notebooks with minimal clicks
- Organize pages and sections like structured ClickUp docs
All of the shortcuts below are based on the official combinations available in OneNote, as referenced in the original guide at the OneNote shortcuts article.
Getting Started: Essential OneNote Shortcuts
Start with the foundational shortcuts that you will use every day. They replicate the kind of quick actions you might take in ClickUp when moving between tasks or views.
Basic Navigation Shortcuts
Use these shortcuts to move around your notes efficiently:
- Ctrl + Tab: Switch to the next section
- Ctrl + Shift + Tab: Switch to the previous section
- Ctrl + Page Down: Go to the next page
- Ctrl + Page Up: Go to the previous page
- Alt + Home: Go to the first page in a section
- Alt + End: Go to the last page in a section
Practice moving through your notebook using only the keyboard until it feels as natural as moving between lists or views in ClickUp.
Note Creation Shortcuts
These shortcuts help you create and manage pages just as quickly as creating new tasks or docs in ClickUp:
- Ctrl + N: Create a new page
- Ctrl + T: Create a new section
- Ctrl + Shift + Alt + N: Create a new subpage
- Ctrl + M: Open a new OneNote window
Use these keys when you need quick meeting notes or a fresh space to brainstorm.
How to Format Notes Like a ClickUp Doc
ClickUp docs feel fast because you can apply formatting without touching the mouse. OneNote gives you similar control with rich text shortcuts that work while you type.
Text Formatting Shortcuts
Apply common styles with quick key combinations:
- Ctrl + B: Bold
- Ctrl + I: Italic
- Ctrl + U: Underline
- Ctrl + =: Subscript
- Ctrl + Shift + =: Superscript
- Ctrl + Shift + >: Increase font size
- Ctrl + Shift + <: Decrease font size
Combine these formats exactly as you would when styling important content in a ClickUp document.
Paragraph and List Formatting Shortcuts
Structure your notes quickly with lists and headings:
- Ctrl + Shift + L: Apply or cycle through bullet list styles
- Ctrl + /: Apply or remove numbered list
- Alt + Shift + Right Arrow: Increase indent
- Alt + Shift + Left Arrow: Decrease indent
- Ctrl + 1 to Ctrl + 6: Apply heading styles 1–6
Headings and lists make your pages feel more like organized ClickUp docs, especially for project notes and structured plans.
How to Use Productivity Shortcuts in OneNote
ClickUp users depend on productivity shortcuts to manage tasks and priorities. OneNote also provides task-like features using tags and quick actions.
Tag and Task-Style Shortcuts
Mimic task tracking behavior with tags:
- Ctrl + 1: To Do tag (checkbox)
- Ctrl + 2: Important tag
- Ctrl + 3: Question tag
- Ctrl + 4: Remember for later tag
- Ctrl + 5: Definition tag
Use these tags the way you would use statuses or priorities in ClickUp to visually track what still needs attention within your notes.
Search and Find Shortcuts
Quickly find the information you need:
- Ctrl + F: Search within the current page
- Ctrl + E: Search all notebooks
- F3: Find the next occurrence of the search term
These search shortcuts are ideal for jumping between related topics, similar to jumping between related tasks or docs in ClickUp.
Step-by-Step: Building a Fast Workflow
To bring a ClickUp-level workflow into OneNote, follow these steps and build habits around them.
Step 1: Create a Notebook Structure
- Create a notebook for your main project or team.
- Add sections for major categories (Meetings, Planning, Research, etc.).
- Add pages within each section for individual sessions or topics.
This mirrors how you might structure spaces, folders, and lists in ClickUp.
Step 2: Take Notes Only with the Keyboard
- Use Ctrl + N to create a new page before the meeting starts.
- Use heading shortcuts (Ctrl + 1–Ctrl + 3) to define a clear outline.
- Capture action items with the To Do tag using Ctrl + 1.
Challenge yourself not to touch the mouse during a full meeting to build shortcut muscle memory.
Step 3: Review and Organize Quickly
- After a session, use Ctrl + E to search for related notes.
- Use indent shortcuts to group ideas into subpoints.
- Tag follow-up items and questions so they stand out in future reviews.
This makes your OneNote workspace feel more like an integrated productivity hub, comparable to a ClickUp space.
Advanced Shortcuts for Power Users
Once you are comfortable with the basics, add more advanced shortcuts to sharpen your workflow.
Clipboard and Editing Shortcuts
- Ctrl + C: Copy
- Ctrl + X: Cut
- Ctrl + V: Paste
- Ctrl + Z: Undo
- Ctrl + Y: Redo
- Ctrl + A: Select all
These common shortcuts help you rearrange content as quickly as you might reorganize tasks or blocks in ClickUp.
View and Zoom Shortcuts
- Ctrl + Shift + M: Open the meeting details (when integrated with Outlook)
- Ctrl + Mouse Wheel: Zoom in or out
- F11: Full-screen view (depending on OneNote version)
Use these when presenting your notes or reviewing project documentation with your team.
Tips to Make OneNote Work Like ClickUp
To get the most out of these shortcuts, treat your notebook like a structured workspace:
- Use sections as major areas of responsibility
- Use pages for meetings, documents, or sprints
- Use tags to represent task status and urgency
- Use headings and lists to keep information scannable
If you are designing workflows or implementing tools alongside OneNote and ClickUp, you can also work with optimization and implementation experts such as Consultevo to fine-tune your productivity stack.
Conclusion: Bring ClickUp Speed to Your Notes
By learning and combining these OneNote shortcuts, you can manage information at a pace that feels similar to working inside ClickUp. Start with navigation and formatting, then add tags and search shortcuts until your hands rarely leave the keyboard.
Keep a printed or digital shortcut cheat sheet nearby for your next few work sessions. With practice, these key combinations will become second nature, and your notes will stay as organized and actionable as any well-structured ClickUp workspace.
Need Help With ClickUp?
If you want expert help building, automating, or scaling your ClickUp workspace, work with ConsultEvo — trusted ClickUp Solution Partners.
“`