Sticky Notes first made its debut back in 2007 with the launch of Windows Vista, later getting redesigned as a Win32 app for Windows 7. Currently, Sticky Notes is available as a UWP app on Windows 10 and 11 and has remained the same for the past few years. That is, until now.

Recently Microsoft updated its Sticky Notes, adding new features to it and making it exclusively available to Microsoft OneNote users. According to Microsoft's official post, the new Sticky Notes app will soon be accessible from the Start menu like the existing app.

We've covered everything that's new in the Sticky Notes app and even shared how you can use it in this guide. So, make sure to read until the end.

What's new with Sticky Notes

The new Sticky Notes app is not a standalone app like the existing version. It has been completely integrated with Microsoft OneNote, and presently can only be launched through it.

As for the new features, you can now not only take notes using the app but also screenshots of websites that you visit. And it even lets you visit the websites of which you have taken screenshots with a single click. You can also dock the Sticky Notes app to the desktop for quicker access.

Finally, the new app is faster and more responsive, which may remind users of the version that was present with Windows 7. If you're looking to try out the new Sticky Notes, here is how you can do so.

Access New Sticky Notes through Microsoft OneNote

Since the new Sticky Notes app is integrated with Microsoft OneNote, you will have to open OneNote and then launch Sticky Notes.

Note: The new Sticky Notes app is available to Microsoft OneNote users on Windows version 2402 (Build 17328.20000) or later. If you cannot see the app, it may appear with the next Windows update, as the app is still rolling out and may take time to be available to all users.
  1. Open the Start menu and search for OneNote by typing its name. Click on the app when it appears in the search results.
  2. When OneNote opens, click on the Sticky Notes button at the top. Once the app opens, you can pin it to the Start menu. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Win + Alt + S to launch the app.
Source: Microsoft
  1. If you want your notes to sync across different devices, sign in to your Microsoft account after launching Sticky Notes.
  2. When the app opens, you will see a Quick Tips card, which can help you learn how to use it effectively.

Using the New Sticky Notes App

You can start creating notes in the new Sticky Notes app immediately after launching it.

  1. Click on the '+ Note' button to create a new note.
  2. Alternatively, click on the 'Screenshot' button to take a screenshot of the current window.
Source: Microsoft
  1. Any screenshots you take will include information regarding the source from where the screenshot was taken. If you take screenshots of a website, you can click on the screenshot to go back to the source website.
  1. Additionally, you can double-click on the screenshot or use the pop-out icon to view it in a larger window.
  1. You can also dock the Sticky Notes app to your desktop to use it while also using other apps.

Sticky Notes Use Cases

You can use Sticky Notes in several situations. For instance, you can use them in a Team meeting to take screenshots of slides in a presentation with just one click. Similarly, for recurring meetings, you can take notes on the same page and previous notes will appear at the top at every successive meeting.

When reading an article or watching a YouTube video, you can use the app to capture important sections. Again, screenshots and notes taken earlier will appear first when you visit the website again later.

You can also use Sticky Notes to take screenshots or make notes of potential destinations when planning a trip. After taking the screenshot, you can click on the source link to go back to the website at any time.

By updating its Sticky Notes app, Microsoft is striving to make it relevant again, and the new features in the app are quite promising. That said, there are a few issues with it right now, such as the 'Dock To Desktop' feature not working with extended monitors. However, the company is working hard to fix such issues as the app rolls out to more users.