Note, note-takers: Evernote has some pretty decent competition, not least from Microsoft’s own OneNote app. This free tool is unlimited and does not require a subscription, making it one step better than Evernote with its complex pricing plans.
If you’ve decided to get off the ship, Microsoft has made it easy with the OneNote Importer for Windows and macOS. It allows you to switch from Evernote to OneNote by moving notes and clippings in just a few easy steps. Here’s how to use the OneNote Importer tool effectively.
How to migrate from Evernote to OneNote
As we mentioned, the easiest way to switch from Evernote to OneNote is to use the OneNote Importer tool It only supports Windows PC or Mac users, so if you’re using the Evernote mobile app or want to switch to another platform like Google Docs, you’ll need to check out the next section.
For these instructions to work, you need the Evernote client installed on your PC or Mac.
- If you’re on Windows or macOS, download the OneNote Importer and run it. You will be presented with Microsoft’s terms of use for this tool, so check the I accept the terms of this agreement box before clicking Get Started to get started.
- The OneNote Importer tool will automatically detect your Evernote notebooks. Select them by checking the box next to each entry before clicking Next.
- With your Evernote notes selected, you will need to sign in to the OneNote account you want to import into. Click Sign in with a Microsoft account to sign in with a regular Microsoft account, or Sign in with a work or school account to sign in to your organization’s account. If you don’t already have a Microsoft account, first click the Sign Up Now button.
- In the next step, log in with your username and password. Once signed in, the OneNote Import Tool will explain how your Evernote notes will appear in OneNote. If you want to transfer Evernote tags to OneNote, select the Use Evernote tags to organize content in OneNote check box. When ready, click the Import button.
- The tool will immediately start migrating from Evernote to OneNote. It may take a while, but if you want to cancel the process, click the Cancel button.
- The OneNote Importer tool will alert you when the process is complete. Click the View Notes in OneNote button to view your imported Evernote notes in the OneNote client.
Migrate from Evernote to OneNote using the ENEX file
You can switch from Evernote to OneNote from a file rather than from a signed account. This might be an option if you don’t have the Evernote client installed on your OneNote or Mac PC (for example, if you’re moving to another PC), or if you’re importing someone else’s Evernote notes.
This option will also allow you to import Evernote notes into other note-taking applications such as Apple Notes. To do this, you need the Evernote files exported in the ENEX format.
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Unfortunately, you can only export to this format using the Evernote desktop client for Windows or Mac.
- First, download and install Evernote on your PC or Mac, then sign in. In the Evernote client, click File> Export to start the export process.
- In the Export Note window, select the Export As ENEX (.enex) File option. You may need to select the Export as a Single Web HTML File option to instead be able to transfer your Evernote notes to other platforms such as Google Docs. You can customize what you want to export by clicking the Options button. When ready, click the Export button.
- In the Save As window, name the ENEX or HTML file, then click the Save button.
- If the export was successful, Evernote will warn you with a pop-up window “Export successful.” Click “Open Content Folder” to view the ENEX or HTML file, or click “Close” to complete the process.
Once saved, your ENEX file can be imported using the OneNote Importer tool on a PC or Mac that does not have the Evernote client installed. This option will also work if you are importing notes from another Evernote account.
- To import the ENEX file into OneNote, download and run the OneNote Importer. Agree to the terms of use by checking the I accept the terms of this agreement box, and then click Get Started.
- If the Evernote desktop client is not installed, the OneNote Importer will ask you to import the file. Click the Select File button to locate and insert the ENEX file, then click Next to begin the process.
- If Evernote is installed and you want to import an ENEX file, click Import File instead.
- Sign in to your OneNote account, then click the Import button in the last step to import your Evernote notes into OneNote using an ENEX file.
- Click View Notes in OneNote to view your imported Evernote notes after the ENEX import process is complete.
Import OneNote files to other platforms
Depending on the platform, you can also transfer your Evernote notes to other platforms using an exported ENEX or HTML file. Alternatives such as Simplenote, for example, allow you to directly import ENEX files.
Mac users can also switch to using the main Notes app, which comes preinstalled on all macOS and iOS devices.
- To do this, open the Notes application and click File> Import Into Notes. Select the ENEX file and click the Import button, then click Import Notes to complete the process.
Boost productivity with OneNote
While Evernote is still the favorite for simple notes, there are better alternatives to Evernote Microsoft OneNote is one of them, but if that’s not for you, export your notes to a cross-platform alternative like Simplenote
If you’re looking for ways to stay productive, try some of the best productivity apps to stay mobile-focused.
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