How to Import Your Key2Success OneNote Digital Planner
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No matter which version of OneNote you run, you can import the Key2Success planner using the same core process. The planner installs as a full OneNote notebook, not a static PDF, so every page, tab, and section becomes editable inside your own account. The single biggest reason installs fail is skipping the first step: extracting the zip file. Read the steps before you click, and this takes about ten minutes.
This guide covers the three install methods, how to open the planner on your phone and tablet afterward, and where to go for training once it's in. If you'd rather hand it off, our team offers a remote installation session and will do the whole thing with you over a call.
Before You Start
Download your files
Download the zip files to the Downloads folder on your computer. It works best to copy the hyperlink from your order email and paste that into your web browser as a new tab. This prevents multiple attempts and using up your download limit. Do not move the zip file out of Downloads until the install is finished, as moving it mid-process is a common cause of failed imports. If you've hit your download limit, email our support team and ask for a reset.
Install from a desktop
Installation must be done from a desktop or laptop computer, never from a phone or tablet as the first step. Once the planner is on your primary computer and has synced, it will appear on every other device signed into the same OneNote account.
Which OneNote Versions This Works With
The import process works across every current version of OneNote. That includes:
- OneNote (the free app for Windows, Mac, and web)
- OneNote 365 (Microsoft 365)
- OneNote for Windows 10
- OneNote 2016
- OneNote 2013 and OneNote 2010
- OneNote for Mac
- OneNote for the web
- OneNote for iOS and OneNote for Android phones
OneNote for Windows gives you the most complete feature set and the fewest install headaches, which is why it's our recommended starting point. OneNote for the web is the most limited, especially for business and SharePoint accounts, so read the method notes below before you pick one.
Questions to Review Before You Install
Do I really have to read the instructions?
Yes. If you skip steps, it will not work. Roughly 98% of people who contact us for support either skipped extracting the zip file or never finished the last two steps. Ten minutes of reading saves a support ticket.
What are Tiles?
The Key2Success OneNote planner comes in Standard and Tiles. Both work with Tiles, which are customizable layouts you drop into a page to personalize it. See the full breakdown of Tiles vs Standard downloads.
How do I hide the author name in my planner?
Follow the walkthrough on showing and hiding authors in a shared OneNote notebook.
How do I align and type text in the planner?
Watch the short tutorial on how to type and align text in OneNote.
How do I upgrade to the hyperlinked version?
Learn how the hyperlinked OneNote planner works. Upgrades aren't instant because we update your order manually, so give it a little time.
Step 1: Choose Your Import Method
We offer three install methods, and every one of them runs from a desktop or laptop. Read all three before choosing so you land on the right one the first time. Make sure to review Step 2 afterward so you know how to open the planner on your phone and tablet.
Open Notebook function
Best for:
- Windows PC users
- SharePoint and business account users
- Personal account users
If you don't have a Windows computer with the desktop version of OneNote, skip to Method 2.
Start Method 1Microsoft Importer
Best for:
- Apple and Mac users
- Android users
- Onyx Boox users
- Personal account users
- Web users
With this method your files are not stored on the local computer. If you're using a work or borrowed computer, your files may be removed after importing.
If Method 2 fails on a Mac, read this first: OneNote import for Mac users fails to open.
Business account without a Windows computer
Microsoft does not allow SharePoint or business users to import the planner into their accounts from an Apple computer. Here's the workaround: use Method 2 to upload the planner to a personal account first, then copy or share the notebook into your business account. The "Alternative Install" video walks through it.
Alternative InstallProfessional installation assistance
Want a member of our team to install it with you? Schedule a remote online installation session and you'll get an email within 24 hours to book your time. This is also the right path for non-computer owners (iPad-only, Android-only, or Boox-only users), since those installs require a dedicated Zoom session. When you book, choose a dedicated session.
Reserve a SessionStep 2: Open the Planner on Mobile and Secondary Devices
Once the planner is installed on your primary computer, you can open it on tablets, phones, and other computers. Wait until the first sync from Step 1 finishes before you do this. Opening the planner too early on a second device can create missing content or conflicting pages.
Open OneNote Planner on MobileStep 3: Training
The planner is only as good as how you use it. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and work through the OneNote playlist for the latest setup and workflow videos. Then start our Series 1 and Series 2 training to get the full system down. If you want dedicated help, look at our professional one-on-one training.
Keep Building Your Key2Success System
- Shop the full OneNote digital planner collection
- See every edition on the Key2Success Planner overview
- Add clickable navigation with the OneNote hyperlinked upgrade
- Browse all training in our digital planning training resources
Frequently Asked Questions About Importing a Notebook Into OneNote
Can I import the OneNote planner from my phone or tablet?
No. The first import must be done from a desktop or laptop computer. Once the planner is installed and synced on your primary computer, it appears automatically on any phone or tablet signed into the same OneNote account. If you only own a tablet, book a dedicated remote installation session and our team will handle it over Zoom.
Why won't my OneNote notebook import?
The most common cause is not extracting the zip file, or moving it out of the Downloads folder before finishing. Unzip the file, leave it in Downloads until the install completes, and follow every step in your chosen method. Mac users whose import fails should review the dedicated Mac troubleshooting guide before trying again.
Which import method should I use for a business or SharePoint account?
If you have a Windows computer, use Method 1, which supports business, SharePoint, and personal accounts. If you only have a Mac, Microsoft blocks direct business imports from Apple computers, so use Method 3: import to a personal account with Method 2, then copy or share the notebook into your business account.
Will my planner sync across all my devices?
Yes. OneNote syncs your imported planner to every device signed into the same account. Install on your primary computer first, let the first sync finish, then open OneNote on your other devices and the planner will download automatically. Opening a second device before the first sync completes can cause conflicting pages.
Can someone install the OneNote planner for me?
Yes. Reserve a remote online installation session and a member of our team will install the planner with you over a call, usually scheduled within 24 hours. This is the recommended path for tablet-only users and anyone who would rather not troubleshoot the import themselves.
Common Questions, Quick Answers
- Do I need to unzip the file first?
- Yes, always extract the zip before importing, or the install will fail.
- Where should the zip file stay during install?
- In your Downloads folder, untouched, until the import is completely finished.
- Does the planner work in OneNote on Mac?
- Yes, use Method 2 (the Microsoft Importer) on a personal account.
- Does it work with a free OneNote account?
- Yes, and downloading the full free OneNote app gives the smoothest install.
- How long does the import take?
- About ten minutes if you read the steps first, plus sync time on secondary devices.
- Can I import on a Chromebook?
- No, use a Windows or Mac computer, or book a remote installation session.
- Is the planner a PDF or a real notebook?
- A full, editable OneNote notebook, not a locked PDF.
- What if I hit my download limit?
- Email support and ask for your download links to be reset.
- Can I add clickable links to the planner?
- Yes, with the OneNote hyperlinked calendar upgrade.
- What's the difference between Standard and Tiles?
- Both are compatible with Tiles; Tiles versions add customizable drop-in layouts.
- Do I have to hide the author name?
- No, but if you want to, there's a short guide for showing and hiding authors.
- Where do I learn to actually use the planner?
- Start with the OneNote playlist, then Series 1 and Series 2 on YouTube.
The One Thing That Decides Whether This Works
Here's the contrarian truth after more than a decade of running installs: the OneNote import is not technically hard, and the professional install session is not really about technical skill. The planner installs fine. People just skip steps. The zip has to be extracted, the file has to stay in Downloads, and the first computer has to finish syncing before you touch a second device. Do those three things in order and you're done in ten minutes. Rush them and you'll spend an hour undoing conflicts. When in doubt, slow down, or let our team drive.
Branden Bodendorfer
Creator, Key2Success Planner
Branden has been building digital planning systems since 2013. The Key2Success Planner is used by professionals in 52 countries. His work has been featured on ABC World News, the NBC Today Show, ESPN, CNN, and Disney.
