MC1194626 – (Updated) SharePoint site analytics: OneNote usage included in site usage reports

Product:

Microsoft 365 Apps, OneNote, SharePoint

Platform:

Online, Web, World tenant

Status:

In development

Change type:

Admin impact, New feature, Updated message, User impact

Links:

537285

Details:

Summary:
SharePoint site analytics will include OneNote file usage starting mid-February to mid-March 2026, increasing reported site metrics like unique viewers and visits. Popular content will show frequently accessed OneNote files. No admin action is needed; inform stakeholders and update documentation accordingly.

Details:
Updated January 13, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
[Introduction]
We're enhancing SharePoint site analytics to include usage data from OneNote files (.one). This update provides a more complete view of site engagement by incorporating OneNote activity into metrics such as Unique viewers and site visits. Popular content reporting will also reflect heavily used OneNote files.
This message is associated with Roadmap ID 537285.
[When this will happen:]
General Availability (Worldwide): Rollout begins mid-February 2026 (previously mid-January) and is expected to complete by mid-March 2026 (previously mid-February).

Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:
General Availability

Created:
2025-12-12

updated:
2026-01-15

Task Type

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Docu to Check

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MS How does it affect me

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MS Preperations

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MS Urgency

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MS workload name

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linked item details

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Pictures

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summary for non-techies**

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Direct effects for Operations**

Increased Site Metrics
The inclusion of OneNote usage in SharePoint analytics will lead to a significant increase in reported metrics such as unique viewers and site visits, potentially skewing data interpretation and decision-making processes.
   - roles: Site Admins, Data Analysts
   - references: https://support.microsoft.com/office/view-usage-data-for-your-sharepoint-site-2fa8ddc2-c4b3-4268-8d26-a772dc55779e, https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?searchterms=537285

Documentation Updates
Stakeholders may face confusion or misinformation if internal documentation does not reflect the changes in site analytics, leading to miscommunication about site engagement levels.
   - roles: Content Managers, Site Admins
   - references: https://support.microsoft.com/office/view-usage-data-for-your-sharepoint-site-2fa8ddc2-c4b3-4268-8d26-a772dc55779e, https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?searchterms=537285

Configutation Options**

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Data Protection**

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explanation for non-techies**

SharePoint is a tool many organizations use to manage documents and collaborate. Think of it like a digital library where everyone in your company can store and access files. Now, imagine if you could also track how often people are reading certain books in this library. This is essentially what SharePoint site analytics does; it helps you see which files are being accessed and how often.

Recently, SharePoint site analytics has been updated to include data from OneNote files. OneNote is like a digital notebook where you can jot down notes, ideas, and important information. Previously, SharePoint analytics didn’t count how often these OneNote files were being used. With the new update, every time someone views or edits a OneNote file, it will now be included in the site's usage statistics.

To put it simply, if you think of your SharePoint site as a store, OneNote files are like a new product line. Previously, you could only see how many people were visiting your store and buying existing products. Now, you can also see how popular this new product line is, which gives you a fuller picture of your store's activity.

For those who monitor these analytics, you might notice an increase in the numbers for unique viewers and site visits. This is because OneNote activity is now part of the data. There's no need to change any settings or configurations; this update happens automatically. Just like when a new feature is added to your smartphone, it updates itself, and you start seeing new options without having to do anything.

If you’re responsible for keeping track of this data or reporting it, you might want to update any documents or processes you use to reflect this change. This ensures everyone understands why the numbers might look different than before. There's no compliance issue with this update, but it's always a good idea to review any changes with your organization's policies in mind.