Microsoft has expanded its Loop components to OneNote for the web and Microsoft Teams, aiming to enhance collaborative efforts within its suite of productivity tools. This new feature is now accessible to users with a commercial Microsoft 365 subscription. Microsoft first introduced Loop components for Teams last October, while the integration in OneNote was announced in January.
Loop components are interactive and collaborative objects designed to facilitate ideation, creation, and planning among users. These components, such as lists, tables, and tasks, can be inserted into OneNote notebooks, allowing for real-time collaboration. Users can create new Loop components or paste existing ones directly into the OneNote canvas, ensuring seamless integration with other Microsoft 365 applications.
The rollout of Loop components is gradual and currently available through work accounts. Within OneNote, the components are accessible only if the organization permits the creation of links that can be edited or viewed by anyone within the organization. In OneNote Online, Loop components may be available to targeted release users within the organization and through the Insiders Beta program for the OneNote Windows desktop app.
Real-Time Collaboration Features
One of the standout features of Loop components is their ability to maintain synchronization across all Microsoft 365 applications. This means that any changes made to a component in OneNote will be reflected in other applications where the component is used. Users can utilize features like @mentions, comments, and reactions within these components to communicate with team members. Additionally, different colored cursors indicate who is editing, and avatars in the upper-right corner show who is viewing or has recently edited the component.
Microsoft has announced that the Loop components feature will be added to the OneNote Windows app in June. However, the feature is not currently available for OneNote mobile or Mac users, and there is no information on whether these platforms will receive the update in the future. This follows Microsoft's release of Sticky Notes support for all OneNote Windows users, further enhancing the application's functionality.
Sharing a Loop component can be done by @mentioning someone within the component, which triggers an email notification with a link to the component. Existing Loop components can be inserted into a OneNote Notebook by copying the link from the component and pasting it into the desired location in OneNote. Access permissions for Loop components are tied to the OneNote notebook, meaning anyone with access to the notebook can access the component.
Storage and Searchability
Loop components are automatically saved to OneDrive, making them easy to find using the search function on Office.com or OneDrive. However, some Loop component types may appear as images, regular links, or be disabled in the Loop component drop-down on the toolbar due to various reasons, such as organizational admin settings, unsupported endpoints, or old versions of OneNote.Mi
By integrating Loop components into OneNote for the web and Teams, Microsoft aims to streamline collaboration and improve productivity across its suite of Microsoft 365 applications. This new feature allows users to focus on their personal content while collaborating with others in real-time, eliminating the need to switch between different applications.
