URL private link opening

The Microsoft OneNote desktop version copies both the url and the protocol link behind each other. Teams, SharePoint and Outlook seem to do the same.

If the windows protocol link one fails it falls back to the web version.

I asked chatgpt how this works:

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When sharing a OneNote link, it often includes two URLs:

1. HTTP(S) Link – This is the cloud-based link (e.g., OneDrive or SharePoint) that lets users open the note in their browser.
2. Local onenote: Protocol Link – This is a deep link that allows OneNote to open the note directly in the desktop app.

How It Works

When you paste a OneNote link, it often looks like this:

https://onedrive.live.com/edit.aspx?resid=XXXXX
onenote:///path/to/local/section

• The first part (https://...) is a web link that works anywhere, even for users without the OneNote desktop app.
• The second part (onenote://...) is a Windows protocol link, which directly opens the note in OneNote for a faster, local experience.

How Does the onenote:// Protocol Work?

• Windows registers onenote:// as a custom URL scheme.
• When you click a onenote:// link, Windows recognizes it and launches OneNote, navigating to the specific section or page.
• This only works if OneNote is installed and the local path is accessible.

Why Include Both Links?

• Web Access: Ensures the note is accessible from any device.
• Faster Local Access: The OneNote protocol opens the note faster if the app is installed.
• Fallback Mechanism: If the onenote:// protocol fails, the user can still use the web version.

This method is similar to how Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and Outlook sometimes provide both web and app-specific links in shared content.