One Note Backup Issues

Question

I am trying to switch to the new OneNote, but every time I try to backup or sync my notes it says there was an issue. I am connected to the Internet and have enough storage on my computer. How can I fix this problem?

Answer 1

Hello @Tara Flynn

Welcome to Q&A forum!

To ensure I fully understand the issue you’re experiencing, I’d like to confirm a few details:

1/ Verify your account type

I understand that you've posted this thread in the Educational forum, but I would like to "reconfirm your account type" to ensure we can provide the most appropriate troubleshooting steps. Please let me know which of the following applies to your account:

• Personal account (e.g., @hotmail.com, @outlook.com)
• Educational account (e.g., @schoolname.edu)
• Business account (e.g., @yourcompany.com or @onmicrosoft.com)

2/ Are you indicating that the backup process is being halted midway or experiencing an interruption? Could you please provide further clarification?

3/ Do you see any error message?

Please provide the full error message you are encountering so we can investigate further.

Answering these questions will help us provide more precise guidance for your case.

Besides, I also find related Microsoft Articles to support you: 

Fix issues when you can't sync OneNote - Microsoft Support 

Back up notes - Microsoft Support 

 

Our first response may not fully resolve the issue, but with your input and detailed answers to follow-up questions, we can work together to find the root cause and a solution.

Looking forward to hearing from you! 

---

If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

Note: Please follow the steps in "our documentation" to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Answer 2

If you're experiencing issues with backing up or syncing your notes in OneNote, here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot:

1. Check Sync Status: Ensure that you can view the sync status of your notebooks. You can do this by right-clicking the notebook and selecting View Notebook Sync Status. Look for any error messages that might indicate the specific issue.
2. Internet Connection: Although you mentioned being connected to the Internet, it's worth verifying that your connection is stable and that there are no interruptions.
3. Storage Space: Ensure that you have sufficient storage space not only on your computer but also in your OneDrive or SharePoint account, as OneNote syncs with these services.
4. File Size Limit: OneNote has a file size limit for sections. If any section exceeds 50 MB, it may cause sync issues. You can check the size of your sections and try to reduce the size if necessary.
5. Forced Sync: To force a sync, you can select the unsynchronized page to give it focus and try syncing again.
6. Backup Location: If you're trying to back up your notes, ensure that you're saving them to a location that doesn't have offline folders enabled.
7. Review Backup Files: If you have migrated to the new OneNote, check the backup folder created during the migration for any missing notes. You can access backups through File -> Open Backups.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to consult Microsoft Support for further assistance.

---

References:

• OneNote error: "Content Not Yet Available"
• OneNote for Windows 10 migration guidance