OneNote for Windows 10 - ANY way to store notebook files locally?

No Higgins, I do not see any progress on my issue. As Greg_C_WLV stated - Microsoft is pushing toward using OneNote for Win10 and deprecating OneNote 2016. That is what encouraged me to look into this in the first place. But OneNote for Win10 is forcing use of OneDrive. Your answers in regard to security didn't address my issue. My 3rd party Syncing system encrypts my files on the client just before sending them to their online storage area - so they have no access to any of my data. I don't need to set passwords on notebooks or sections, or the other myriad of other data files I have as they are all encrypted outside of their purview - a much better approach to customer privacy concerns. MS may have policies, but a rogue user withing the company could access my raw data files as well as crawlers via Microsoft that could be scanning my files for information to use for informatics, marketing, etc... This is a security risk I am not willing to accept - yet MS is trying to force the issue if we want to use their software.

I do not want my files mandated out of my direct control. That is BS. MS is getting overboard with their cloud services. As an option great - don't force it.

If they do not resolve this issue - I will find another solution before resorting to OneNote for Win10 - if I have to create my own system - one way or another. I find it ridiculous to spend the next few years investing my time and energy using OneNote 2016 when it is known to be being phased out or to be forced into cloud storage with OneNote for Win10.

Hi, I don't 'mind' my data files being on OneDrive, but I also don't trust you to be the ONLY backup. Where can we see the files on OneDrive (or elsewhere) so that we can send a copy to our trusted backup service? Or how else can we make a second backup? Thanks.

Hi Greg,

Per you description, may I confirm that which type of OneDrive account you are using?

If you are using personal OneDrive, you can go to OneNote for the web to export your notebook.

For detail you can refer to : Export and import OneNote notebooks

For OneDrive for Business, if you are using OneNote 2016, you can export notebook store in OneDrive to your local drive, then back up them to the location you want.

If you are using OneNote for win 10, as you can only store your notebook in OneDrive, it’s not feasible to save notebook locally, I would like to recommend that you can use OneNote 2016 instead of OneNote for win to back up your notebook

Related link: Download OneNote 2016

Appreciate your understanding

Best Regards,

Higgins

Hi AMeator,

Per your description, I have full understanding of your situation and I will try my best to help you.

I would like inform that Microsoft will continue mainstream support for OneNote 2016 beyond October 2020, so that you can continue using the version of OneNote that works best for you. New support dates for OneNote 2016 now align with Office 2019 (October 10, 2023 for mainstream support and October 14, 2025 for extended support). Besides, Office 365 subscriptions that include the desktop apps, currently unlock local notebook support for OneNote 2016. Starting March 10, 2020 OneNote desktop app will be installed by default with Office 365 subscriptions that include the desktop apps. And OneNote for Windows 10 is pre-installed on Windows devices or available free through the Microsoft Store. You can continue using it and we will continue supporting and developing it. 

For more detail you can refer to this article.

Currently, if you haven’t received the OneNote 2016 with the Office updates, you could follow the steps in the article below to install it back to your PC:

Install or reinstall OneNote 2016 for Windows

Besides, I noticed that you have some concern about the potential corrupt issue, file back up and file privacy protection.

For general Office files but not notebook, we have version history features to protect files to deal with any potential corrupt issue. However, the version history can’t help to repair corrupt notebook, you can try to restore OneDrive to fix the corrupt notebook. But generally, some data can be found back by fixing sync issue or getting left data from client app including notebook cache. for example, we can check if data existed in unclosed notebook in OneNote client, if so, coping content and pasting to a new created notebook may help us get rid of the issue. If this issue persists, as you are a Office 365 business subscriber, you can contact your admin to create ticket to get more help.

While protecting your files, we also take great care to protect your privacy,  you can try to set a password to the section and lock all protected sections in your notebook to keep your note safe.

In all of this, we will maintain the timeless value of privacy and preserve the ability for you to control your data. And we’re constantly working to improve, so if you notice something in our products and services that doesn’t work the way you’d expect when it comes to privacy, please let us know. You can refer to this article to get more detail: Privacy, security, and transparency

If you have further concern, welcome to post back and we will keep working for you.

Have a nice day.

Best Regards,

Higgins

Hi Amedaor,

Thanks for your updating to help us better understand your concern.

From the article in my first reply related OneNote 2016 support, OneNote 2016 will continue mainstream support beyond October 2020, even though  it will end up on  October 10, 2023 for mainstream support and October 14, 2025 for extended support, but it doesn't mean you can no longer use OneNote 2016, you can continue to use OneNote 2016 after that time so that you can store your notebook files locally. Meanwhile, we may provide more new version of OneNote in the future.

I would like to inform that we provide different version of OneNote is not force users to work on specific OneNote product, on the contrary, we are committed to give users more choices to select OneNote version you like to improve the user experience.

Besides, Microsoft is committed to protecting the security of your personal data. We use a variety of security technologies and procedures to help protect your personal data from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. And Microsoft complies with applicable data protection laws, including applicable security breach notification laws.

For more detail you can refer to : Microsoft Privacy Statement

Therefore, Whether you choose to store files locally and encrypt them by your own methods or choose to store them to OneDrive to protect them, we all respect your choice.

Much appreciate for your understanding.

Best Regards,

Higgins