Cant see note books of OneNote in Android App

Hi Bernd

Thanks for informing. It would have been better if Microsoft would have perhaps given a tutorial or something heads up that I wouldn't have had to waste 3 days in this process. I was actually questioning whether it is worth it to use a Software like Onenote when it cannot be accessed on other devices.

Finally after three days of trial and error, looking for every possible solution on the web, this is how I discovered this fact.

This is when I consider my self to be tech friendly and not handicapped technologically with basic understanding of how things in a computer work.

Thus I think Microsoft should look into this issue and give a heads up when one opens the software / app so that atleast everyone knows what is what and how should we go about things.

Thanks

Regards

Hi Alabhya Dhamija,

 

First and foremost, thanks for reaching out to our Microsoft Community Forum and please accept our sincerest hope that all is well.

 

We understand that you're having trouble trying to sync a OneNote notebook in your Windows 11 laptop to your Android device.

In order for us to better assist you I need to ask:

1. What version of OneNote are you using in the Android device? To do this, (A) Go to device settings. (B) Tap “Apps” or “Application manager.” (C) You will get a list showing all the apps installed on your device. Tap the OneNote app and you will be taken to the App Info page. When you are on the App Info page, look below the name of the app, you will find version number written there.
2. What's the brand and model of this Android device?
3. What version of Android are you running on the device? Please use the "See which Android version you have" steps from the Check & update your Android version guide.
4. From the both devices, can you tell me if you’re getting all green checkmarks when visiting the following link on a web browser? https://portal.office.com/ServiceStatus

Just a heads up though when it comes to mobile apps not functioning correctly the usual progression of steps to resolve it are quite simple i.e. if uninstalling and reinstalling the app does not work it escalates to a factory reset of the device.

We look forward to your response.

 

Sincerely,

 

Glenn Rue

Consumer M365 Forum Moderator

Microsoft Community

Dear Glenn Rue,

Thanks for your prompt reply.

1. Version of Onenote is 16.0.14430.20254 (the latest as available on Play Store)
2. I am using a Realme x7 Pro device
3. It is running on Android 11. Realme UI Version is V2.0 which was last updated on 05.10.2021. The update number is RMX 2121_11_C.05
4. Yes from both the devices I am getting all green checkmarks.

Maybe there is some problem with one drive its settings or something, because eventually I am unable to access only the notebooks of onenote. Surprisingly, I am able to access my Onenote notebooks in the Onenote software on my Laptop, however on the same software in Google Chrome I am unable to open the notebooks.

For some weird reason, when I log on to Onenote.com, I am unable to even look at the notebooks on the main page that I have saved on my one drive. I have to manually go to Onedrive in that particular folder and then try opening the note book, where again I fail, however, I dont know why I am unable to see the notebook in onenote.

Thanks in advance

Dear Glenn Rue,

Thank you so much for your time and suggestion. I really appreciate it. I have solved the problem myself.

What I have realized is that Onenote works differently and weirdly in comparison to the other Microsoft Office files and in fact all files whatsoever in windows.

To explain briefly how I solvede the issue, I will first tell you how I worked prior to installing Onedrive and syncing all my files there. Like everyone else, I was simply saving the files in the hardisk of my laptop. The day I started using Onedrive and decided to sync my files on Onedrive to make it accessible with all other devices for better functionality, I simply copy pasted / moved all my files whether word files, pdf files, html files (basically all folders) to the onedrive folder in my laptop.

Once the files were uploaded, I could very well use anywhere on all of my devices whether a laptop or a mobile / tablet.

I thought the same procedure would work with one note as well.

However unfortunately Onenote works differently.

What I did was I had first created my notebooks and then saved them in my hardisk. Thereafter, I copy pasted the files (.one file and .onetoc2 file and the complete folder) to my onedrive. I thought that just like all other files (word, pdf, excel, etc.) this too will automatically sync with my onedrive and I will be able to open it and access the onenote file with all my devices.

But, to my utter shock and disappointment, Onenote file should either directly be saved in Onedrive at the time of creation or the file should be moved from within the onenote app/software itself.

Once the file is moved to Onedrive (from the onenote app itself) then it creates a shortcut webpage file of 1kb having the link of the main file as saved on Onedrive (as seen in my folder on my laptop; Image below) and once we open Onedrive on Chrome or a browser, the onenote file of actual size is seen (image below).

This solved my problem and now I am able to access onenote on all my devices easily. I tried this with a hit and try method.

I hope microsoft would change this aspect about Onenote and make it user friendly just like other microsoft office softwares.

Thank you

Regards

Alabhya Dhamija

Advocate

Supreme Court of India

The reason behind this behavior of OneNote is that OneNote notebooks have different formats for notebooks stored locally or stored on OneDrive.

So a format conversion is necessary when you want to "move" a notebook from your HD to OneDrive.

This is nothing new, it was introduced with OneNote 2010, more than 10 years ago and will never be changed.

Bernd

Hi Alabhya Dhamija,

 

First and foremost, thanks for reaching out to our Microsoft Community Forum and please accept our sincerest hope that all is well.

 

We understand that you're having trouble trying to sync a OneNote notebook in your Windows 11 laptop to your Android device.

In order for us to better assist you I need to ask:

1. What version of OneNote are you using in the Android device? To do this, (A) Go to device settings. (B) Tap “Apps” or “Application manager.” (C) You will get a list showing all the apps installed on your device. Tap the OneNote app and you will be taken to the App Info page. When you are on the App Info page, look below the name of the app, you will find version number written there.
2. What's the brand and model of this Android device?
3. What version of Android are you running on the device? Please use the "See which Android version you have" steps from the Check & update your Android version guide.
4. From the both devices, can you tell me if you’re getting all green checkmarks when visiting the following link on a web browser? https://portal.office.com/ServiceStatus

Just a heads up though when it comes to mobile apps not functioning correctly the usual progression of steps to resolve it are quite simple i.e. if uninstalling and reinstalling the app does not work it escalates to a factory reset of the device.

We look forward to your response.

 

Sincerely,

 

Glenn Rue

Consumer M365 Forum Moderator

Microsoft Community

Dear Glenn Rue,

Thanks for your prompt reply.

1. Version of Onenote is 16.0.14430.20254 (the latest as available on Play Store)
2. I am using a Realme x7 Pro device
3. It is running on Android 11. Realme UI Version is V2.0 which was last updated on 05.10.2021. The update number is RMX 2121_11_C.05
4. Yes from both the devices I am getting all green checkmarks.

Maybe there is some problem with one drive its settings or something, because eventually I am unable to access only the notebooks of onenote. Surprisingly, I am able to access my Onenote notebooks in the Onenote software on my Laptop, however on the same software in Google Chrome I am unable to open the notebooks.

For some weird reason, when I log on to Onenote.com, I am unable to even look at the notebooks on the main page that I have saved on my one drive. I have to manually go to Onedrive in that particular folder and then try opening the note book, where again I fail, however, I dont know why I am unable to see the notebook in onenote.

Thanks in advance

Hi Alabhya Dhamija,

First and foremost, thanks for reaching out to our Microsoft Community Forum and please accept our sincerest hope that all is well.

We understand that you're having trouble trying to sync a OneNote notebook in your Windows 11 laptop to your Android device.

In order for us to better assist you I need to ask:

1. What version of OneNote are you using in the Android device? To do this, (A) Go to device settings. (B) Tap “Apps” or “Application manager.” (C) You will get a list showing all the apps installed on your device. Tap the OneNote app and you will be taken to the App Info page. When you are on the App Info page, look below the name of the app, you will find version number written there.
2. What's the brand and model of this Android device?
3. What version of Android are you running on the device? Please use the "See which Android version you have" steps from the Check & update your Android version guide.
4. From the both devices, can you tell me if you’re getting all green checkmarks when visiting the following link on a web browser? https://portal.office.com/ServiceStatus

Just a heads up though when it comes to mobile apps not functioning correctly the usual progression of steps to resolve it are quite simple i.e. if uninstalling and reinstalling the app does not work it escalates to a factory reset of the device.

We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Glenn Rue

Consumer M365 Forum Moderator

Microsoft Community