OneNote for Mac stopped syncing with OneDrive files

Hi, I was finally able to download the .one files for my notebooks, but I couldn't figure out how to downgrade the OneNote version safely. As I was investigating this I realized the autoupdate feature could override what I do, and more importantly, I could also be missing out on important security patches. So, I actually cannot believe this was a recommended solution to my problem by a Microsoft tech. I finally thought this was a bad idea and didn't try it.

The issue is still unresolved. OneNote for mac just stopped working for me. I mean, it works, I can create brand new notebooks, but it doesn't let me open any of my notebooks, even the local files (.one) I managed to download! This just makes no sense! The mac version is crippled.

Finally, the reason it took me a while to respond is that I continued looking for alternatives, until I luckily found a OneNote replacement (thanks ChatGPT!) that works 1000 times better. It is called JOPLIN. It's simple, elegant, markdown notes, it can import OneNote, it has a decent Android app. It is the best notes app out there and it's free (open source). I thought if you found this thread I may be able to help other people with an actual solution, which is basically to stay away from OneNote and switch to something else, in my case JOPLIN.

Even though I'm super happy with JOPLIN, I'm still soured by this big Microsoft screw up. I had more than 20 years worth of notes for work and personal information. I had a routine and I will miss some of the features. All gone in a stupid upgrade. Well done Microsoft!

E

Hi,

Thank you for the response.

It sounds like you've done everything possible to troubleshoot this issue, and yet OneNote still isn't recognizing your notebooks. Based on what I found, Version 16.97 (25051114) was released recently, and some users have reported issues with notebooks not appearing after the update.

Here are a few additional things you might try:

1. Check for another update – Microsoft released Version 16.97.1 (25051816) on May 20, 2025, which includes fixes for Outlook and Word. It's possible that an update for OneNote is coming soon.
2. Try opening OneNote in Safe Mode – Launch OneNote while holding down the Option key to see if it loads differently.
3. Manually open a notebook – Instead of relying on OneNote to detect your notebooks, try opening them manually from OneDrive:
   • Go to OneDrive in Finder.
   • Locate your notebook files (.one or .onetoc2).
   • Double-click to open them in OneNote.
4. Check OneNote's cloud sync settings – Go to OneNote Preferences > Accounts and ensure your Microsoft account is properly linked.
5. Rollback to an earlier version – If the issue started after the update, you might consider rolling back to Version 16.96 to see if that resolves the problem

Regards,

Fordy B.

Microsoft Moderator

Hi, thank you for the reply (I missed the notification for the first one)

For your first reply, I tried the first 3 solutions multiple times. I reinstalled, relogged in, manually deleted folders (e.g. cache).. etc, and no luck.

I just tried your 4th solution, but I don't have an option to "Reset OneNote" in my Preferences dialog. My current version is "Version 16.97 (25051114)". I have a Family License subscription.

Additionally, I wanted to add a couple of findings:

• OneNote was working fine as of early this week or last weekend. All of a sudden it stopped working (as in I cannot edit my notebooks, the app itself "works"). With all the recent announcements it seems a recent update caused all these issues?
• I opened one of my notebooks using the online browser. When I go to the File menu in that web app there is an option to "Edit in Desktop App". When I click on this it opens OneNote, but nothing happens, meaning OneNote opens but my list of Notebooks is empty, even though I'm fully signed in.
• I thought the issue might be related to OneDrive instead. So I reinstalled that app many times and let's me log in and it shows me my files synced properly. So I don't understand why OneNote is not able to see my notebooks saved on my OneDrive folder.

Thank you for your help.

Esteban

Hi,

We have noticed that you  have not replied to our last response. We would like to know if the issue you have raised to us is still on-going. If yes, please reply to the thread so we can continue troubleshooting your concern.

Regards,

Fordy B.

Microsoft Moderator

Hello,

Welcome to the Microsoft Community Forum. Please accept our warmest regards and sincerest hope that all is well despite the situation you find yourself in.

I understand the frustration you're experiencing with OneNote not syncing with your OneDrive files on your Mac. Here are some additional troubleshooting steps you can try:

1. Check your internet connection: Ensure that you have a stable internet connection to sync your OneNote notebooks with OneDrive.
2. Update OneNote and OneDrive: Make sure you have the latest versions of both OneNote and OneDrive installed on your Mac.
3. Sign out and sign back in: Try signing out of your Microsoft account in OneNote and then signing back in to see if that resolves the syncing issue.
4. Reset OneNote: You can try resetting OneNote on your Mac by going to OneNote > Preferences > General > Reset OneNote.

Hope this helps.

Best Regards,

Fordy B.

Microsoft Community Moderator