Can't Rename One Note Sections

Question

I am running Win10 on a powerful home-built desktop with all of the most current updates and loving One Note (Version 17.8269.57841.0) which I believe is the most current build.

I can create new sections with the default name:  New Section #n ... but I cannot rename the sections.  After ""Simply right-click the section name, choose Rename in the drop-down list that appears, and type a new section name"" ... the new name does not stick and the field reverts to the default New Section #n.

What is wrong with my system?

Note: 1) I have moderately good computer skills .... I have looked at the "one note" files on my root C:\ drive, but can't tell if I should be making changes at this level -- or not.

2.  I sync my one note pages and sections with my Android (Pixel) phone and a small Dell Win10 laptop.

***Post moved by the moderator to the appropriate forum category.***

Answer 1

Renaming does work if I navigate to a different notebook and then go back to the earlier notebook section; I do not need to quit/close out of one note completely

Answer 2

Hi David,

This could have happened due to several reasons like corrupted application. We suggest that you change the name on your OneDrive or local storage. We also suggest that you visit this linkfor more troubleshooting regarding issues with OneNote.

Let us know how it goes.

Answer 3

I just ran into the same issue as the OP.

I am using the OneNote app built into Windows 10.  I also have the version of OneNote that is part of Office 2016.  And I have the OneNote app for iOS on an iPhone 7, and the OneDrive app on my Windows 10 PC.

When I created a new Section on the Win10 built-in OneNote app, it would only allow naming New Section 1.  That name carried over to the iOS OneNote as well.  It could not be changed manually on the Win10 app.  After reading this thread, I was able to change the Section name on my iPhone OneNote.  So far (just a few minutes) it has not changed on the Win10 OneNote, even after I watched the Sync text display for a while on the header.  But it has changed on the Office OneNote.

This is curious.  It seems something is not working quite correctly with the Win10 built-in OneNote, but the iPhone and Office versions seem to be OK.

EDIT:  About 10 minutes after renaming the Section on the iPhone, I closed the Win10 OneNote and then reopened it.  It opened immediately with the new Section name and continued to sync for a couple of minutes.

However, the Win10 app continues to refuse to allow any additional manual renaming of the Section.

I think this is definitely a bug of some sort.

EDIT:  Seems to be confirmed as a bug per this:  https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Can-t-rename-section-in-OneNote-for-Windows-10-29fb0add-1d55-4bd4-b36f-bbe4189003f3

Answer 4

Hi again,

I very much appreciate you sticking with me on this... but what you have suggested doesn't seem to have any impact on my issue.  I have either discovered a bug (unlikely) or my desktop OneNote App is corrupted and I don't know how to fix that.

Below please find a series of screen shots.

Caption #1 shows that I have created a new folder in OneDrive called OneNote.  My OneNote link has been renamed from David's Notebook to David's New Notebook.  

Caption #2 shows what this looks like when it's opened with my browser (Chrome).  As you can see each OneNote section has an appropriate name, including "Quick Notes", "Residencies" , "Office Plan" and a newly created section named, "TEST".

Caption #3 shows what this looks like with my desktop app.  As you can see, when I named a new section in my browser ("TEST") it shows appropriately on the desktop, but the others "Residencies" and "Office Plan" do not.  I guess I could create additional sections in the Browser environment and then cut/paste page after page ... into the newly created sections, but that's a lot of work.

What do you think I should do?

Caption #3::  Desktop App

Caption #2::  Browser View

Caption #1:: Desktop Folder View.

Answer 5

This could have happened due to several reasons like your OneDrive is not syncing automatically. We suggest that you resolve the OneDrive sync issue, you can follow the steps on this link.  If the error still occurs, we also suggest that you submit your query using the UserVoice. We consider suggestions and comments provided by our users. These queries are being collated, reviewed, and can be considered for future updates.

Let us know if there is anything else we can do to help.