OneNote sync error

Question

My OneNote desktop has not been syncing for a while. It was working before. Now, it shows "Saved offline (error)."

I set OneNote to "Sync notebooks automatically" and "Sync down all files and imaged."

 

I tried to sync manually from "Sync This Notebook," but it doesn't work.

 

I opened OneNote from OneDrive, but OneNote is empty. I've been using OneNote desktop for over 10 years and am worried all data may be wiped out if the sync is back again and syncs from OneDrive. How can I fix the OneNote desktop sync issue?

Answer 1

These articles helped answer my questions.

• What's the difference between the OneNote versions?
• Which version of OneNote should I use?

I was using OneNote for Windows 10 (OneNote Store app), which was supposed to be stored in my OneDrive account, and that's why I couldn't find the local files.

The OneNote Diagnostics Tool didn't help, either, so I ended up manually (copy & paste) backing up all the content in OneNote for Windows 10, and switched to OneNote (formerly OneNote 2016). Now, OneNote is syncing across Windows, OneDrive, and Android.

Answer 2

Thanks, Bernd P.

Answer 3

The difference appears because you didn't open a notebook but only a single .one file. This is shown in a special compartment called Open Sections, to be seen in your screenshot.

Bernd

Answer 4

Hi Amìt,

Thank you for your suggestions. I use Windows 10.

I checked Fix issues when you can't sync OneNote and Best practices to sync OneNote notebooks, but they weren't helpful. Before I try the OneNote Diagnostics Tool, I want to back up the local OneNote file(s), but I can't find it after searching *.one. All I could find in the search result were old backups I saved 2+ years ago, but the current one doesn't show up.

I also noticed an interesting thing. When I open the old *.one file or *.onepkg file, the OneNote interface is different from the one I've been using.

Here is the one I'm currently using.

The folders that old OneNote files were stored were:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Templates\1041

C:\Users<username>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneNote\16.0\Backup\Open Sections

My questions now are: 

1. Why do I see different OneNote interfaces? Am I currently using the older version?
2. How can I find my current OneNote file?

Thank you.

Answer 5

Hi Dolpha,

1. Are you using Windows or a Mac?

Is it possible for you to take a full screenshot and then delete the parts on that screenshot that may have personal identifiable information?

2. Please also check out this Microsoft support page -->

Fix issues when you can't sync OneNote https://support.microsoft.com/help/299495ef-66d1-448f-90c1-b785a6968d45

Please also check out the other useful links on the above page like: 'Best practices for syncing notes in OneNote' 'OneNote Diagnostics Tool'

We'll be here for your response. - Amit