all my saved documents in One Note are not avaialble

Question

All of the saved files and printouts in my One Note have a red X on them and when I try to open them it says the embedded files cannot be found

Answer 1

It sounds like you are encountering an issue with your OneNote files where they are not accessible, indicated by the red X on the embedded files. This problem can occur for several reasons:

1. Network Issues: Your OneNote Notebook content may not be synced completely with the SharePoint Online or OneDrive for Business server. Ensure that you have a stable internet connection.
2. Account Authentication: Verify that you are signed in to your OneNote account. If your account is not authenticated, you may not be able to access your files.
3. Offline Mode: Check if the OneNote client is set to offline mode, which would prevent access to synced content.
4. File Location: If the files are stored in OneDrive for Business or SharePoint Online, ensure that they are not deleted or moved. You can follow the steps to restore your OneDrive content if necessary.

To troubleshoot, try the following steps:

• Check your internet connection and ensure you are online.
• Sign out and sign back into your OneNote account.
• Verify if the files are accessible from another device or through the OneDrive or SharePoint web interface.
• If the issue persists, consider moving the content to a new section if it is visible on another device.

If you continue to experience problems, you may want to consult the Microsoft Community for further assistance.

Answer 2

Welcome jeffrey chapman to the Q&A forum!

I understand that your OneNote files on iOS are showing a red X and displaying the message “embedded files cannot be found.” Here are some steps you can try:

1. Update OneNote (iOS)

Make sure the OneNote app is fully updated.

2. Test on another device

Open the same page in OneNote Web (browser) or on a different device to confirm whether the issue is with the file or the iOS app. If the file opens normally in the browser, try uninstalling and reinstalling OneNote on your iPhone/iPad.

Additional steps:

3. Force OneNote to re‑sync (iPhone / iPad)

• Open OneNote > Tap Profile icon (top left)
• Go to Settings > Sync
• Turn Sync Notebooks off > Fully close OneNote
• Reopen OneNote > Turn Sync Notebooks on
• Wait 1–2 minutes, then check the page again.

4. Sign out and sign back in

• Refreshing the account clears authentication issues and cached attachments.
• OneNote > Profile icon
• Tap your account
• Sign out
• Force‑close the app
• Sign back in

Hope this helps. Let me know how it goes!

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