Can OneNote work offline?

Question

Can OneNote work offline?

Anonymous

I started using OneNote for uni notes, but when I go back home for Christmas I won't have access to wifi, and I was wondering how I can save or do something so that I can continue making notes over the holidays despite not being connected. Thanks!

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Answer 1

By default when you open a notebook a copy gets downloaded on your device and stored in a hidden, special format. All edits you do (also adding and deleting) is done (offline) in that cache copy, not in the online version. OneNote then syncs your (local cached) edits to OneDrive / OneDrive for Business if an internet connection is available.

If there is no Internet connection, all your work remains in the cache until you are connected again.

So yes, you can work offline. Just make sure that:

you open all notebooks you need when you have still a connection. Opening notebooks is not possible offline.
keep those notebooks open until you have a connection again.
Don't reset OneNote, remove the app or try to reinstall it until everything is synced to OneDrive again! Also don't attempt to close a notebook. Those actions would erase the local cache and you would lose all your offline edits.