OneDrive File Issues

Fix OneNote Creating New OneDrive Notebooks in the Wrong Location

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users need to understand why new OneNote notebooks are not saving to the specified default save path when creating them directly in OneDrive.

Product: Microsoft OneNote (Microsoft 365)
Device & OS: Windows 10, Windows 11
Scenario: Creating a new cloud-synced notebook using the File > New > OneDrive option in the OneNote desktop application.
Observed behavior: OneNote ignores the default notebook location specified in Save & Backup settings and creates the notebook in a standard cloud directory instead.

Before you start

Verify your current default local notebook location by opening OneNote and navigating to File > Options > Save & Backup. Ensure your OneDrive desktop client is running and actively synchronizing files on your PC.

Solution 1Recommended

Create the Notebook Locally in a OneDrive-Synced Folder

Use the 'This PC' option to create your notebook in your preferred synced folder, bypassing the hardcoded cloud path.

The default notebook location setting in OneNote only applies to local notebooks. When you create a notebook directly via the OneDrive tab, OneNote automatically defaults to a standard cloud location (usually My Files > Documents > OneNote Notebooks) rather than your custom path.

To utilize your configured local path and still sync the notebook to the cloud, you must create it as a local notebook inside a directory that OneDrive is actively synchronizing.

Open the New Notebook Menu

Launch the OneNote desktop application, click on 'File' in the top-left corner, and select 'New'.

Select 'This PC'

Instead of clicking on 'OneDrive', select 'This PC' to prompt OneNote to create a local notebook.

Choose the Correct Save Path

OneNote will now default to your configured local path. Ensure this folder is located within your OneDrive synchronization directory.

Create and Sync

Name your notebook and click 'Create'. Once created, the OneDrive desktop client will automatically sync the notebook folder to the cloud.

Verification: Once synchronized, you can verify its online presence by logging into OneDrive on the web and navigating to the specific folder path you selected.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find the default save location for local notebooks in OneNote?

You can view and modify your default local notebook path by opening OneNote and navigating to File > Options > Save & Backup. Look under the 'Save' section for the 'Default Notebook Location' setting.

Can I change the default OneDrive cloud save path for new notebooks?

No, when creating notebooks directly through the 'OneDrive' tab in OneNote, the application uses a hardcoded default cloud directory. To bypass this, you must create the notebook via 'This PC' in a specific OneDrive-synced folder.

Why don't my local OneNote notebooks sync to my mobile app?

Local notebooks do not sync to mobile devices unless they are moved to or created within a folder that is actively synchronized by a cloud storage service, such as OneDrive, and then opened from the cloud on your mobile device.

Document & File Issues