How to Fix OneNote Cannot Add or Select Pages and Sections
Question details
The user is unable to add new pages or sections, or select existing pages within the Microsoft OneNote application.
- Product
- Microsoft OneNote
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Trying to organize notes, create new sections, or navigate between existing pages in a OneNote notebook.
- Observed behavior
- The "Add Page", "Add Section", and page-selection interface options are hidden, unresponsive, or missing from the application.
Log into OneNote for the Web to verify which of your recent notes have successfully synced to the cloud, and manually copy any unsynchronized text into a local Word document or Notepad file before performing app repairs.
Repair or Reset OneNote for Windows 10
Use the built-in Windows application settings to repair corrupted OneNote files or completely reset the app state.
Windows includes native troubleshooting tools for UWP (Universal Windows Platform) apps like OneNote for Windows 10. The 'Repair' function attempts to fix broken files without affecting your local data, while 'Reset' clears local app caches and data, forcing the app to re-sync from the cloud.
Click the Start menu and select the gear icon, or press Windows Key + I on your keyboard to open Settings.
Click on 'Apps' from the main Settings menu, then select 'Apps & features' from the left sidebar.
Scroll down the app list to find 'OneNote for Windows 10'. Click on it, then click the 'Advanced options' link that appears.
Scroll down to the Reset section. Click the 'Repair' button first. Open OneNote to see if the buttons have returned. If the issue persists, return to this menu and click 'Reset'.
Force Manual Notebook Synchronization
Resolve background syncing conflicts that may be temporarily locking the notebook interface and hiding action buttons.
Try WPS Office for Seamless Document Management
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- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my OneNote sections and pages grayed out?
Sections or pages typically become grayed out or unselectable when the notebook is actively syncing, or if there is a synchronization conflict preventing the app from fully downloading the content from OneDrive.
Will resetting OneNote delete all my notes?
Resetting the OneNote app deletes local app data and cached files from your device. Any notes that have been successfully synced to OneDrive are safe and will reload when you sign back in. However, unsynced offline notes will be permanently lost.
How do I check if my notes are safely synced to the cloud?
You can verify your synced data by navigating to onenote.com in any web browser and logging in with your Microsoft account. If you can see your recent edits there, they are safely backed up in the cloud.
