File Cannot Open

How to Fix OneNote Embedded Files Not Found After Moving a Notebook

WPS Editor Oct 7, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user is unable to open or edit an embedded PowerPoint presentation inside a OneNote notebook after moving the notebook to a different computer.

How to Fix OneNote Embedded Files Not Found After Moving a Notebook

Product: Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Accessing a OneNote notebook that contains embedded PowerPoint files after it has been moved or transferred to a new computer.
Observed behavior: OneNote displays an error stating that the embedded file may have been moved, renamed, or deleted, preventing the presentation from being opened.

Before you start

Ensure you have a copy of the original PowerPoint presentation saved locally on your new computer before attempting to fix the attachment in OneNote.

Solution 1Recommended

Delete and Reinsert the Embedded PowerPoint Presentation

Remove the broken attachment link and insert the presentation file again to establish a valid local path on the new computer.

Embedded documents in OneNote often retain a connection to their original local file path. When a notebook is moved to a new computer, the original path becomes invalid, causing the attachment to break. Reattaching the file is the most direct way to resolve this issue.

Open the moved notebook

Launch OneNote and navigate to the page containing the broken embedded presentation.

Delete the broken attachment

Right-click the embedded PowerPoint file that cannot be opened and select 'Delete' from the context menu to remove the invalid link.

Reinsert the presentation

Go to the 'Insert' tab on the OneNote ribbon, click 'File Attachment', and browse your new computer to locate and select the original PowerPoint file.

Delete and Reinsert the Embedded PowerPoint Presentation

Submit Feedback: If you frequently move notebooks between devices, consider submitting feedback to Microsoft to request better relative path support for moved attachments.

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Try WPS Office for Seamless Presentation Management

If you want to avoid complex syncing issues and broken file links when moving documents between computers, consider using WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, free alternative to Microsoft Office, allowing you to manage, edit, and share standalone presentations effortlessly.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download and install the free WPS Office suite on your computer.
2. Open your presentation: Launch WPS Presentation, click 'Open', and browse your local directories to find your PowerPoint file.
3. Edit and save seamlessly: Edit your presentation with a familiar toolset and save it as a standalone file that is easily transferable to any device.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do embedded files break when moving a OneNote notebook?

When a file is embedded in OneNote, the software often creates a link tied to the specific local file directory of that original computer. Moving the notebook to a new machine changes the environment, rendering the old path invalid and causing the file attachment to break.

Will starting a completely new notebook fix the embedded file error?

Starting a new notebook will give you a clean slate on the new computer, but it will not automatically fix the broken files. You will still need to manually reinsert the embedded presentations into the new notebook so that OneNote can capture the correct local file paths.

How can I prevent file attachments from breaking in the future?

Instead of embedding local files directly into OneNote, consider storing your presentations in a cloud storage service like OneDrive or Google Drive. You can then paste the cloud sharing link directly onto the OneNote page, ensuring the file remains accessible regardless of which computer you use.

Document & File Issues