File Corruption & Recovery

How to Fix OneNote Not Working and Recover Missing Notes

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user is experiencing issues with Microsoft OneNote not functioning correctly (failing to start, crashing, or not syncing) and needs to locate or recover missing notes and notebooks.

Product: Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to access, sync, or recover important notes in OneNote after an application failure, unexpected closure, or sync interruption.
Observed behavior: OneNote fails to operate normally or crashes, and previously saved notes or entire notebooks appear to be missing from the application.

Before you start

Before troubleshooting, ensure you have a stable internet connection so OneNote can attempt to sync with OneDrive, and do not immediately sign out or uninstall the app to prevent permanent data loss of unsynced notes.

Solution 1Recommended

Diagnose the Application Issue and Storage Location

Determine the exact nature of the OneNote malfunction and identify where your notes were originally stored to guide the recovery process.

OneNote issues can stem from app crashes, sync errors, or account disconnections. Pinpointing the exact symptom helps determine if the issue is local to the device or related to cloud storage.

Identify the exact error

Observe the application's behavior. Check if OneNote fails to start entirely, closes unexpectedly during use, or simply stops syncing and displays an error code (like 0xE0000007).

Determine the scope of missing data

Review your active notebooks. Check whether all your notebooks are completely missing, or if only certain pages, sections, or recent edits have disappeared.

Verify the storage location

Recall where your notebooks were saved prior to the issue. Determine if they were synced to OneDrive, stored in a shared SharePoint directory, or saved on your device's local hard drive.

Solution 2

Check OneDrive on the Web for Missing Notes

Use the web version of OneDrive to verify if your missing notebooks and notes are still safely backed up in the cloud.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Stable Document Creation and Cloud Syncing

If Microsoft Office applications are frequently crashing or failing to sync your important data, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative for document editing with reliable cloud storage to ensure you never lose your work.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the installation file for your Windows, Mac, iOS, or Android device.
2. Set up WPS Cloud: Create a free WPS account and log in to activate your free cloud storage space for automatic document backups.
3. Start creating and syncing: Open WPS Writer to take notes or draft documents. Your work will be automatically saved and synced across all your connected devices.

Seamlessly compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint document formats.Built-in WPS Cloud syncing to automatically save your documents securely.Lightweight installation that runs smoothly even on older devices without crashing.Completely free to use with an intuitive, familiar tabbed interface.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover deleted pages or sections in OneNote?

Yes, if you accidentally deleted a note, you can often recover it by navigating to the 'View' tab on the ribbon and selecting 'Deleted Notes'. Items remain in this recycle bin for 60 days before they are permanently deleted.

Why is my OneNote not syncing across my devices?

Syncing issues typically occur due to poor internet connections, using outdated versions of the application, conflicting credentials, or insufficient storage space on your connected OneDrive account.

Does OneNote keep local backups of my cloud notebooks?

Yes, if you are using the OneNote desktop application (like OneNote 2016), it automatically creates local backups on your hard drive. You can access these by going to File > Info > Open Backups.

Document & File Issues