How to Fix 'We Could Not Open This Page' Error in OneNote for Windows 10
Question details
The user is unable to open a specific notebook page in OneNote for Windows 10 on a Surface device, although the page opens perfectly fine on iOS and OneNote Online.
- Product
- OneNote for Windows 10
- Device & OS
- Windows 10 (Surface device)
- Scenario
- Attempting to open and sync a cloud-stored notebook page across multiple devices.
- Observed behavior
- The application displays a 'We Could Not Open This Page' error message specifically on the Windows 10 app version, despite the file being intact and accessible on other platforms.
Ensure your Surface device has a stable internet connection and verify that the notebook can be successfully accessed through OneNote Online via a web browser before attempting application-specific fixes.
Re-authenticate Your OneNote Account
Signing out and signing back in forces the OneNote for Windows 10 application to refresh its connection and re-sync the problematic notebooks.
Authentication glitches frequently cause the local application to lose access to specific pages stored on OneDrive or SharePoint. Refreshing your login state forces the app to pull fresh data from the cloud.
Open OneNote for Windows 10. Click on your profile picture or name in the top right corner of the application window, and select 'Sign out' from the drop-down menu.
Close the OneNote application completely, wait a few seconds, and then reopen it from your Windows Start menu.
Click 'Sign in' and enter the credentials for the exact account that owns the notebook, such as your school or work Microsoft account.
Switch to OneNote 2016 Desktop App
Since the issue is often isolated to the UWP OneNote for Windows 10 app, opening the notebook in the standard desktop version (OneNote 2016) can bypass the error.
Force a Sync Update via OneNote Online
Verifying and updating the master copy of your notebook online can push a fresh sync state to your Surface device.
Switch to WPS Office for Reliable Document Management
Tired of encountering sync errors and application conflicts in Microsoft Office apps? WPS Office provides a stable, lightweight, and highly compatible suite for all your document, spreadsheet, and presentation needs, allowing you to work locally and in the cloud without unpredictable cross-device sync failures.
- 1. Download the software: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package for your operating system.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the installer and follow the straightforward on-screen instructions to set up the software on your computer.
- 3. Open your files instantly: Launch WPS Office and open your existing documents immediately without needing to configure complex account sync setups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my OneNote page work on my iPhone but fail on my Surface?
This discrepancy occurs because of localized sync cache corruption within the OneNote for Windows 10 application on your Surface. The cloud version of the file (accessed by your iPhone) remains intact and functional, but the Windows app fails to download or parse the latest sync data correctly.
Is OneNote 2016 different from OneNote for Windows 10?
Yes. OneNote for Windows 10 is a UWP (Universal Windows Platform) app originally pre-installed on older Windows 10 systems, whereas OneNote 2016 is the traditional desktop application included with Microsoft Office and Microsoft 365 packages. They feature different interfaces and rely on distinct synchronization mechanisms.
Will signing out of OneNote for Windows 10 delete my un-synced notes?
Yes, it might. If you have notes on your device that have not yet successfully synced to the cloud (which you can check by logging into OneNote Online), signing out will discard those local, un-synced changes. Always manually back up un-synced text by copying it to another document, like a text file or Word document, before signing out.
