OneDrive File Issues

How to Move OneNote Notebooks to Another User's OneDrive

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to transfer complete ownership of OneNote notebooks from one user's OneDrive to another user's OneDrive, rather than simply sharing the file. The destination user currently does not have the desktop OneNote application installed.

Product: Microsoft OneNote and OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Transferring ownership of an existing OneNote notebook to a different Microsoft OneDrive account.
Observed behavior: Because OneDrive does not have a direct 'transfer ownership' button for OneNote files, the user must manually replicate the notebook in the destination account.

Before you start

Ensure you have the login credentials for both the source (User A) and destination (User B) Microsoft accounts. Although User B does not have the desktop app, completing this process on a computer that has the OneNote desktop application installed will make the transfer significantly easier.

Solution 1Recommended

Transfer Notebook Ownership Using the OneNote Desktop App

The most reliable method to transfer ownership is by using the desktop version of OneNote to manually copy sections into a newly created notebook in the destination account.

Because OneDrive does not allow direct ownership transfer of OneNote files, you must create a new notebook in the destination account and copy the contents over section by section. Even if User B does not have the application installed, using the desktop app on any available computer is highly recommended for this workflow.

Add Both Accounts to OneNote

Open the OneNote desktop application. Go to File > Account, and click 'Add Account' to ensure both User A's and User B's Microsoft accounts are signed in simultaneously.

Create a New Notebook for User B

Click File > New, select User B's OneDrive account, and create a brand new OneNote notebook. This ensures User B is the absolute owner of the new file.

Copy Sections to the New Notebook

Open User A's original notebook. Right-click on a section tab at the top, select 'Move or Copy', choose User B's newly created notebook from the list, and click the 'Copy' button.

Repeat for All Sections

Continue right-clicking and copying each section one at a time until all content from the original notebook has been successfully duplicated into the new notebook.

Section by Section Transfer Limitation: OneNote does not support copying an entire notebook at once across different accounts. The transfer process must be completed one section at a time.

Solution 2

Dissociate the Old Sharing Relationship

After transferring the content, you should remove the destination user's access to the original notebook to avoid version confusion.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I directly change the owner of a OneNote notebook in OneDrive?

No, Microsoft OneDrive does not provide a direct feature to transfer ownership of a OneNote notebook. You must create a new notebook in the destination account and manually copy the sections into it.

Do I absolutely need the OneNote desktop app to transfer notebooks?

While it is technically possible to manually copy and paste text page-by-page using OneNote for the Web, transferring entire sections reliably requires the OneNote desktop application, which allows you to 'Move or Copy' sections between notebooks.

Will sharing a notebook give the other user ownership?

No. Sharing a notebook only provides view or edit access. The original creator remains the sole owner, and if their OneDrive account is deleted, the shared notebook will be permanently lost.

Can I copy an entire OneNote notebook at once?

Unfortunately, OneNote only allows copying at the section or page level. You cannot move or copy an entire notebook in one click when transferring between two different OneDrive accounts.

Document & File Issues