How to Store OneNote Notebooks on an External Drive or SD Card
Question details
The user wants to know if they can store OneNote notebooks or the local synchronization cache on an external drive or SD card to save space or for portability.
- Product
- Microsoft OneNote
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Managing notebook storage locations to free up local drive space or carry notebooks on portable storage.
- Observed behavior
- The user needs to move notebook files to removable storage without having to reinstall the entire Microsoft Office suite.
Ensure you are using the desktop version of OneNote (included with Microsoft Office), as the OneNote for Windows 10 app only supports saving notebooks online to OneDrive.
Change the Default Notebook Save Location
Use the OneNote desktop application settings to change the save location of your notebooks directly to an external drive or SD card.
While Microsoft Office installation files cannot easily be moved to another drive, the desktop version of OneNote allows you to save and manage individual notebooks in custom local directories, including removable media.
Launch the desktop version of OneNote. Click on 'File' in the top-left corner, then select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.
In the OneNote Options window, click on the 'Save & Backup' tab located in the left-hand pane.
Under the 'Save' section, highlight 'Default Notebook Location' and click the 'Modify' button. Browse to your external drive or SD card, select the desired folder, and click 'Select'.
Reduce Local Cache Usage Instead of Moving It
Free up local drive space by closing unused notebooks instead of attempting to move the synchronization cache to a removable drive.
Manage Your Documents Efficiently with WPS Office
If you are struggling with limited storage space on your primary drive and need a flexible, lightweight document solution, try WPS Office. It provides powerful word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation tools without consuming excessive drive space.
- 1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS website to download the free, lightweight installer.
- 2. Create a New Document: Launch WPS Office and click on 'New' to start drafting your notes or documents.
- 3. Save to Removable Drive: Click 'Menu' > 'Save As' and select your external drive or SD card as the destination folder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I move the OneNote local cache to an SD card using junction points?
While it is technically possible using junction points in Windows, it is highly discouraged. Removable drives can cause the synchronization cache to become unreliable, which may result in sync errors or data loss.
Why can't I change the notebook save location in OneNote for Windows 10?
OneNote for Windows 10 is designed as a cloud-first application that stores notebooks exclusively on OneDrive. To save notebooks locally or to an external drive, you must use the OneNote desktop version included with Microsoft Office.
Can I move the entire Microsoft Office installation to my external drive?
No, Microsoft Office installation files cannot normally be moved to another drive without causing registry and functional errors. However, you can save individual documents and OneNote notebooks to external storage.
