OneDrive File Issues

How to Upgrade OneNote and Open Cloud Notebooks on OneDrive

Ayan Masood Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to successfully upgrade to the new OneNote desktop app but is confused by the upgrade wizard asking to back up to OneDrive, especially since they cannot locate their local notebook files.

How to Upgrade OneNote and Open Cloud Notebooks on OneDrive

Product: Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Upgrading from OneNote for Windows 10 to the standard OneNote desktop application while attempting to locate and back up existing notebooks.
Observed behavior: The upgrade wizard prompts for a backup to a 'Documents on OneDrive' folder, causing confusion, and local notebook files are nowhere to be found in the system's AppData or local Documents folders.

Before you start

Ensure you have a stable internet connection and know the exact Microsoft account credentials associated with your existing OneDrive storage.

Solution 1Recommended

Bypass the Wizard and Open Notebooks Directly from OneDrive

Since OneNote for Windows 10 already stores notebooks in OneDrive by default, you can ignore the backup wizard and open them directly in the new application.

OneNote for Windows 10 natively syncs all your data to the cloud. Therefore, your notebooks do not exist as traditional local files on your hard drive, which is why you cannot find them in your local Documents or AppData folders.

You do not need to create duplicate backup folders or rename your existing OneDrive directories just to satisfy the upgrade wizard.

Close the Upgrade Wizard

Exit the confusing upgrade wizard entirely. You do not need to perform a manual backup for cloud-synced notebooks.

Launch the New OneNote Application

Open the newly installed OneNote desktop application (often labeled 'OneNote' or 'OneNote on Windows' from Microsoft 365).

Access the Open Menu

Click on 'File' in the top-left corner of the application interface, then select 'Open' from the left-hand menu.

Sign In to OneDrive

Click on 'OneDrive - Personal' (or your business OneDrive). If you are not already logged in, enter the Microsoft account credentials you used with OneNote for Windows 10.

Open Your Notebooks

Browse the folders in your OneDrive, select your existing notebooks, and open them directly into the new app. They will immediately sync and populate your content.

Bypass the Wizard and Open Notebooks Directly from OneDrive

Cloud Storage Confirmation: Because your notebooks are natively stored in OneDrive, any changes you made in the previous OneNote version are already securely saved in the cloud.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I find my OneNote notebooks on my local C: drive?

If you were using OneNote for Windows 10, your notebooks are natively saved and synced to OneDrive. They do not exist as standard local files (.one) on your local storage, which is why standard file explorer searches will not find them.

What is the difference between 'Documents' and 'Documents on OneDrive'?

The phrase 'Documents on OneDrive' is simply Microsoft's descriptive way of referring to the standard 'Documents' folder that is located inside your cloud-synced OneDrive directory. There is no need to manually create a new folder with that exact literal name.

Do I need to manually back up my notebooks before upgrading OneNote?

As long as your previous version (OneNote for Windows 10) was fully synced to the cloud before you closed it, your notebooks are safely stored in OneDrive. You just need to log into the same account on the new app to access them.

Document & File Issues