Uninstall & Reinstall Issues

How to Remove the OneNote Cloud Icon from macOS

Rana Garcia Sep 30, 2026 870 views

Question details

Users need to remove a lingering OneNote cloud icon from their Mac after the application has been uninstalled.

How to Remove the OneNote Cloud Icon from macOS

Product: Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Uninstalling Microsoft OneNote or migrating data to a new system.
Observed behavior: The OneNote cloud icon remains visible on the macOS desktop or menu bar even when the application is no longer listed in the Applications folder.

Before you start

Verify that all your recent OneNote notebooks have been fully synced to OneDrive, as removing local application folders will permanently delete any unsynced offline data.

Solution 1Recommended

Delete Associated OneNote Folders and Restart

Manually locate and remove the lingering background folder that is keeping the cloud icon active on your Mac.

macOS sometimes retains application container folders even after the main application is moved to the Trash. Deleting the specific com.microsoft.onenote folder will stop the background process and remove the icon.

Open the Library Folder

Open Finder, click on 'Go' in the top menu bar, hold down the 'Option' key on your keyboard, and select 'Library' when it appears in the dropdown list.

Locate the OneNote Folder

Navigate to the 'Containers' folder and look for a folder named 'com.microsoft.onenote' or 'Microsoft OneNote'.

Move to Trash

Drag the 'com.microsoft.onenote' folder to the Trash, or right-click the folder and select 'Move to Trash'.

Restart Your Mac

Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen and select 'Restart' to refresh the system and completely remove the stuck icon.

Delete Associated OneNote Folders and Restart

Clear the Trash: Don't forget to right-click the Trash icon in your dock and select 'Empty Trash' to permanently delete the remaining files from your system.

Solution 2

Reinstall and Perform a Clean Uninstallation

If manual folder deletion does not remove the icon, a fresh installation followed by an official uninstallation can clear the stuck system cache.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Seamless, Clutter-Free Mac Experience

Looking for a reliable and lightweight alternative to Microsoft Office? WPS Office provides a powerful productivity suite for your Mac, completely free of stubborn background icons and heavy system usage.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the macOS version.
2. Install the Application: Open the downloaded file and drag the WPS Office icon into your Mac's Applications folder.
3. Start Creating: Launch WPS Office, sign in, and immediately start working on your documents, spreadsheets, and presentations in one unified window.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats.Lightweight design ensures smooth performance on all macOS devices.All-in-one workspace prevents desktop clutter and avoids multiple standalone app icons.Clean installation and uninstallation processes without leaving hidden files behind.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the OneNote cloud icon stay after deleting the app?

macOS often caches application icons or leaves background sync services running through container files. Removing the associated 'com.microsoft.onenote' folder clears this background process and successfully removes the icon.

Will deleting the com.microsoft.onenote folder delete my notebooks?

Deleting this folder only removes the local cache on your Mac. If your notebooks are fully synced to OneDrive, they are safely backed up in the cloud. However, any unsynced offline notes on your Mac will be permanently lost.

Can I use Activity Monitor to force quit the cloud icon?

Yes. You can open Activity Monitor from your Utilities folder, search for 'OneNote', select the process, and click the 'X' button to force quit the background process before deleting the app folders in Finder.

Installation & Activation