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How to Uninstall OneNote on Mac Without Deleting OneDrive Notebooks
Question details
The user wants to uninstall the OneNote application from a Mac without losing personal notebooks stored in OneDrive, and needs to know how to back up this data locally first.
- Product
- Microsoft OneNote
- Device & OS
- macOS Sequoia
- Scenario
- Uninstalling the OneNote application while preserving and backing up cloud-synced notebooks to a local or external drive.
- Observed behavior
- The user is seeking assurance that deleting the local app will not delete cloud data, alongside a reliable method to download a local backup of OneNote files.
Ensure your Mac is connected to the internet and verify that all your recent OneNote changes have fully synced to OneDrive before beginning the backup or uninstallation process.
Back Up OneNote Notebooks to a Local Drive
Create a secure local backup of your OneNote data from OneDrive before uninstalling the application from your Mac.
OneNote data cannot normally be downloaded directly as a single notebook file from OneDrive due to its sync structure. You must package the files into a standard folder first.
Open your preferred web browser and sign in to the OneDrive account where your OneNote notebooks are stored.
Create a new standard folder in OneDrive. Use the 'Copy to' function to move a copy of your notebook files into this new folder.
Select the newly created folder containing your notebooks and click the 'Download' button. OneDrive will compress the folder and save it to your Mac as a ZIP file.
Locate the downloaded ZIP file on your Mac (usually in the Downloads folder) and double-click it to extract the contents. You can now move this extracted folder to an external drive or keep it on your home computer.
Uninstall OneNote from macOS
Safely remove the OneNote application from your Mac. Doing this will only remove the software, not your cloud data.
Looking for a Lightweight Office Suite for Mac?
If you are uninstalling heavy Microsoft Office applications to free up space on your Mac, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a comprehensive, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative for all your document, spreadsheet, and presentation needs.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package for Mac.
- 2. Install on Your Mac: Open the downloaded file and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
- 3. Launch and Create: Open WPS Office from Launchpad or Finder and start managing your documents immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will uninstalling OneNote from my Mac delete my notebooks?
No. Deleting the OneNote application only removes the software from your computer. Your notebooks are stored safely online in your OneDrive account and will remain completely intact.
Why can't I just download my OneNote notebook directly from OneDrive?
Because of how OneNote syncs data in real-time, its files are handled differently than standard documents in OneDrive. You cannot download a live notebook directly; instead, you must copy it into a standard folder in OneDrive web, and then download that folder as a compressed ZIP file.
How do I open my backed up OneNote files later?
To access your backup, extract the downloaded ZIP file. The resulting folders will contain partition files ending in .one. You can open these .one files directly using the OneNote desktop application, provided you have kept the original folder structure unchanged.
Can I transfer my OneNote backup to an external hard drive?
Yes. Once you have downloaded the ZIP file from OneDrive and extracted it to your Mac, you can safely copy or move that entire folder to any USB flash drive or external hard drive for long-term storage.
