Find and Restore Local OneNote Files on a Mac from a Backup
Question details
Recover missing OneNote notes on a Mac from a pre-upgrade backup, local cache, or synced notebook copy.
- Product
- Microsoft OneNote for Mac
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- Several months of notes are missing after an Office upgrade, and synchronization may have been inactive before the upgrade.
- Observed behavior
- The expected notes are missing from OneNote after the upgrade.
Locate a backup made before the Office upgrade and check that it includes the OneNote cache folder. Quit OneNote and preserve a copy of the current cache before replacing anything.
Restore the OneNote cache from a pre-upgrade backup
Use this method if a backup may contain notes that were stored locally but not synchronized.
The local cache is not normally readable by other applications. Restoring it may allow OneNote to recover notes, but recovery is not guaranteed, and the folder location can vary by version.
In OneNote, choose OneNote > Quit OneNote. Make sure the application is closed before changing its files.
In Finder, choose Go > Go to Folder and enter ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.onenote.mac/Data/Library/Application Support/Microsoft User Data/OneNote/.
Copy the current OneNote folder to a separate location in Finder so you can put it back if the restored cache does not help.
Open your backup or Time Machine and locate the same OneNote folder from before the upgrade. Restore its contents to the cache location, replacing the current files only after preserving their copy.
Reopen OneNote and inspect the affected notebooks and sections. If the missing notes appear, confirm that they are present before reconnecting and allowing synchronization.
Check synced notebooks, deleted notes, and page versions
Use this method if some of the missing content may have synchronized before the upgrade.
Create and Manage Notes in WPS Writer
WPS Office is a free, lightweight alternative for creating and editing document-based notes. Its familiar interface and Microsoft Office format support make it easy to move existing documents into your workflow. It does not restore OneNote caches or unsynced notes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the OneNote cache on a Mac?
In Finder, choose Go > Go to Folder and enter ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.onenote.mac/Data/Library/Application Support/Microsoft User Data/OneNote/. The location can vary by OneNote version.
Can I open the OneNote cache as a normal document?
The cache is not normally readable by other applications. OneNote may be able to use a restored cache, but recovery is not guaranteed.
Can OneDrive recover notes that never synchronized?
No. OneDrive and OneNote's cloud version history can only contain changes that reached the cloud. For unsynced notes, check a local cache or a backup made while those notes were present.
Where can I look for a deleted notebook or page?
Check Recycle bin in OneDrive on the web for deleted notebooks. In OneNote, also check the notebook's deleted notes or recycle bin for pages and sections.
