How to Migrate OneNote Staff Notebooks Between Microsoft 365 Tenants
Question details
The user needs to migrate a Microsoft Teams staff notebook (OneNote) from one Microsoft 365 tenant to a destination tenant.
- Product
- Microsoft 365 (OneNote, Teams, SharePoint)
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Moving an existing Staff Notebook across Microsoft 365 tenants during an organizational migration or consolidation.
- Observed behavior
- Exported OneNote packages (.onepkg) do not automatically associate with the destination Team, SharePoint site, or business account, requiring a complex manual workaround.
Ensure you have the desktop version of OneNote for Office installed (not just the Windows 10 app) to handle .onepkg files, and verify you have adequate SharePoint and OneNote permissions on both the source and destination tenants.
Export and Import the Notebook Manually using .onepkg Files
Use OneNote for Office to export the entire notebook and manually upload it to the destination tenant's SharePoint site.
Migrating a Teams staff notebook directly between Microsoft 365 tenants is not natively supported. To accomplish this, you must export the notebook as a package and manually recreate its association in the destination tenant.
Open the original Staff Notebook in the OneNote for Office desktop application using your business account. Navigate to 'File' > 'Export', select 'Notebook', choose the 'OneNote Package (*.onepkg)' format, and click 'Export' to save it locally.
Sign in to the destination tenant. Extract or unpack the saved .onepkg file into the Site Assets library of the SharePoint site connected to the destination Team.
In Microsoft Teams, navigate to the target channel. Obtain the file link for the newly uploaded OneNote file from SharePoint, and add it to the channel using the Website app tab or the OneNote tab.
Looking for a Simpler Document Collaboration Platform?
While migrating OneNote notebooks between Microsoft 365 tenants can be complex and tedious, WPS Office offers a lightweight, free alternative for creating, sharing, and collaborating on documents without the hassle of complicated tenant migrations.
- 1. Download and Install WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free software for your device.
- 2. Open Your Office Documents: Seamlessly open, view, and edit any existing Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files without losing formatting.
- 3. Collaborate in the Cloud: Use WPS Cloud to share documents easily with your team, bypassing complex tenant permissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I automatically merge an exported OneNote package with an existing Team notebook?
No, an imported .onepkg file does not merge automatically with a notebook already created for a Team. You must manually copy sections or link to the newly uploaded notebook alongside the existing one.
Why can't I export the notebook using my business account online?
Exporting an entire notebook as a .onepkg file is only supported through the desktop version of OneNote for Office. The web interface and Windows 10 app versions lack the capability to export entire packages for business accounts.
How do I make the migrated notebook visible in a Microsoft Teams channel?
Once the notebook is unpacked in the destination SharePoint Site Assets library, obtain the direct OneNote file link. You can then add it to the Teams channel by clicking the '+' icon to add a tab and selecting either the Website app or the OneNote app.
