Microsoft 365 Migration

How to Move OneNote Notebooks from a File Server to SharePoint

Steve K Sep 27, 2026 868 views

Question details

A team needs to migrate local OneNote notebooks from a file server to SharePoint without encountering permission errors or empty notebooks caused by exporting .onepkg files.

How to Move OneNote Notebooks from a File Server to SharePoint

Product: Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Migrating local team notebooks to a cloud-based SharePoint environment for improved collaboration and access.
Observed behavior: Exporting notebooks as .onepkg files and uploading them to SharePoint results in permissions errors or notebooks that open without any content.

Before you start

Ensure you have the OneNote desktop application installed on your computer and that your account has the necessary edit permissions for the destination SharePoint document library.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the OneNote Desktop App to Share and Move the Notebook

The most reliable method to migrate a notebook is to open the local folder-based notebook in the OneNote desktop app and use the built-in Share feature to sync it directly to SharePoint.

SharePoint handles OneNote notebooks differently than a standard file server. Instead of manually copying files or using .onepkg exports (which can cause synchronization and permission failures), the OneNote application itself must handle the conversion and upload process.

Open the local notebook

Launch the OneNote desktop application. Go to File > Open, navigate to your local file server, and open the notebook you wish to migrate.

Access the Share menu

Once the notebook is open and fully loaded, click on 'File' in the top-left ribbon menu and select 'Share' from the sidebar.

Select SharePoint as destination

Choose your organization's SharePoint site or OneDrive for Business from the list of connected services. If it is not listed, click 'Add a Place' to connect your SharePoint account.

Move the notebook

Select the specific Document Library where you want the notebook to live, provide a name for the notebook, and click the 'Move Notebook' button.

Verify the migration

Wait for the synchronization to complete. Log into your SharePoint site via a web browser and open the newly moved notebook to ensure all sections and pages have loaded correctly before deleting the local copy from your file server.

Use the OneNote Desktop App to Share and Move the Notebook

Avoid using .onepkg files: Do not rely on .onepkg files as the primary migration method. Uploading these packages directly to SharePoint bypasses OneNote's folder structure conversion, leading to missing content and corrupted permissions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my exported .onepkg files open without content in SharePoint?

SharePoint handles OneNote files as a specialized folder structure rather than a single file. When you manually upload a .onepkg file, SharePoint does not automatically unpack the internal .one section files correctly, which results in empty notebooks and permission errors.

Can I copy the .one files directly into a SharePoint document library?

No, it is highly discouraged to manually drag and drop .one files or local notebook folders into a SharePoint library via a web browser. Doing so breaks the notebook's internal links and synchronization capabilities. Always use the OneNote app's Share feature.

How do I check if my OneNote notebook migrated successfully?

After the OneNote app finishes moving the notebook, log into your SharePoint site using a web browser. Navigate to the destination library and click on the notebook to open it in OneNote for the Web. If all sections and pages are visible, the migration was successful.

Migration & Recovery