Deleted File Recovery

How to Recover an Unsaved OneNote Transcribe Recording

Maira Mehtab Sep 27, 2026 871 views

Question details

The user needs to locate and recover an audio recording from OneNote Transcribe that failed to upload and returned a file-recovery error.

Product: Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to retrieve an audio file after a OneNote Transcribe session failed to upload to the cloud.
Observed behavior: The transcription recording fails to upload, displays a file-recovery error, and the user is unable to locate the cached audio file locally.

Before you start

Before proceeding, do not clear your browser cache, temporary internet files, or system temp folders, as the unsaved audio file might still reside in a local directory.

Solution 1Recommended

Check Local OneNote Cache Locations

Search your computer's temporary and cache folders to see if the unuploaded audio file was saved locally.

When an upload fails, the audio file may remain in the system's temporary application data folders before being cleared.

Open File Explorer

Press Windows Key + E to open File Explorer, and ensure you have enabled the option to view hidden files and folders.

Navigate to the OneNote Cache

Go to the local AppData directory (typically C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneNote\16.0\cache) to look for recent files.

Identify Audio Files

Sort the folder contents by 'Date modified' and look for media or audio formats (like .wav or .mp4) that match the time of your meeting.

Copy the File

If you find a matching audio file, copy it to a safe location such as your Desktop before attempting to play or upload it again.

Solution 2

Escalate to Your IT Administrator or Microsoft Support

If the local cache does not contain the recording, the issue must be escalated as a potential data-loss bug through official support channels.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my OneNote Transcribe recording fail to upload?

Upload failures in OneNote Transcribe are usually caused by unstable internet connections, server-side service interruptions, or insufficient OneDrive storage space during the saving process.

Where are OneNote cache files typically stored on Windows?

On Windows, OneNote cache files are usually hidden and located in the AppData folder, specifically under C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneNote.

Can I recover a OneNote recording if the cache folder is completely empty?

If the local cache folder is empty, the audio file is likely unrecoverable. It is highly recommended to report this as a data-loss bug to Microsoft Support via your IT administrator.

Does closing OneNote delete the unuploaded transcription?

Closing the OneNote application while an upload is still pending or has failed can sometimes clear the temporary cache, leading to the permanent loss of the unuploaded transcription audio.