How to Recover Unsynchronized OneNote Data and BIN Files
Question details
The user needs to recover unsynchronized OneNote notebooks that appear as large .bin files after moving a hard drive and running out of cloud storage.
- Product
- Microsoft OneNote
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Attempting to retrieve years of missing OneNote data after replacing a hard drive and exhausting OneDrive cloud storage space.
- Observed behavior
- Recent unsynchronized OneNote data is inaccessible and stored locally as large .bin files, with the accessible notebook missing information from the last three years.
Ensure you copy and back up your current OneNote cache folder to a safe location before clearing it or running troubleshooting commands, as this prevents permanent data loss.
Restore from Local Backups and Deleted Notes
Use this method to check OneNote's default local backup directories and built-in deleted notes feature to recover missing pages.
OneNote automatically creates local backups of your notebooks on Windows. If your OneDrive storage ran out, the most recent versions of your notes might still be saved in these local backup folders or the Deleted Notes section.
Sign in to OneDrive online and manually check folders such as 'Documents' and 'Notebooks' to see if any missing sections were successfully synced before storage ran out.
Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog. Enter '%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneNote\16.0\Backup' or '%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneNote\version\Backup' and look for files matching your missing notebook sections.
Open the notebook in the OneNote desktop app, click on the 'View' tab, and select 'Deleted Notes'. If you find the missing pages here, right-click them, choose 'Restore To', and select your destination section.
Clear Cache and Launch in Safeboot Mode
Use this method on your old computer if the backup locations have changed or if the cache files (.bin) are causing OneNote to freeze or fail to load.
Try WPS Office for Reliable Document Management
While troubleshooting complex cloud syncing issues in Microsoft Office can be frustrating, WPS Office offers a stable, lightweight, and free alternative. It provides built-in auto-backup and seamless cloud synchronization to ensure your documents, spreadsheets, and presentations are never lost.
- 1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS Office website to download the free suite and install it on your device.
- 2. Sign In for Cloud Sync: Create or sign in to your WPS account to activate free cloud storage and seamless auto-backup features.
- 3. Open Your Files: Directly open your existing Office documents; WPS Office perfectly supports standard Microsoft formats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does OneNote store local backup files?
By default on Windows, OneNote stores its local backup files in the directory '%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneNote\16.0\Backup'. The '16.0' folder may vary depending on your version of Office.
Can I open OneNote .bin files directly?
No, .bin files are raw cache files used by OneNote's synchronization engine. You cannot open them directly by double-clicking. They must be read by the OneNote application itself, often requiring you to run OneNote in safeboot mode to salvage the data.
Why did my OneNote stop synchronizing?
OneNote synchronization typically fails when your associated OneDrive cloud storage is full, the notebook file exceeds size limits, or there are permission errors accessing the cloud folder.
