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Microsoft 365 Migration

How to Transfer OneNote Notebooks from a School to a Personal Account on Mac

Maira MehtabMaira Mehtab Sep 21, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to preserve their OneNote notebooks before losing access to a school account by migrating them to a personal Microsoft account on a Mac.

Product
Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS
Mac
Scenario
Graduating or leaving a school and needing to retain OneNote data before the school account is deactivated.
Observed behavior
OneNote for Mac does not have a direct Export function, requiring users to find alternative ways to migrate notebooks to a new personal account.
Before you start

Ensure you are signed into both your school Microsoft account and your personal Microsoft account within the OneNote application on your Mac so that both sets of notebooks are accessible.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Copy Section Feature on Mac

Use the built-in 'Copy Section To' feature to move your data, as OneNote for Mac lacks a full notebook export tool.

Because OneNote for Mac does not currently include an Export function, the most reliable method is to manually copy notebook sections from your school account to a newly created notebook on your personal account.

1
Create a new destination notebook

Open OneNote for Mac, ensure you are signed in with your personal Microsoft account, and create a new, empty notebook to act as the destination for your files.

2
Open your school notebook

Sign in or switch to your school account within OneNote and open the notebook you wish to transfer.

3
Copy the section

Right-click (or Control-click) on a section tab in your school notebook and select 'Copy Section To' from the context menu.

4
Select the destination

Choose the new notebook you created under your personal account as the destination and confirm. Repeat this process for each section you want to preserve.

Syncing Time: Depending on the size of your sections, it may take some time for the copied data to fully sync to your personal account's OneDrive. Leave the app open until the sync is complete.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I find the Export button in OneNote for Mac?

The Mac version of OneNote does not currently support the Export functionality found in the Windows desktop version. You must use the 'Copy Section To' method to move your data manually.

Can I move an entire notebook at once on a Mac?

No, because the Export feature is missing, you cannot move a whole notebook at once on macOS. You have to create a new notebook and copy it section by section.

Will I lose my OneNote data when my school account is deactivated?

Yes, once your school account is closed or deactivated, you will lose access to all notebooks stored on its OneDrive. It is highly recommended to copy your important sections to a personal account before graduating or leaving.

Do I need to keep both accounts signed in to transfer sections?

Yes, keeping both your school and personal accounts signed into the OneNote app simultaneously allows you to select the personal notebook as the destination when copying sections across accounts.