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Fix Class Notebook Stuck on Setting Up in Microsoft Teams

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where Class Notebook setup is stalled for specific Microsoft Teams classes, displaying a continuous setup message.

Product: Microsoft Teams
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Setting up a Class Notebook for multiple Microsoft Teams classes.
Observed behavior: The Class Notebook setup completes successfully for some classes, but gets stuck indefinitely on 'We're still setting up your class' for others.

Before you start

Ensure you have a stable internet connection and check the Microsoft 365 admin portal to verify there are no ongoing service degradation issues affecting Microsoft Teams or OneNote.

Solution 1Recommended

Force Sync via the Teams Files Tab

Accessing the Files tab forces the backend SharePoint folder to load, which can often trigger the Class Notebook setup to complete.

Microsoft Teams relies on a connected SharePoint site to store files and notebook data. Sometimes the backend provisioning gets paused. Manually opening the files directory can jumpstart the stalled connection.

Navigate to the affected Team

Open Microsoft Teams and click on the specific class Team where the notebook is stuck.

Open the General channel

Select the 'General' channel from the left sidebar of the Team.

Access the Files tab

Click on the 'Files' tab at the top of the channel and wait a few moments until the file directory is completely loaded.

Check the Class Notebook

Return to the 'Class Notebook' tab to see if the setup message clears and the notebook loads.

Solution 2

Access the Notebook through Outlook on the Web

Bypassing the Teams interface and accessing the underlying Microsoft 365 group via Outlook Web can help initialize the notebook directly.

Solution 3

Open a Microsoft Support Ticket

If manual workarounds fail, the issue may require backend intervention directly from Microsoft support.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Class Notebook take so long to set up?

Class Notebook setups can stall due to synchronization issues between Microsoft Teams and the backend SharePoint servers. Occasional high server loads or service degradations on Microsoft 365 can also cause provisioning delays.

Will I lose student data if the Class Notebook setup is stuck?

No, if the setup is stuck on 'We're still setting up your class', it means the notebook structure simply hasn't been provisioned yet. Because the notebook hasn't fully generated, there is no existing student data in it to lose.

Can a student fix a stuck Class Notebook?

No, only the class owner (usually the teacher or educator) or an IT administrator has the permissions required to troubleshoot and trigger the provisioning of a Class Notebook in Microsoft Teams.

How long should I wait before assuming the setup is permanently stuck?

Normally, a Class Notebook provisions in a few minutes to an hour. If it remains stuck on the setup screen for more than 24 hours, it is likely stalled, and you should proceed with troubleshooting steps or contact your IT administrator.

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