Office Settings & Configuration

Fix OneNote Custom Tags Disappearing After Sync

Bushra Parveen Oct 1, 2026 868 views

Question details

User's custom tags disappear from the My Tags list after closing or synchronizing the OneNote application.

Fix OneNote Custom Tags Disappearing After Synchronization

Product: Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Creating custom tags for notes and subsequently syncing or restarting the application.
Observed behavior: Custom tags can be temporarily added and applied to notes, but they vanish from the My Tags menu after closing OneNote or completing a sync, even though the assigned tags remain on the notes themselves.

Before you start

Ensure you have a stable internet connection and verify if the synchronization failure is only affecting custom tags or your entire notebook.

Solution 1Recommended

Test Alternative Network Connections

Switching your network can help determine if restrictive firewalls or poor connectivity are blocking the synchronization of application settings.

Network-specific restrictions or unstable connections can sometimes prevent background preferences, such as custom tag lists, from syncing properly to the cloud.

Change Network

Disconnect from your current network and connect to an alternative one, such as a wired Ethernet connection, a different Wi-Fi network, or a mobile hotspot.

Force Manual Sync

Open OneNote, right-click on your notebook name in the sidebar, and select 'Sync This Notebook Now' to test if the connection allows full synchronization.

Solution 2

Add Tags via OneNote for the Web

Creating the tags directly in the web version can force the cloud server to save the tags and push them down to your desktop app.

Solution 3

Contact Support and Avoid DNS Changes

If standard troubleshooting fails, the issue may be a backend profile error requiring official support intervention.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do assigned tags stay on my notes but disappear from the My Tags list?

OneNote successfully saves the tag data within the page content itself, but the separate application preferences file that stores your specific 'My Tags' custom list fails to sync to the cloud or save locally upon closing.

Should I change my DNS settings to fix OneNote synchronization issues?

No, it is not recommended to alter DNS settings unless specifically directed by an IT administrator or Microsoft Support, as it usually does not resolve profile-specific sync issues and might cause other connectivity problems.

Does repairing the OneNote app restore missing custom tags?

Repairing the application through your Windows Settings can resolve corrupted local preference files causing the sync issue. However, it will not restore tags that were never successfully uploaded to the cloud prior to the error.

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