Office Settings & Configuration

How to Close Multiple OneNote Notebooks at Once

Tauseeq Magsi Oct 16, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is looking for a way to close multiple open notebooks simultaneously to save time when managing numerous files.

How to Close Multiple OneNote Notebooks at Once

Product: Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Managing a cluttered workspace with numerous open notebooks in OneNote for Desktop.
Observed behavior: OneNote for Desktop lacks a dedicated command to close all or multiple open notebooks at once, requiring users to close them one by one.

Before you start

Before closing any notebooks or signing out of your account, ensure that all your recent notes are fully synced to OneDrive or SharePoint to prevent accidental data loss.

Solution 1Recommended

Close Notebooks Individually via the Navigation Pane

Since OneNote does not feature a native 'Close All' button, the standard approach is to manually close notebooks one by one from the navigation pane.

While this method can be time-consuming if you have dozens of notebooks open, it is the safest official way to ensure that each notebook syncs completely before being removed from your desktop view.

Open the Notebook Dropdown

Click on the current notebook's name in the top-left corner of the OneNote window to reveal the list of all open notebooks.

Right-click the Notebook

Locate the specific notebook you wish to close and right-click on its name.

Select Close This Notebook

Click 'Close This Notebook' from the context menu. Repeat this process for each notebook you want to remove from your view.

Close Notebooks Individually via the Navigation Pane

Notebook Data Remains Safe: Closing a notebook does not delete it. The notebook remains securely saved in your OneDrive or local storage and can be reopened at any time.

Solution 2

Sign Out to Close All Account-Linked Notebooks

Signing out of your Microsoft account in OneNote forces all notebooks associated with that account to close simultaneously.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will closing a OneNote notebook delete it permanently?

No, closing a notebook simply removes it from your active workspace in the OneNote desktop app. The actual files remain safely stored in your OneDrive, SharePoint, or local drive, depending on where they were originally saved.

Is there a keyboard shortcut to close a notebook in OneNote?

Currently, OneNote does not provide a direct keyboard shortcut to close a notebook. You must manually right-click the notebook name in the navigation pane and select 'Close This Notebook'.

How do I reopen a closed notebook in OneNote?

You can easily reopen a notebook by clicking File > Open in the OneNote app and selecting the notebook from your 'Recent' list. Alternatively, you can log into OneDrive on your web browser, locate the notebook, and select 'Open in Desktop App'.

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