How to Fix OneNote and Office Apps Crashing or Working Only Offline on iPad
Question details
The user is looking for solutions to fix OneNote being stuck loading over Wi-Fi and Word/Excel crashing when trying to open OneDrive files on an iPad.
- Product
- Microsoft Office (OneNote, Word, Excel)
- Device & OS
- iPad (iOS 14.5.1)
- Scenario
- Attempting to open, sync, or edit OneDrive files and notebooks using Microsoft Office apps on an iPad connected to Wi-Fi.
- Observed behavior
- OneNote gets stuck loading indefinitely over Wi-Fi, while Word and Excel crash entirely when trying to open documents from OneDrive. The apps seemingly only function in offline mode, leaving recent work unsynchronized.
Before resetting or uninstalling any applications, manually back up your unsynchronized notes by copying the text into Apple Notes or taking screenshots to prevent permanent data loss.
Reset OneNote via iPad Settings
Clear app data and login credentials to resolve synchronization loops and crashing issues on your iPad.
Resetting the app forces OneNote to clear its local cache and authentication tokens. This process will not delete notebooks stored safely in OneDrive, but it will erase local changes that haven't been synced.
Navigate to the home screen of your iPad and tap on the 'Settings' app.
Scroll down the left-hand panel until you find 'OneNote' and tap on it.
Under the OneNote settings, tap on 'Reset OneNote'.
Toggle on both 'Delete All Notebooks' and 'Delete Login Credentials'.
Force close the OneNote app if it is running in the background. Reopen OneNote, sign in with your Microsoft account credentials, and allow the notebooks to sync over Wi-Fi.
Export and Re-upload the Notebook Using a PC
Use the desktop version of OneNote to clone and replace a corrupted notebook that refuses to load on the iPad.
Reinstall Problematic Office Apps
Uninstall and reinstall Word, Excel, and OneNote to ensure you have a clean installation without corrupted cache files.
Try WPS Office for iPad as a Reliable Alternative
If Microsoft Office apps continue to crash or fail to open files on your iPad, WPS Office provides a highly stable, lightweight alternative. It supports viewing, editing, and saving documents directly from your preferred cloud storage, ensuring your work is never interrupted by app crashes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Word and Excel crash on my iPad when opening OneDrive files?
This typically occurs due to corrupted local cache files, outdated application versions, or an interrupted authentication token between the app and OneDrive servers. Resetting the app credentials or reinstalling the applications usually clears the corrupted data.
How do I save my OneNote work if it won't sync on my iPad?
If your OneNote app is stuck loading and won't sync, do not uninstall or reset the app immediately. You should manually copy the text into another local app like Apple Notes, or take screenshots of your handwritten notes to ensure you do not lose your recent changes.
Can I access my OneDrive files using a different app on iPad?
Yes, you can access your OneDrive files using alternative productivity suites like WPS Office. You simply need to link your OneDrive account inside the WPS Office app, allowing you to open, edit, and save Word and Excel documents seamlessly without using the Microsoft apps.
