Office for Mac Issues

How to Fix OneNote for Mac Showing the Author as Office

Steven Parker Oct 21, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users need to resolve an issue where OneNote for Mac incorrectly attributes shared notebook edits to a generic 'Office' author rather than the actual user's name.

How to Fix OneNote for Mac Showing the Author as Office

Product: Microsoft OneNote for Mac
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Collaborating on shared notebooks where identifying the correct editor is essential for teamwork.
Observed behavior: Shared notebook edits display 'Office' as the author instead of showing the correct Microsoft account name or initials.

Before you start

Before making any changes to local folders, ensure all your current OneNote notebooks are fully synchronized to the cloud to prevent any accidental data loss.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear OneNote Preferences from the Library Container

Moving the Microsoft OneNote container folder forces the app to rebuild its cache and preference files, which often resolves display name glitches.

macOS stores application cache and preference files in a hidden Library folder. A corrupted local cache is the most common reason OneNote fails to pull the correct author name from the Microsoft account.

Close OneNote

Ensure Microsoft OneNote is completely closed on your Mac. Right-click the app icon in the Dock and select 'Quit'.

Access the Containers Folder

Open Finder. In the top menu bar, click on 'Go' > 'Go to Folder...' (or press Cmd + Shift + G). Type '~/Library/Containers' and press Enter.

Move the OneNote Folder

Locate the folder named 'Microsoft OneNote' (or 'com.microsoft.onenote.mac'). Drag and drop this folder onto your Desktop. Do not delete it immediately, so you have a backup.

Restart and Test

Reopen OneNote and sign back in. Open your shared notebook and check if the author edits now correctly display your initials instead of 'Office'.

Clear OneNote Preferences from the Library Container

Safe Deletion: If the app works correctly and your notebooks sync without issues, you can safely delete the folder you moved to the Desktop.

Solution 2

Test with a New macOS User Profile

If clearing the container doesn't work, a setting in your macOS user profile might be causing the issue. Creating a new profile helps isolate the problem.

Solution 3

Contact Microsoft 365 Support

If local troubleshooting fails, the issue might be related to tenant-level or server-side synchronization bugs requiring Microsoft support.

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1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the macOS installation package.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does OneNote for Mac show 'Office' instead of my name?

This usually happens due to a corrupted cache or preference file in the macOS Library Containers folder, which prevents OneNote from properly syncing and pulling your Microsoft account profile details.

Will moving the Microsoft OneNote container folder delete my notes?

No, as long as your notes are fully synchronized to OneDrive or SharePoint beforehand. Moving the local folder only resets local app preferences and cache files, which the app will rebuild upon restarting.

How do I manually change my author initials in OneNote for Mac?

Unlike the Windows version where you can manually set initials in the Options menu, OneNote for Mac pulls your name and initials directly from your connected Microsoft account profile online.

What should I do if a new macOS user profile fixes the issue?

If OneNote works flawlessly in a new macOS profile, it confirms your old profile contains corrupted settings. You can either migrate your personal files to the new working profile or contact Apple Support for assistance in repairing your original user account.

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