Office Settings & Configuration

Where Does OneNote Store Custom Tag Settings?

Tauseeq Magsi Sep 28, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to locate the local storage directory for custom tag definitions in Microsoft OneNote to understand how they are saved or to attempt a manual transfer.

Where Does Microsoft OneNote Store Custom Tag Settings?

Product: Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Attempting to locate, back up, or transfer custom tag definitions because they do not synchronize automatically across multiple computers.
Observed behavior: OneNote successfully syncs tags that are already applied to specific notes, but the custom tag definitions themselves remain stored locally and do not automatically sync to the user's other devices.

Before you start

Before modifying, copying, or interacting with any local application data files, ensure that Microsoft OneNote is completely closed to prevent file corruption or synchronization conflicts.

Solution 1Recommended

Locate the Preferences.dat File via File Explorer

Find the local configuration file where OneNote stores your custom tag definitions.

Microsoft OneNote stores custom tag definitions locally in a configuration file named Preferences.dat. Because this file contains other general user preferences and application configurations, manually copying it to another computer to transfer custom tags is risky and may overwrite important local settings with unintended consequences.

Open File Explorer

Press the Windows Key + E on your keyboard to launch File Explorer.

Navigate to the AppData Folder

Click on the address bar at the top of the File Explorer window, type %appdata%\Microsoft\OneNote\16.0\ (or manually navigate to C:\Users\<your_username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\OneNote\16.0\), and press Enter.

Locate the Configuration File

Look for the file named Preferences.dat in this folder. This is the file containing your custom tag definitions.

Locate the Preferences.dat File via File Explorer

Synchronization Limitation: Microsoft does not currently provide automatic cloud synchronization for custom tag definitions. Only the tags that are actively applied to notebook pages will be visible across your synchronized devices.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will my custom tags sync if I log into OneNote on another computer?

No, custom tag definitions are stored locally in the Preferences.dat file on the original computer. While tags applied to specific notebook pages will appear in the notes, the custom definitions will not automatically populate your tags menu on a new device.

Can I copy Preferences.dat to another PC to transfer my tags?

While it is technically possible, it is highly discouraged. The Preferences.dat file contains numerous other local OneNote settings. Replacing it on another computer might overwrite important configuration data or cause unexpected software behavior.

Why do I see custom tags on my notes but not in the tags menu?

Tags applied directly to your notebook pages synchronize as part of the notebook content itself. However, the custom definition that places the tag in the application's drop-down menu is stored locally, which is why it doesn't appear in the menu on other devices.

Does this storage location apply to OneNote for Windows 10?

No, the path C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\OneNote\16.0\ specifically applies to the OneNote desktop application (formerly known as OneNote 2016). OneNote for Windows 10 (the UWP application) handles local settings and syncing differently.

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