How to Safely Reduce Excessive BIN Files in the OneNote Cache Folder
Question details
The user needs to reduce the amount of local disk space consumed by the excessive BIN cache files generated by Microsoft OneNote without risking data corruption.
- Product
- Microsoft OneNote
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Managing local storage space when using multiple large OneNote notebooks connected to SharePoint or OneDrive for daily tasks.
- Observed behavior
- OneNote generates an ever-growing number of BIN files in the cache folder to ensure offline availability, which rapidly consumes local hard drive space.
Before attempting to clear or manage any cache files, verify that all your open OneNote notebooks have completely synchronized with OneDrive or SharePoint to prevent irreversible data loss.
Safely Close Unused Notebooks and Optimize Content
The safest and most effective way to reduce cache size is to close notebooks you do not actively use and minimize large attachments.
BIN files are automatically created by OneNote for open notebooks to guarantee that your notes are accessible offline. Manually deleting these files directly from the cache folder is highly discouraged, as it can lead to synchronization errors and permanent data loss.
Open Microsoft OneNote and review your list of open notebooks in the navigation pane. Right-click on any notebook you do not need daily access to and select 'Close This Notebook'.
Review your remaining active notebooks and remove or compress oversized images, large file attachments, and heavy PDF printouts that unnecessarily bloat the cache.
Close and restart OneNote to allow the application to naturally clear the unused cache associated with the closed notebooks.
Create a New Windows Profile for Persistent Issues
If BIN files continue to multiply abnormally even after closing unused notebooks, your current Windows user profile might be corrupted.
Escalate to Microsoft 365 Administrator Support
If the issue cannot be resolved locally and cache files aggressively multiply, you may need to escalate the problem for log analysis.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I manually delete BIN files from the OneNote cache folder?
It is strongly advised not to manually delete BIN files unless you have confirmed that all notebooks are 100% synchronized with the cloud. Deleting them carelessly can corrupt your notebooks and cause permanent data loss.
Why does OneNote create so many BIN files on my computer?
OneNote generates BIN files for all currently open notebooks to cache their content locally. This mechanism ensures that you can smoothly view and edit your notes even when you are disconnected from the internet.
Do notebooks saved on SharePoint still create local BIN files?
Yes. OneNote creates local BIN cache files for any open notebook to ensure offline availability and rapid access, regardless of whether the notebook is stored on SharePoint, OneDrive, or a local network drive.
How can I prevent OneNote from using too much disk space?
You can manage your disk space by routinely closing notebooks you don't frequently use, avoiding large file attachments like uncompressed PDFs or high-resolution images, and splitting excessively large notebooks into multiple smaller ones.
