Why Won’t OneNote Sync? How To Make Sure OneNote Syncs?

OneNote is an amazing app for keeping your notes in an orderly fashion. Sync is one of important features of OneNote as it allows users to access the same notes on multiple devices without any hassle. But, sometimes OneNote won’t sync and users are unable to use it on other devices.

In this article I have discussed why won’t OneNote sync and how to fix it.

Also read: How To Recover OneNote Files? – Complete Guide

Why Won’t My OneNote Sync?

Various issues can lead to OneNote not syncing. Here are some potential causes of this issue:

1. Bad internet connection: The first suspect also goes the internet connection. Anything sync related cannot be accomplished without a fast and stable internet connection.
2. Outdated OneNote version: If you are using an outdated version of OneNote, then this issue can arise.
3. Not Enough space: There may not be enough space to continue syncing new files.
4. The server is down: Sometimes the issue can be server related and not of your PC or internet connection.

What To Do When OneNote Notebook Won’t Sync?

Now that you know the various causes of this issue, it is time to troubleshoot it. Follow the troubleshooting procedure given below when your OneNote is not syncing.

Solution 1: Check Your Internet Connection

Before you start on any of the solutions provided below, check whether your internet connection is fast and stable enough to sync properly. To check this, visit any of the websites mentioned here and run their diagnostics.

• Ookla Speedtest
• Fast.com
• AT&T Internet Speed Test

Now, if you find your internet speed is low, then it is likely the reason your OneNote files are not syncing.

Solution 2: Update OneNote To The Latest Version

If your internet is working correctly, then the first thing you need to do is make sure your OneNote version is up to date. If it isn’t, then you will have to update it. Follow the steps given below  to update OneNote:

1. Type Microsoft Store in the Windows Start Menu and select the top result.
2. Select the See more option (3 dots) located on the upper right corner of the screen.
3. Click on the Download and updates option.
4. Select the Get Updates option.

Wait for OneNote to finish updating and check if it is syncing or not.

Solution 3: Check On The Web

One thing that you can do to check whether it is a sync issue with the server or the OneNote app is to check the OneNote web. If you find the synced files after opening OneNote on the web, then it points to the OneNote app not working correctly. If the files don’t appear on the web also, then it hasn’t been synced.

To open OneNote on the web, follow the steps given below:

1. Open OneNote and click on the File option in the upper left corner of the screen.
2. Click on the Info option in the File menu.
3. In the right panel, select the link below your account name and press Ctrl + C to copy it.
4. Open any web browser and paste the link in the address bar. Initiate the search.

If this notebook opens on the web with the synced changes, then the issue is with the Desktop app and not OneNote servers. Now, try reopening the OneNote app and check if the file is still now synced.

Solution 4: Enable Automatic Sync

It is possible that the automatic sync is disabled in OneNote. Enable the automatic sync and check if it fixes this issue. To enable Automatic sync, follow the steps given below:

1. Open OneNote and click on the File option in the upper left corner of the screen.
2. Click on the Info option in the File menu.
3. Select the View Sync Status option. The Shared Notebook Synchronization window will appear.
4. Check the Sync automatically whenever there are changes option and select the Sync All option.

Solution 5: Manually Sync OneNote

If the sync is still not working, then you can try manually syncing it. Manually syncing the file has been reported to fix this issue for many users. To manually sync OneNote files, follow the steps given below:

1. Open OneNote and click on the File option in the upper left corner of the screen.
2. Click on the Info option in the File menu.
3. Select the View Sync Status option. The Shared Notebook Synchronization window will appear.
4. Click on the Sync Now option beside the files to manually sync it.

Solution 6: Check OneNote Storage

If the OneNote storage doesn’t have enough space then this issue can arise. One error that gets triggered in this case is the 0xE00015E0 error code. This code means that either your PC or OneNote doesn’t have enough space to sync.

If this is the case then you can try optimizing the file sizes or even deleting unnecessary backup files. To optimize your files, follow the steps given below:

1. Open OneNote and click on the File option in the upper left corner of the screen.
2. Select the Options from the menu. This will open the OneNote Options window.
3. Click on the Save & Backup option.
4. In the Optimizing files section on the right panel, click on the Optimize All Files Now. This may take some time so be patient.
5. Click on OK after it is done.

To delete unnecessary backup files, follow the steps given below:

1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run utility.
2. Type %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneNote\ in the search box and press Enter.
3. Open the folder that is named after the OneNote version you are currently using, such as 16.0.
4. Double-click on the Backup folder and delete anything inside that you don’t want to save.

Once this is done, check if the OneNote sync issue remains.

Solution 7: Try Another Sync Software

If none of the solutions mentioned here is able to fix this issue for you, then you may want to look for a new syncing software. Here is a list of some of the best sync software available currently that you can check out.

Wrapping Up

So, there you have it. Now you know why won’t OneNote sync and how to fix it. If you have any questions related to this topic, ask them in the comment section below.