"To sync this notebook, sign in to OneNote."

Anonymous
2020-02-26T18:45:21+00:00

When I open one particular notebook in OneNote 2016, OneNote displays the message:

"To sync this notebook, sign in to OneNote"

and the Shared Notebook Synchronization window shows this error:

"We need the password to sync this notebook. (Error code: 0x803D0005) There was an error communicating with the endpoint at [my OneDrive]; The server returned HTTP status code '401 (0x191)' with text 'Unauthorized'.; The requested resource requires user authentication.; The operation identifier is not valid."

Error code 0x803D0005 means that OneNote is unable to communicate with the OneDrive server where my notebooks are stored, and the reason is HTTP status code 401, which means that OneNote's request to my OneDrive lacks valid authentication credentials - my password. The error message does not reference any Section in particular.

According to File > Account > User Information in OneNote 2016, I am in fact signed in to my Microsoft account. Nevertheless, if I open the affected notebook in OneNote for the web (with the notebook's URL) I can see that recent changes have not synced.

Manually syncing my notebook solves the problem (and I'm not asked to enter my password.) I want to know why this one notebook won't sync automatically - why I must sync it manually?

It's not an issue with OneDrive, since according to Microsoft's Service Status web page OneDrive is up and running.

***************

To anyone who likes to answer by copying URLs for me to read: I have already read and performed the steps in Troubleshoot synchronization errors in OneNote 2016 for Windows and Fix issues when you can't sync OneNote. In addition, please know that my OneNote notebooks are not stored on Sharepoint and no one else collaborates on any of my Notebooks. Also, please know that I have already uninstalled and re-installed OneNote 2016.

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneNote | For home | Windows

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

57 answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2021-02-09T12:59:10+00:00

    What do people think of moving over to EverNote? 

    Does it have on-going persistent bugs?

    I'm an old Microsoft dog, but after years & years & years of me paying Microsoft my money for its buggy software, this old Microsoft dog is looking for new tricks.

    It might be worth moving over since Microsoft abandoned Notes 2016 for a Windows 10 Notes app, intentionally dumbed down.

    And, it might be worth moving to EverNote because, as I understand, Microsoft will end its "support", such as it tis, for Notes 2016 in 2025.

    I do not think Teams is a good option to Notes, because Notes does not spy on me, at least as far as I know.

    Thoughts?

    Go troll somewhere else or start your own thread. This is about a *specific* bug.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2021-02-09T12:39:47+00:00

    What do people think of moving over to EverNote? 

    Does it have on-going persistent bugs?

    I'm an old Microsoft dog, but after years & years & years of me paying Microsoft my money for its buggy software, this old Microsoft dog is looking for new tricks.

    It might be worth moving over since Microsoft abandoned Notes 2016 for a Windows 10 Notes app, intentionally dumbed down.

    And, it might be worth moving to EverNote because, as I understand, Microsoft will end its "support", such as it tis, for Notes 2016 in 2025.

    I do not think Teams is a good option to Notes, because Notes does not spy on me, at least as far as I know.

    Thoughts?

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2021-02-05T11:52:02+00:00

    The "To sync this notebook, sign in to OneNote" error persists despite all Windows and Office updates being applied. I do not experience the error self-clearing at all.

    The error is always displayed against the last notebook that I had open when closing OneNote, even if it is a brand new, empty notebook. This is consistently reproducible, confirming that the error is not a corrupt notebook, but an app bug.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2021-02-02T20:40:10+00:00

    The situation seems to have fixed itself for me, in a way.  Now when I start the software, it still gives me the error message, but it self-clears after about 1 second.

    This is workable.  I suspect that a windows update fixed the problem.  Is anyone else seeing this?

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2021-02-01T15:46:58+00:00

    You would think that with the billions & billions & billions of profits Microsoft just reported, it could fix the issues that it continues to INTENTIONALLY plague its "valued" customers with.

    Alas, No.

    You know, with "customer" service like this, I am not likely to pay money for upgrades, I am not moving to TEAMS, I am not moving over to EDGE and I refuse to adopt any more poorly tested Microsoft products.

    I just don't need this abuse from a vendor of mine.

    In fact, I'm slowly moving over to Apple.

    My observations of corporate history suggests that American companies commit their own genocide, with an underlying them being forsaking the "valued" customer.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments