"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.

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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

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  1. Anonymous
    2021-03-16T00:59:32+00:00

    Hi, i had this similar problem.  I found this reddit thread that seemed to help some people fix the problem: https://www.reddit.com/r/OneNote/comments/iab0x3/fix\_to\_sync\_this\_notebook\_sign\_in\_to\_onenote/

    For me, I was having this problem with both my Macbook and PC device. I finally got it wo work. First, I logged out of my account on both devices. I then closed OneNote on both devices. Make sure you close all the notebooks that you previously had open on Onenote. I then logged into Onenote through onedrive. I found the notebook that was having the syncing problem. I would create a new textbox with some random words. This has to be done through the website version of onenote found through onedrive.

    Then, I would open Onenote on my device (either PC or Mac first) and login to my account. On the website version of OneNote, you can open that notebook through the website. It prompts you to allow your browser to open OneNote on your device. Allow it and the notebook you selected should open on your OneNote application on your device. The sync problem should disappear now. 

    I hope this works for you guys! Took me a very long time to fix it, and I hope it works for you.

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-04-08T21:29:03+00:00

    Copying to a new Notebook is not acceptable. This is a Microsoft BUG so please fix it. I have deleted the cache and the credentials numerous times and yet the problem keeps coming back within an hour or a day. This does not happen on other M365 products - only OneNote!

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  3. Anonymous
    2021-04-08T21:31:25+00:00

    Amen to that...MSFT needs to actually look into this and FIX it!!!

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  4. Anonymous
    2021-04-09T00:33:11+00:00

    Agreed!  PLEASE FIX THIS PROBLEM.

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  5. Anonymous
    2021-04-09T16:27:34+00:00

    No one at all seems to have responded to your post.  Has the issue returned for you? I much prefer the full OneNote 2016 to the desktop app but the sync notification is infuriating.  Its like owning a ferrari but you have to put air in the tires everytime you want to drive it, which is several times a day.

    Thx

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