"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
    2020-12-12T18:25:41+00:00

    I also have had this problem for several months now.

    Everyday I open OneNote and the error is displayed that I need to sign in to sync onenote.  I click that, and after a couple seconds the error goes away.  But every time I close then reopen OneNote same thing pops up...

    I have verified I am signed in to all my accounts and no other applications, websites, tools gives any errors.

    I have been a heavy user of OneNote for probably 10 years so I have numerous large notebooks which is a whole nother headache I have from time to time...  This one isn't a huge deal I just click it and it disappears... but it is a little weird why it is happening.

    Terry

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-12-12T18:36:42+00:00

    I also have had this problem for several months now.

    Everyday I open OneNote and the error is displayed that I need to sign in to sync onenote.  I click that, and after a couple seconds the error goes away.  But every time I close then reopen OneNote same thing pops up...

    I have verified I am signed in to all my accounts and no other applications, websites, tools gives any errors.

    I have been a heavy user of OneNote for probably 10 years so I have numerous large notebooks which is a whole nother headache I have from time to time...  This one isn't a huge deal I just click it and it disappears... but it is a little weird why it is happening.

    Terry

    Exactly my experience.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-12-24T14:41:07+00:00

    Deleting the cache only worked for me one time.  The next day when I restarted OneNote, I still got the "To sync this notebook, sign in to OneNote" message.

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-12-27T13:59:59+00:00

    Same problem for me. Deleting cache actually made it worst. Just lost a bunch of notes, unable to re-open the notebook. 

    Interestingly, when I right-click the notebook and select 'Notebook Sync Status...', I am showing the following error message for the problematic notebooks - "We need the password to sync this notebook. (Error code: 0x52E)" and the date to the right of the message is 01/01/1980....

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  5. Anonymous
    2021-01-04T14:49:20+00:00

    I have just formatted my PC and installed a Fresh New Windows 10 Pro ver 20H2 and just downloaded the Office 365 and still the same problem...

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