"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

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-04-23T17:25:46+00:00

    I had the same problem described by BullDogXX above and deleting the cache folder seems to have fixed it for me. Thanks.

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-12-11T14:00:19+00:00

    This "To sync this notebook, sign in to OneNote" error is very persistent, but I have found an unusual pattern.

    When multiple NEW notebooks are created, the warning is always displayed against the last notebook that was selected (had "focus"), when OneNote is re-opened. I suggest this proves that it is not caused by a corrupt notebook file, but something else.

    Clearing the cache and credentials numerous times has not solved this.

    Reinstalling Windows 10 and O365 has not solved this either.

    To reproduce:

    • create four new notebooks with some simple text
    • select new notebook 2
    • restart OneNote - note that the warning is displayed against notebook 2
    • select new notebook 3
    • restart OneNote - note that the warning is displayed against notebook 3
    • select new notebook 1
    • restart OneNote - note that the warning is displayed against notebook 1
    • select new notebook 4
    • restart OneNote - note that the warning is displayed against notebook 4

    This behaviour pattern has proven consistent over weeks of testing.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-03-13T14:43:46+00:00

    Clark Wang MSFT's answer at https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/onenote-always-asks-to-sign-in/ worked for me. I did both steps, so not sure if only one was necessary.

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-02-27T01:15:17+00:00

    Hi BulldogXX,

    Thanks for reaching out. I hope you're having a great day, despite the issues you're experiencing with OneNote. Let's try to address your concern.

    It seems that the issue only occurs on a specific notebook. Have you tried recreating/copying the contents of the notebook to a new notebook? This would let us cross out the possibility of a corrupted notebook. This is besides the fact that the issue is not occurring when doing a manual sync of the notebook in question, which is also rather unusual.

    Seeing that you have exhausted all possible troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue. We also highly recommend that you take advantage of your Office 365 subscription. Our representatives have the option of doing a remote session on your device in order to do more advanced troubleshooting to resolve the said sync issue. Click here to get in touch with them.

    Should you have any other concern, don't hesitate to post back in the Community.

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-07-26T11:43:18+00:00

    THIS is just another one of Microsoft's excrement replies. 

    I know more than their "support" staff because Microsoft forces me to have a core competence in the products that it sells me for my hard-earned money.

    Microsoft is legally able to misrepresent its products pre-sale and it is legally able to inflict its known faulty software upon the public.

    On the other hand, if I did to Sataya what he does to me then the federales would fine me into bankruptcy, strip me of my licenses and throw me into prison, even if I did not INTENTIONALLY intend to wrong people.

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