Password Reset for a Tab Note in OneNote - Password Protected section

I noticed my subsection passcode no longer will work but not due to a lost or forgotten passcode. I've had the same passcode on the subsection of my OneNote for over a year, and just yesterday started to get an error that the password is incorrect. I did not change the passcode, and I had the same passcode for two subsections, neither of which will work now. Has there been an update that may have impacted my ability to access these OneNote sections?

Dear @Kym-Maree

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum.

I’m really sorry you’re locked out of your “Quick Notes” section. I understand you’re trying to access your “Quick Notes” section in OneNote but have forgotten the password and want to know if it can be reset or removed

OneNote uses strong encryption to protect password-locked sections. This means the content is mathematically secured so that only the person who set the password can unlock it. Even Microsoft engineers and technical support do not have a “master key” or backdoor to bypass this protection.

This design is intentional to keep your private information truly private. If anyone including Microsoft, could override the password, it would weaken security and put sensitive data at risk. By ensuring that only you hold the key, your notes remain safe from unauthorized access.

For reference: Protect your notes with a password - Microsoft Support

What you can try right now

1/ Try to recover the password you used

• Check any password managers (e.g., Microsoft Authenticator/Browser “Saved Passwords”, etc.) where you might have saved it.
• Think of common patterns you use (favorite phrases, dates, or variations you use elsewhere).
• See if the section is unlocked on another device (e.g., a laptop or phone you used recently). If it’s open there, you can export/copy content or remove protection while it’s unlocked.

2/ Restore from a backup (if the section was accessible earlier)

• If your notebook is stored in OneDrive or SharePoint, you may be able to restore an earlier version of the section file before password protection was applied:
  • Go to OneDrive/SharePoint on the web, locate the notebook folder, right‑click the section (.one) file for “Quick Notes,” choose Version history, and restore an earlier version.
  • If the notebook is local on your PC, check File History, other backup tools, or previous copies you may have saved.

Note: Restoring a prior version will only help if there’s a copy from before the password was set (or from a time when you still knew the password).

3/ Moving forward (in order to this doesn’t happen again)

• Consider keeping critical sections without password protection and using device sign‑in or disk encryption (BitLocker) for security, or
• If you need section passwords, store them in a reputable password manager so you can recover them later.

If you recover the password and want to remove protection

Once you know the password, you can remove it:

• Windows/OneNote desktop: Right‑click the protected section tab > Password Protection > Remove Password.
• Mobile apps: Open the section > ⋯ (menu) > Section Password > Remove Password.

I understand this isn’t the quick reset you hoped for, and I’m here to help you explore every safe path to get your notes back. Please reply with any details you have, and we’ll take the next best step together

Please understand that our initial response does not always resolve the issue immediately. However, with your help and more detailed information, we can work together to find a solution.

I truly appreciate your patience and understanding. If you have any further questions or need further clarification, please feel free to reach out. I'm looking forward to hearing from you. 

Thank you for your cooperation.

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If you have OneNote on your phone or another device that lets you open locked notes via biometrics, you can try opening the locked note that way. You won't be able to remove the lock or change the password without the old password, but from there you can move pages into another section.