OneNote can't load notebooks (desktop and browser)

Tristan 0 Reputation points
2025-12-08T14:21:18.08+00:00

I can't remember how but approximately since three months my onenote is messed up. I have my notebooks synced (and stored) on my onedrive. The issue is that I can only load few sections of the notebooks (3/22 in total) both in browser and on my desktop. On my desktop (macos) and phone (ios) it states "This section isn't available yet. It was added from another device. You'll be able to use it when that device syncs." on the browser it states "We're Sorry Something went wrong and we couldn't load this content. Refreshing the browser may fix the problem." I guess it is somehow a syncing problem and my notebook sections are corrupted. Is there a way to kill all the processes or someone with a related issue? Many thanks

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneNote | Other | MacOS
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  1. AI answer

    2025-12-08T14:21:29.14+00:00

    It seems you are experiencing syncing issues with your OneNote notebooks. The error messages you are encountering indicate that the sections have not yet synced properly across devices. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue:

    1. Check Your Internet Connection: Ensure that your devices are connected to the internet, as syncing requires an active connection.
    2. Verify Account Authentication: Make sure you are signed into your OneNote account on all devices. If you are not authenticated, you may not be able to access all content.
    3. Check Sync Status: Look for the sync status icon in OneNote. If it indicates that syncing is in progress, give it some time to complete. If it shows an error, you may need to force a sync.
    4. Access from Another Device: Try accessing your notebooks from a different device to see if the content is available there. This can help determine if the issue is device-specific.
    5. Restore Content: If sections are missing, check if they can be restored from OneDrive or SharePoint Online. Follow the steps to restore your OneDrive content if necessary.
    6. Patience with Syncing: Sometimes, syncing can take time, especially if there are large sections or poor network conditions. It may resolve itself after some time.

    If these steps do not resolve the issue, consider reaching out to Microsoft Support for further assistance.


    References:

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  2. Harold Milan 17,595 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-12-08T14:57:38.7633333+00:00

    Hi,

    Your OneNote sections aren’t loading because they were never fully synced to OneDrive. The missing sections exist only on the original device that created them, and OneNote is waiting for that device to upload them. If that device is gone and the files aren’t in OneDrive, those sections are likely unrecoverable.

    The real fix: Force sync from the original device or rebuild the notebook from OneDrive files. Clearing cache or reinstalling apps won’t restore sections that were never uploaded.

     

    Let  me know how it goes, Happy to help!

     

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