How to sync my one note with two ms email logins

Debbie Eckmier 0 Reputation points
2026-04-01T17:34:55.5633333+00:00

I have 2 ms logins. For a long time one note combined them somehow. However since you updated I can’t get all my OneNote files in my one note using two different emails. I don’t want to lose access to the files in either account. But today it seems that I may be wiping out my one email’s history

please help!!!

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

    2026-04-01T17:35:08.6266667+00:00

    To see and sync OneNote content from two different Microsoft email accounts without losing anything, use OneNote’s built‑in multi‑account support and avoid deleting or renaming either account until all notebooks are visible and synced.

    1. Add both accounts in OneNote (Windows 10 app)
      1. Open OneNote for Windows 10 on the desktop.
      2. Select Settings and More (top right) > Settings.
      3. Select Accounts.
      4. Select + Add account.
      5. Choose the correct type for each:
        • Microsoft account for personal Outlook.com/Hotmail/Live.com.
        • Work or school account for organizational accounts.
      6. Sign in with the first email and complete the prompts.
      7. Repeat + Add account and sign in with the second email.
      After both are added, OneNote can open notebooks from both accounts side by side.
    2. Open notebooks from each account
      • Once signed into both accounts, use More Notebooks in the notebook list and choose notebooks from each account’s OneDrive/SharePoint.
      • Ensure each notebook opens and shows a green sync icon (no error) so content is safely stored in the correct account.
    3. If OneNote asks “Which account do you want to use?”
      • This means there is both a Work or school account and a Personal account using the same email address.
      • To reduce confusion (optional, not required for sync):
        • Go to Manage how you sign in for the personal Microsoft account and set a different alias as the primary sign‑in address. This avoids the repeated “Which account” prompt but does not move or delete any OneNote data.
    4. Avoid data loss
      • Do not delete either Microsoft account.
      • Do not close an account or remove an alias until all notebooks from that account are visible and fully synced in OneNote.
      • If unsure which account a notebook belongs to, check the account shown under Settings > Accounts while that notebook is open.

    If a specific notebook still does not appear after adding both accounts, open a browser, sign into each account’s OneDrive separately, and confirm which notebooks exist under each account. Then return to OneNote and use More Notebooks to open them from the correct account.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  2. Katerina-N 9,290 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-04-01T18:52:26.66+00:00

    Hello Debbie Eckmier,

    I completely understand why this feels stressful, it can really look like your notes are disappearing. But please don’t worry, in most cases like this, your data is still safe.

    Based on your description, it seems that Microsoft OneNote is only showing notebooks from the account that is currently signed in. Your other notebooks are likely still there, just not opened right now.

    Let’s go step by step to bring everything back:

    Step 1: Check which account is currently active

    1. Open OneNote
    2. Tap or click your profile icon (usually at the top right) 
    3. You will see the email account currently signed in
    4. Confirm if this is the account where you are missing notebooks

    Step 2: Add your second Microsoft account

    1. In OneNote, go to Settings
    2. Select Accounts 
    3. Choose Add account
    4. Enter your second Microsoft email and password
    5. Wait until the account is successfully added

    After this step, both accounts should appear in your account list.

    Step 3: Open notebooks from the second account 

    1. Go back to the main screen (Notebook list) 
    2. Tap or click “More Notebooks” or “Open”
    3. If asked, choose the second account
    4. You will see a list of notebooks stored under that account
    5. Select each notebook you want → click Open 

    Important: Notebooks do NOT appear automatically — you must open them manually once. 

    Step 4: Make sure everything syncs properly

    1. Open each notebook you just added
    2. Wait a few seconds for it to sync
    3. Check if all sections and pages are loading
    4. If something looks missing, pull down to refresh or tap Sync

    Step 5: Double-check your data on the cloud (for peace of mind)

    1. Open a browser (Chrome, Safari, etc.)
    2. Go to OneDrive
    3. Sign in with your first email > check your notebooks 
    4. Sign out, then sign in with your second email > check again

    If you can see your notebooks there, your data is completely safe.

    Important note:

    • Please avoid signing out or removing accounts while notebooks are still syncing
    • If you don’t see a notebook right away, it usually means it hasn’t been opened yet, not deleted

    I know this situation can feel overwhelming, but this is a very common issue after updates, and it’s usually resolved by reconnecting both accounts. If you need me to guide you even more precisely, please tell me which device you’re using (Windows, iPhone, or Android)?

    I hope this will help with your situation. Please feel free to reach back if you have further update or more questions.

    Best Regards,

    If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment”.   

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