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OneNote files are not all stored in the same Windows 10 folder. The location depends on whether the notebook is local, stored in OneDrive, stored in SharePoint, or represented by a cached copy or backup.
For the desktop versions of OneNote, including OneNote for Microsoft 365, OneNote 2024, OneNote 2021, and OneNote 2016, use File > Open to identify available notebooks and File > Options > Save & Backup to inspect the backup location.
Quick answer
| Notebook type | Typical Windows 10 location | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Local notebook | C:Users<username>DocumentsOneNote Notebooks |
The working notebook is stored on the computer. |
| OneDrive notebook | Inside the user’s OneDrive, commonly Documents or Notebooks |
The authoritative copy is online; OneNote also keeps a local cache. |
| SharePoint notebook | In the SharePoint site or document library connected to the notebook | The authoritative copy is in SharePoint, with a local cache on the PC. |
| OneNote cache | C:Users<username>AppDataLocalMicrosoftOneNote16.0cache |
A temporary synchronized copy, not the main notebook location. |
| Automatic backups | C:Users<username>AppDataLocalMicrosoftOneNote<version>Backup |
Backup copies used for recovery, separate from the working notebook. |
How to find where a notebook is stored
Use OneNote’s Open screen
- Open the desktop version of OneNote.
- Select File > Open.
- Check the available categories: Open from OneDrive, Recent Notebooks, and Open from other locations.
- If the notebook appears under OneDrive, it is a cloud notebook. If you browse to a folder on the computer, it may be a locally stored notebook.
The Open screen is more reliable than assuming every notebook is in the Documents folder. A notebook can also have been moved, created under another Microsoft account, or opened from a SharePoint site.
Locally stored OneNote notebooks
A locally stored notebook is normally found at:
C:Users<username>DocumentsOneNote Notebooks
Replace <username> with the name of the Windows account. You can paste this into File Explorer’s address bar after replacing the placeholder.
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For example:
C:UsersMariaDocumentsOneNote Notebooks
Local notebooks contain notebook folders and OneNote section files. Do not edit, rename, or delete individual files while the notebook is open. OneNote manages the internal structure and can lose track of sections if files are changed manually.
OneDrive notebooks
OneDrive notebooks are stored in the user’s OneDrive account rather than exclusively on the Windows 10 computer. The folder may be under Documents, Notebooks, or another location selected when the notebook was created or moved.
To check OneDrive:
- Open File Explorer and select OneDrive in the left navigation pane.
- Check folders such as Documents and Notebooks.
- Alternatively, sign in to OneDrive in a browser and search for the notebook folder.
A OneDrive notebook may also appear to exist locally because OneDrive synchronizes files to the PC. That does not change the fact that the cloud copy is the authoritative location.
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Dragging a local notebook folder into the OneDrive folder does not automatically convert it into a OneDrive notebook. OneNote may continue treating it as a local notebook even though its files are physically inside a synchronized folder.
To properly move a notebook, use OneNote’s notebook-management or move options rather than manually copying its folder in File Explorer. After moving it, allow synchronization to finish before deleting the original.
SharePoint notebooks
SharePoint notebooks belong to a SharePoint site, team, or document library. Their authoritative copy is stored online in SharePoint, not in the standard DocumentsOneNote Notebooks folder.
OneNote keeps a local cached copy so you can work offline. The SharePoint location is the copy to use when checking whether the notebook is available to other users or when verifying that changes have synchronized.
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If the notebook is associated with Microsoft Teams, its files may be stored in the SharePoint site behind the team. Open the relevant team or SharePoint document library to locate the notebook.
Where OneNote keeps its local cache
For OneDrive and SharePoint notebooks, OneNote documents a cache location similar to:
C:Users<username>AppDataLocalMicrosoftOneNote16.0cache
AppData is hidden by default. You can either paste the complete path into File Explorer or enable View > Hidden items.
This cache is not a safe replacement for the cloud notebook. It is an offline working copy managed by OneNote. Deleting cache files manually can cause unsynchronized changes to be lost or create additional synchronization problems.
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When is it safe to remove a cache?
First force synchronization:
- In OneNote’s notebook list, right-click the notebook.
- Choose Sync This Notebook. In some current interfaces, use Show Notebooks > right-click the notebook > Sync > Sync This Notebook or Sync All Notebooks.
- Wait for synchronization to complete.
- Right-click the notebook and select Close This Notebook.
- Exit and restart OneNote.
Microsoft states that closing the notebook and restarting OneNote removes the locally cached copy after the notebook has fully synchronized. Do not use this procedure if OneNote still shows pending changes or synchronization errors.
OneNote backup files
Automatic backups are stored separately from the active notebook. The default pattern for desktop OneNote versions is:
C:Users<username>AppDataLocalMicrosoftOneNote<version>Backup
The exact version folder depends on the installed OneNote edition. To see the actual backup folder configured on the computer:
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- Open OneNote.
- Go to File > Options > Save & Backup.
- Under Save, select Backup Folder in the Paths list.
- Click Modify to view or change the folder.
The Backup folder is not the notebook’s working folder. It contains copies that can be used to recover pages or sections.
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- In OneNote, select File > Info > Open Backups.
- Open the folder for the notebook.
- Select the required section.
- Click Open.
Restoring from a backup is copy-only. OneNote does not let you move the backup section out of the backup set during this process, helping preserve the original recovery copy.
Why you may not find a notebook
The notebook is closed
OneNote search does not automatically search every notebook associated with every account. A closed notebook must be opened again before its pages are included in searches.
Use File > Open in the desktop app and sign in with the Microsoft account that owns the notebook. If the notebook belongs to another account, add or switch to that account.
The section is password-protected
Password-protected sections are excluded from searches until they are unlocked. Open the section and enter its password, then search again.
The notebook is in Misplaced Sections
A Misplaced Sections area usually indicates that content has not synchronized to its intended notebook. Those sections can remain cached locally. Reopen the notebook and synchronize it, or move the sections to another notebook after confirming that the content is safe.
The wrong OneNote application is installed
“OneNote” can refer to different Windows applications. The older OneNote for Windows 10 app is distinct from the desktop OneNote application included with Microsoft 365 and supported perpetual editions. Microsoft ended support for OneNote for Windows 10 in October 2025, so its menus and storage behavior should not be confused with the current desktop app.
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Synchronization and storage errors
A notebook can fail to synchronize even when OneDrive has free space. OneNote also needs sufficient local disk space for its cache. Check the size of the system drive and the cache before assuming the cloud account is full.
For a OneDrive notebook, a file-size limit of 2 GB can also produce the 0xE0000796 (Quota Exceeded) error. Large embedded files, printouts, audio, and video are common causes.
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- Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Find OneNote.
- Select the three-dot menu and choose Advanced options.
- Try Repair first. If the problem continues, review the consequences before using Reset.
Before resetting an app or deleting any cache, confirm that recent notes have synchronized to OneDrive or SharePoint. Unsynchronized local changes may be the only copy of those changes.
Windows 10 path versus Windows 11 path
The usual local notebook path is not unique to Windows 10. Microsoft documents the same typical path for locally stored OneNote notebooks:
C:Users<username>DocumentsOneNote Notebooks
The important distinction is the OneNote version and notebook storage type, not simply whether Windows 10 or Windows 11 is installed. OneDrive, SharePoint, cache, and backup locations can all differ from the default local notebook folder.
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FAQ
Where are OneNote files stored on Windows 10?
Local notebooks are typically stored in C:Users
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- Back up smarter with included device management software[2] with defense against ransomware
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What is the default OneNote folder?
For a locally stored notebook, the typical folder is C:Users
Can I find OneNote files in OneDrive?
Yes. OneDrive notebooks may be under Documents, Notebooks, or another folder chosen when the notebook was created or moved. You can check both the OneDrive folder in File Explorer and OneDrive online.
Where are OneNote backup files stored?
The default backup pattern is C:Users
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Is the OneNote cache the real notebook?
No. The cache is a local working copy. For OneDrive and SharePoint notebooks, the authoritative notebook remains in the cloud.
How do I recover a deleted or missing OneNote section?
In the desktop app, go to File > Info > Open Backups, open the notebook folder, select the section, and click Open. Copy the recovered content into the active notebook.
The Bottom Line
Start with C:Users<username>DocumentsOneNote Notebooks only if you believe the notebook is local. For a complete check, use File > Open, then verify OneDrive or SharePoint for cloud notebooks and File > Options > Save & Backup for automatic backups. Do not treat the cache or Backup folder as the main working notebook, and do not delete either until synchronization has been confirmed.
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