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ONENOTE : sync error. lost all last months files (lost files not compatible with new version ?)

Anonymous
2025-05-21T00:31:19+00:00

My local onenote file wouldn't sync for a few months with the oneline version. However i was still able to see a sync between my mac and my iphone.

1 week ago, i noticed that my Notebook would not sync on my iphone either. and yesterday i found out that all my last notes were moved to a new Onenote folder named "MISPLACED" (ii contained very important notes for me). At this point i needed to solve the sync error with the cloud that i was seeing since many months:

  • i tried to log in/ log out online or locally but to no avail.
  • So I decided that i should updated the version of onenote becasue the version i had was probably to old and causing the issue:

a) before proceeding i made sure to copy the file "misplaced" to a second onenote account and saved a back up as well . However i didn't notice that in the "misplaced" backup file, only 4 sections were actually saved (i probably went to fast ?)!

b) Then, i moved the old version of Onenote to the bin, emptied the bin and installed the new version. after that i could sync my onenote.

c) However, the "misplaced" file disapeared! and it was not on the other account where i copied it either .

I beleive that the new version of Onenote is UNABLE to read the old files . This is why i need to retrieve the older version. i found on this website "Microsoft_OneNote_16.85.24051214_Updater.pkg", but this is still not working. to test it further, i found on my back up files, a recent file and tried to open it and i was still not able to read the file (i am ask to choose an an the open it because it is not compatible with zven this older version)

Should i find an even older version ? i beleive i have version 15.0

Do you know if my files (the one in the displaced folder) could be stored in the older version of ONENOTE app that moved to the bin ? or this does not contain any files of that kind?

Do you think it is still saved somewhere in my hard drive onenote hidden library ? if yes, how to retrieve it ? what should i do ?

Many thanks for your help.

Sandra

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneNote | For home | MacOS

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-05-27T15:07:30+00:00

    Hello,

    Thank you so much for all the information that you have provided, I suspect that there is an ongoing issue with your Account not being able to fully utilize Microsoft online services. It seems like it may require a deeper and thorough investigation done to have your issue addressed and with that I suggest getting in touch with our Live support team for the investigation to be done.

    Please access this link: https://support.microsoft.com/home/contact?ContactUsExperienceEntryPointAssetId=S.HP.outlook

    Once you've opened the link, do the following:

    (1) Provide a brief description of the problem and click Get Help.

    (2) Click Contact Support at the bottom of the result that appears.

    (3) After identifying the problematic product, click OK , and

    (4) Finally, you can contact the Office chat representative or get a call from the Office phone representative.

    Best Regards,

    JK

    Microsoft Community

    Moderator

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-05-21T17:14:07+00:00

    Good morning,

    Welcome to Microsoft Community, we are here to help

    Thank you for bringing this to our attention, I understand that you need assistance with your lost OneNote data. I would like to know how is it on the OneNote Website? Does it contain all the updated information there, or are the information found on the Web is also missing? You can try to locate cached offline data here: ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.onenote.mac/Data/Library/Application Support/Microsoft User Data/OneNote/

    Alternatively, you can also try to check if Time Machine is turned on for your Mac device, this would bring back those missing information from your OneNote

    Hope this helps.

    Best Regards,

    JK

    Microsoft Community

    Moderator

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-05-23T16:25:03+00:00

    Hi,

    We have noticed that you have not replied to our last response. We would like to know if the issue you have raised to us is still on-going. If yes, please reply to the thread so we can continue troubleshooting your concern.

    Best Regards,

    JK

    Microsoft Community

    Moderator

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-05-24T11:16:07+00:00

    Unfortunately the Issue is still on going and i had another sync error last nigh where i lost again a whole folder i was working on (all was sync then i had suddenly a freeze and then an error of sync. when trying to sync my folder disapeared entirely) . Only one tab was rejected on the misplaced folder. The other tabs contained in the folder were no where to be found. I am so pissed off i will start to move to Notion app soon. 3 days ago my sister had the same and never got her folder back too. There is definitely something on.

    i will check what you asked for and get back with the details shortly !! NB: unfortunately i don't have time machine on/activated due to lack of memory (Onenote uses almost 60 GO on my hard drive. and a need to leave some free space on my computer (at least 50 Go). If i had the time machine ON that would be problematic because it needs lot of storage).

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  4. Anonymous
    2025-05-25T18:25:46+00:00

    Than you for your prompt reply.

    On onenote ONLINE, i can see the tabs that i moved due to the sync issue (before i lost it all). NB: I moved the "misplaced" folder from account A to Account B. Account B has lots of free space since i pay a monthly subscription.

    However, When i go the a specific tab to read, it is not accessible. I have a message saying that "It is corrupted. Can't be accessed online. must open it locally for possible repair. When i go locally, it says, this section isn't available yet. it was added from another device.

    Image

    I locate the cache but not sure what i am supposed to look for.

    Image

    Also, i located the backup (on my hard drive somewhere in the library directory in another folder than the one you mentioned and i found my misplaced file there but there where only 3 tabs present which i couldn't read (same issue : it won't recongnize the new version of onenote and neither the older one i tried to install later on)

    NB: note that the second crash i had following this one solved by itself the following day. Unfortunately all the files from the first crash are still missing (i had to upgrade because it wouldn't sync even when i tried to log out, reboot my computer etc..)

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