Categories: File Recovery

3 Solutions to Recover Onenote in Windows

OneNote is one of the most powerful tools for organizing notes, ideas, and projects. It not only helps students, professionals, and organizations to manage snippets and make notes but also offers real-time collaborations and can be easily integrated with other software.

But like any other software, it is not immune to glitches and errors. Imagine opening OneNote to review your notes for a crucial project, only to find that a section or even an entire notebook has vanished. Most of us have been there!

In this article, we will walk you through steps on how to recover OneNote with three effective solutions. Whether you’re dealing with accidentally deleted files, lost sections, or a disappeared notebook, these methods will help you get your notes back.

onenote logoonenote logo

Scenarios Where OneNote Section Gets Lost

Where do your OneNote sections go? 

These are some common possibilities for your loss:

  • 🗑️Accidental Deletion: Sometimes, sections and pages of your OneNote file get accidentally deleted while you organize or edit them. A misplaced click or rushed action results in deleting notes.
  • 🔩Software Uninstallation: Sometimes it looks like a bunch of your OneNote Notebooks have disappeared for good, maybe after you have tried to uninstall and reinstall the app on your laptop.
  • 💿Sync Issues: OneNote often faces issues like cloud synchronisation that lead some sections to disappear. Sometimes poor internet issues may lead to syncing issues.
  • ⚠️File Corruption: Some system errors like power outages, system crashes, or abrupt shutdowns corrupt our notes, and we end up losing them.

How to Recover Deleted OneNote Files?

The simplest method to recover OneNote data is accessing the OneNote Recycle Bin and restoring files from there. But this may not work in all scenarios. In that case, alternatives like data recovery software and using OneNote backups may work. Below we’ll provide the step-by-step guides of the 3 methods.

Access OneNote Recycle Bin to Recover OneNote Files

The OneNote Recycle Bin is your first stop for recovering deleted files. When you delete a section or page, OneNote temporarily stores it in the Recycle Bin for 60 days, unless you choose to delete it from there permanently. 
👉Here are the steps to recover OneNote files using Recycle Bin:

  1. Launch the OneNote application on your computer.
  2. Now click the History option on the left-hand navigation pane.
  3. Under the History tab, select Notebook Recycle Bin. It will open a view of all deleted sections and pages for you.
  1. Browse through the Recycle Bin to find the deleted item that you want to restore. You can use the search function to speed up this process.
  2. Right-click on the section or page you want to recover and select Move or Copy.
  1. Finally, choose the destination notebook and section, then click Move.

Using a recycle bin to recover OneNote data is quick and effective for recent deletions. It is a hassle-free option without any external downloads.

Use OneNote Data Recovery Software to Recover Deleted Files

If you cannot find your OneNote files in the Recycle Bin, data recovery software like ONERECOVERY by TinyFrom can be a lifesaver. You can easily recover your notes, messages, files, and even sticky notes using this software. 

It offers a reliable and efficient solution for retrieving lost files. It comes with tools that can perform deep scans and provide a user-friendly recovery process.  

👉Here’s a detailed guide on how to recover OneNote using ONERECOVERY:

  1. Visit the TinyFrom ONERECOVERY website.
  2. Find the TinyFrom ONERECOVERY software page in the data recovery section at the top and Download the installation file.
  1. You can also get ONERECOVERY more quickly: tap on the button below to download the powerful data recovery software.
  1. Now, install and launch the software on your computer by following the on-screen instructions.
  2. Out of all of the computer drives displayed on the screen, select the drive where your OneNote files were originally stored.
  3. Click on the Scan button to initiate the scanning process.
  1. Wait for the scanning to complete. It might take some time depending on the size of your drive and the number of files.
  2. You will find a list of recoverable files displayed on the screen after this scan is complete.
  1. Select the files you wish to recover. You can use the preview feature to view the contents of the files.
  2. Next, click the Recover button and your files will be restored to the chosen location.

✨ONERECOVERY should be your #1 choice for data recovery because: 

  • It is capable of recovering files that are not found in the Recycle Bin.
  • It can easily access and retrieve files lost due to accidental deletion, formatting, or system errors and with its sophisticated scanning algorithms even the deeply buried or fragmented files can be located and recovered with ease.
  • Its user-friendly interface is easy to use even for those who are not tech-savvy.

Check out the ONERECOVERY website to learn more about the software and download it.

Use the OneNote Backup to Recover OneNote Files

OneNote automatically creates backups of your notebooks, providing a reliable way to recover lost data. This feature can save you in cases of accidental deletion or data corruption. Restoring from a backup is a valuable default feature provided by OneNote. It ensures you have access to previously saved versions of your work.

👉Here’s how to restore OneNote backup:

  1. Open OneNote on your device.
  2. Now go to the File tab and from the menu buttons select Info.
  3. Next, click on the Open Backups options.
  4. Choose the backup that contains the missing sections or pages you want to restore from the list displayed.
  1. Click Open to view the backup notebook.
  2. Right-click on the section or page you want to restore and select Move or Copy.
  3. Finally, choose the destination notebook and section, then click Move.

Conclusion

You can recover OneNote files easily using the OneNote Recycle Bin. There is a high chance of finding your lost notes here. Other alternative options include ONE RECOVERY software which is a data recovery software, specifically designed to find lost or deleted files from your drives. You can also go for OneNote default backup options.

FAQs on OneNote Data Recovery

Do you still have questions about restoring the OneNote version history and how your OneNote notebook disappeared? We have addressed some common questions below.

  1. Where Does OneNote Save Files?

OneNote by default saves your files back to the location it was deleted from. But it also provides you with the option to save your files on OneDrive or other cloud services as per your preference. Most people consider the option of saving OneNote data on cloud because you can access your files easily on any device.

  1. How to Recover Deleted OneNote Pages?

To recover deleted pages on OneNote, check the Recycle Bin. If you have deleted pages within the last 60 days, there is a very high chance of finding your file in the bin. Also, searching a backup option provided in the info section of OneNote files. If you didn’t find the file there you will have to use external data recovery software like TinyFrom ONERECOVERY. 

  1. How to Restore to an Older Version of a OneNote File?

OneNote provides the facility to restore any of the previous of your pages. It is a cool feature as you get to go back to onenote version history anytime.  To restore to an Older Version of a OneNote file, open OneNote and go to the File tab and then select the Info button. Now select Version History to restore an older version directly.

  1. How to Transfer OneNote to Another Computer?

To transfer OneNote to another computer you need to export your notebooks as .ONEPKG files from the original computer. 

On the new computer, open OneNote, go to the File tab, and then select the Open button. Next, select the exported .ONEPKG file to import your notebooks.

Zedd

Zedd is a tech enthusiast, and editor in the AI and data technology realm. With a master's in Computer Science, Zedd passionately explores and shares insights into the ever-evolving world of technology. Outside of work, he loves to play badminton.

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