How to Fix OneNote Sync Error on Windows and Mac

Microsoft OneNote is one of the popular note taking solutions. The software is available on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS and Web. OneNote uses OneDrive to store and synchronize data across all platforms. Millions of users use the note-taking app there because it’s free, comes with tons of ready-to-use sharing features and options.

With such popularity and use, OneNote exhibits some annoying behavior. For example, you cannot synchronize data with other cloud storage platforms. And when you start using the service with multiple notebooks and sections on devices, you may experience a OneNote sync error in the app. This has been OneNote’s hot spot from the start, slow and unreliable synchronization across devices.

If you’re someone stuck with a OneNote sync error on Windows or macOS, this might be the perfect read for you. We will talk about the different ways to solve the synchronization problem on OneNote. Let’s start.

1. Check Notebook on the Web

We can quickly check if the problem comes from OneNote or from the application installed on the PC.

Step 1: Open the OneNote desktop app and select a laptop.

2nd step: Go to File> Information and copy the path to the notebook.

Stage 3: Open a web browser and paste the link.

On a Mac, open Notepad and go to the Notepad section in the ribbon and select Copy link to this notepad.

If the notebook opens on the web, the issue is related to the application installed on the devices. Let’s fix it.

7. Delete space on PC and OneDrive

As I mentioned earlier, the software uses Microsoft OneDrive to synchronize data between devices. By default, it comes with only 5 GB of storage, which fills up quickly with images and videos. You can delete some of the OneDrive storage or opt for the Microsoft 365 subscription, which offers 1 TB of cloud storage.

You can also optimize inactive files to save space. Open the OneNote desktop and go to File> Options> Save and save and select the Optimize all files now option.

Troubleshoot the OneNote sync issue

OneNote is great service. But the sync error is something to look for for a smooth experience on all devices. Use the instructions above and resolve the sync error from OneNote.