Where Does OneNote Store Cache and Backups?
OneNote for Windows keeps a local cache plus backup copies of sections. True notebooks live in OneDrive or SharePoint for current versions.
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OneNote 2016 and Microsoft 365 OneNote cache open notebooks under Local AppData. That cache lets the app work offline and speeds up sync.
Automatic backups sit in a Backup folder beside the cache. Older local notebooks default to Documents, while current notebooks sync to OneDrive.
Where OneNote stores this, by platform
C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneNote\16.0\cache
Active offline cache. <user> is the Windows login name. 16.0 is the version token for OneNote 2016 and Microsoft 365 builds. Delete only while OneNote is closed and notebooks are fully synced.
C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneNote\16.0\Backup
Automatic section backups. <user> is the Windows login name. Restore with File then Info then Open Backups. Check backup age before relying on it.
C:\Users\<user>\Documents\OneNote Notebooks
Default location for legacy local notebooks. <user> is the Windows login name. Current cloud notebooks are not stored here as .one files by default.
Frequently asked questions
How do I fix sync errors safely?
Confirm notebooks show synced, close OneNote, rename the cache folder, then reopen. OneNote rebuilds the cache from the cloud. Do not delete the Backup folder first.
Where are my actual notebooks?
For Microsoft 365 and OneNote for Windows 10, the source is OneDrive or SharePoint. Manage storage and sharing there, and use the local Backup folder only for recovery.
Notice an outdated path? Let us know.