When migrating from OneNote for Windows 10 to the latest OneNote app, the backup dialog only appears if your notebook has unsynced content. If all your notes are already synced, this step is skipped automatically.
If a backup failure occurs, it means OneNote couldn’t complete the process, which may prevent recent unsynced changes from being saved.
What to Do If Backup Fails
Follow these steps to resolve the issue and complete your migration successfully.
Step 1: Ensure Your Notebook Is Fully Synced
-
Open OneNote for Windows 10
-
Navigate to your Notebooks list
-
If you see a ⚠️ warning icon next to any notebook, right-click it and choose Sync This Notebook (or Sync All Notebooks) to ensure your notes are up to date.
-
Wait until no notebooks show the warning icon.
💡 Tip: If syncing doesn’t start, check your internet connection. If notebooks still don’t sync afterward, go to Step 3: Manually copy unsynced content.
Step 2: Free Up Space on Your Device
Backup failures can occur if your device is low on storage. To free up space:
-
Delete unnecessary files or apps.
-
Empty the Recycle Bin.
-
Move large files to OneDrive or an external drive.
After freeing up space, restart the migration process by clicking the "Switch Now" button on the InfoBar.
⚠️ Note: Backups are stored locally during migration, so make sure you have enough free storage for your notebook files.
Step 3: Manually Copy Unsynced Content
If the backup still fails, you can manually save your unsynced notes:
-
In OneNote for Windows 10, find the page in your notebook that isn’t syncing. It will usually have a ⚠️ warning icon next to it.
-
Copy the page content and paste it into the correct notebook section in the latest OneNote app.
-
Repeat this for any other unsynced pages.
If the Problem Persists
If backup errors continue after syncing your notebooks and freeing up space:
-
Go to Help > Support on OneNote on Windows (available for Enterprise and EDU users)
-
Share the exact error message you’re seeing with the support team for further assistance.
