The fastest way to delete a notebook in OneNote

To delete a notebook in OneNote, right-click the notebook name in the left sidebar and select Delete. The notebook moves to your recycle bin, where you can recover it within 93 days if you change your mind. If you delete a notebook by accident, open the recycle bin from the OneNote settings menu and restore it.

The exact steps differ slightly depending on whether you use OneNote on Windows, Mac, or the web. The method also depends on where the notebook is stored — whether it's on your local computer, OneDrive, or SharePoint. In most cases, deleting the notebook from OneNote removes it from that app, but the underlying files may still exist in your cloud storage or hard drive.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click a notebook name in the sidebar and select Delete to move it to the recycle bin instead of permanently erasing it.
  • Deleted notebooks stay in OneNote's recycle bin for 93 days, giving you time to restore them if you delete by mistake.
  • Deleting a notebook from OneNote does not always delete the files from OneDrive or your computer — you may need to delete them separately.
  • If you share a notebook with others, deleting it removes it from your view but may not remove it from their accounts.

Deleting a notebook on Windows or Mac

Open OneNote and look at the left sidebar where your notebook names appear. Right-click the notebook you want to remove and a menu will pop up. Select Delete from that menu. OneNote will ask you to confirm — click Delete again to move the notebook to the recycle bin.

The notebook disappears from your sidebar immediately, but it is not gone forever. OneNote keeps deleted notebooks in a recycle bin for 93 days. If you realize you made a mistake within that window, you can restore it. To access the recycle bin, click File in the top menu, then look for a Recycle Bin or Recent option depending on your OneNote version. Right-click the notebook name in the recycle bin and select Restore.

Deleting a notebook on OneNote for the web

If you use OneNote through a web browser, the process is similar but the menu looks different. Find the notebook name in the left sidebar, click the three dots (or gear icon) next to it, and select Delete from the dropdown menu. Confirm the deletion when prompted.

Web-based notebooks also go to a recycle bin for 93 days. To restore one, click your profile icon in the top right corner, select Settings, then look for Recycle Bin or Recently Deleted. The exact wording depends on whether you are using OneNote through Microsoft 365, Outlook.com, or another platform.

What happens to the files after you delete a notebook

When you delete a notebook from OneNote, the app removes it from your view, but the actual files may still exist elsewhere. If your notebook was stored on OneDrive or SharePoint, the files remain in those services until you delete them there as well. If the notebook was stored only on your computer, deleting it from OneNote does not automatically delete the files from your hard drive.

To completely remove a notebook, you may need to take an extra step. For OneDrive notebooks, sign into OneDrive.com, find the notebook folder, and delete it there. For local notebooks stored on your computer, open File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac), locate the notebook folder, and move it to the trash. This ensures the notebook is gone from both OneNote and your storage.

Deleting a shared notebook

If you share a notebook with other people, deleting it from your account removes it from your sidebar but does not remove it from theirs. The other people who have access will still see the notebook and can continue to use it. If you want to prevent others from accessing it, you need to change the sharing settings or delete the notebook from the storage location where it is hosted (OneDrive or SharePoint).

Before you delete a shared notebook, consider whether other people still need it. If they do, let them know you are removing it from your account so they are not surprised when it disappears from your view. If you want to delete it completely so no one can access it, you will need to delete it from OneDrive or SharePoint directly, not just from OneNote.

Recovering a notebook after 93 days

OneNote's recycle bin only holds deleted notebooks for 93 days. After that period, the notebook is permanently deleted from OneNote and cannot be restored through the app. However, if the notebook was stored on OneDrive or SharePoint, those services have their own recycle bins that may keep the files longer.

If you need to recover a notebook after OneNote's 93-day window has closed, check OneDrive or SharePoint. Sign into the service, open the recycle bin (usually found in the left sidebar or settings), and look for your notebook folder. OneDrive keeps deleted files for 93 days as well, but SharePoint may keep them longer depending on your organization's settings. If you find the notebook there, you can restore it, and it will reappear in OneNote.

Deleting individual sections instead of the whole notebook

If you do not want to delete the entire notebook but only want to remove certain sections, you can delete sections separately. Right-click a section name (the tabs at the top of the notebook) and select Delete Section. The section moves to the recycle bin and can be restored the same way as a full notebook.

Deleting sections is useful when you want to keep the notebook but remove old or unwanted content. You can also rename sections, move them between notebooks, or hide them without deleting them. This gives you more control than deleting the whole notebook at once.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I permanently delete a notebook without waiting 93 days?

OneNote does not offer a way to permanently delete a notebook immediately from within the app. However, if the notebook is stored on OneDrive or SharePoint, you can delete it from those services directly, which removes it permanently without waiting for the recycle bin to empty. This bypasses OneNote's 93-day recovery window.

What if I delete a notebook by mistake?

Open the recycle bin in OneNote (through File > Recycle Bin or Settings > Recently Deleted) and look for your notebook. Right-click it and select Restore. As long as you restore it within 93 days, the notebook will return to your sidebar with all its content intact. If more than 93 days have passed, check OneDrive or SharePoint for a backup.

Does deleting a notebook from OneNote delete it from OneDrive?

No. Deleting a notebook from OneNote removes it from the app but leaves the files on OneDrive. To fully remove it, sign into OneDrive.com, find the notebook folder, and delete it there. This ensures it is gone from both OneNote and your cloud storage.

Can other people still see a notebook I deleted?

If you deleted a shared notebook, other people who have access will still see it and can use it. Deleting it from your account only removes it from your view. To prevent others from accessing it, change the sharing settings or delete it from OneDrive or SharePoint directly.

How do I delete a notebook on my phone?

On the OneNote mobile app (iPhone, iPad, or Android), swipe left on the notebook name (iPhone) or long-press it (Android) and select Delete. The notebook goes to the recycle bin and can be restored the same way as on desktop. The process is faster on mobile but follows the same 93-day recovery window.