The quickest way to delete a OneNote notebook

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 it stays for 93 days before permanent deletion. You can restore it during that window by opening the recycle bin in your account settings.

The exact steps depend on whether you use OneNote on Windows, Mac, the web, or mobile. The web version and the newer OneNote app (sometimes called OneNote for Windows 10) work the same way. The older OneNote 2016 desktop application has a slightly different menu structure. Mobile apps let you delete notebooks but with fewer recovery options.

Deleting a notebook does not delete the files on your computer if you created it as a local notebook stored only on your device. It removes the notebook from OneNote's interface, but the underlying file remains until you manually delete it from your file system.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click a notebook name in the sidebar and choose Delete to move it to the recycle bin, where it stays for 93 days.
  • Deleted notebooks can be restored from your account's recycle bin if you change your mind within 93 days.
  • Local notebooks stored only on your computer are removed from OneNote but the files remain on your hard drive until you delete them manually.
  • The delete option location differs slightly between OneNote 2016, the newer OneNote app, and the web version, but the process is similar.

Deleting a notebook in the OneNote app and web version

In the newer OneNote app (available on Windows 11 and later) and OneNote on the web, the delete process is straightforward. Open OneNote and look at the left sidebar where your notebook names appear. Right-click directly on the notebook name you want to remove.

A menu will appear with several options. Click Delete. OneNote will ask you to confirm the deletion. Click Delete again to confirm. The notebook disappears from your sidebar immediately and moves to your recycle bin.

If you use OneNote on the web, you can also delete a notebook by clicking the three-dot menu icon next to the notebook name, then selecting Delete notebook from the dropdown. The confirmation step is the same.

Deleting a notebook in OneNote 2016

OneNote 2016, the older desktop version still used on some Windows computers, stores the delete option in a different location. Open OneNote 2016 and find the notebook you want to delete in the left sidebar.

Right-click the notebook name. Instead of a simple Delete option, you will see Close This Notebook. Click that option. The notebook closes and is removed from your sidebar, but it is not deleted yet.

To permanently delete the notebook file in OneNote 2016, you must go to File > Open > Recent Notebooks. Right-click the closed notebook name and select Delete. This moves it to your recycle bin. If the notebook was stored locally on your computer, you will also need to manually delete the file from your hard drive using File Explorer.

Recovering a deleted notebook from the recycle bin

OneNote keeps deleted notebooks in a recycle bin for 93 days. During this time, you can restore a notebook if you change your mind. The recycle bin location depends on where your notebook was stored.

For notebooks stored in Microsoft OneDrive or SharePoint, go to your Microsoft account settings online. Click Data privacy, then Recycle bin. You will see a list of deleted items. Find your notebook, click it, and select Restore. The notebook returns to your OneNote sidebar.

For local notebooks stored only on your computer, the recycle bin is your system recycle bin. Open File Explorer, click Recycle Bin in the left sidebar, find the notebook folder, right-click it, and select Restore. The folder returns to its original location on your hard drive, and OneNote will recognize it again when you restart the app.

Deleting a notebook on mobile devices

The OneNote mobile app for iPhone, iPad, and Android lets you delete notebooks, but the process is slightly different from the desktop version. Open the OneNote app and look at the list of notebooks on the home screen.

Swipe left on the notebook name (iPhone and iPad) or long-press the notebook name (Android). A menu will appear. Select Delete. The app will ask you to confirm. Tap Delete again.

Mobile apps do not show a recycle bin the way desktop versions do. Once you delete a notebook on mobile, your best option for recovery is to use the web version or desktop app to access your account's recycle bin. If the notebook was stored in OneDrive or SharePoint, you can restore it from there. If it was a local notebook, recovery is more difficult because mobile apps have limited access to your device's file system.

What happens to your data when you delete a notebook

Deleting a notebook in OneNote does not immediately erase your notes. The notebook moves to a recycle bin where it remains intact for 93 days. During this time, the data is still there — you are just not seeing it in your active notebook list.

After 93 days, OneNote permanently deletes the notebook from its servers or your account. At that point, recovery becomes much harder. If your notebook was synced to OneDrive or SharePoint, you may still be able to recover it through those services' recycle bins, which often have longer retention periods. Check your OneDrive recycle bin or SharePoint recycle bin separately if you need to recover a notebook after OneNote's 93-day window has closed.

Local notebooks stored only on your computer are handled differently. When you delete a local notebook from OneNote, the app removes it from its interface, but the actual file folder remains on your hard drive. You can manually delete it from File Explorer if you want to free up space, or you can leave it there and re-import it into OneNote later if needed.

Avoiding accidental deletion

If you are worried about deleting a notebook by mistake, consider renaming it first instead of deleting it. Right-click the notebook name and select Rename. Add a prefix like "Archive -" to the name so you know it is no longer active. This keeps the notebook in your sidebar but signals that it is not in use.

Another option is to move sensitive notebooks to a separate section or folder within OneNote rather than deleting them. You can create a new notebook called "Archive" and move old sections into it, keeping everything in one place without losing access.

If you use OneDrive or SharePoint to store your notebooks, you also have version history. Right-click the notebook in your OneDrive or SharePoint folder and select Version history to see previous states of your notebook, even if you have made changes or deletions within OneNote itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover a notebook after the 93-day recycle bin period?

After 93 days, OneNote permanently deletes the notebook from its recycle bin. However, if your notebook was stored in OneDrive or SharePoint, those services have their own recycle bins with longer retention periods — often 93 days as well, but sometimes longer. Check your OneDrive or SharePoint recycle bin separately. For local notebooks, the file may still exist on your hard drive if you did not manually delete it.

Does deleting a notebook delete the files on my computer?

No. If you created a local notebook stored only on your computer, deleting it from OneNote removes it from the app but leaves the actual file folder on your hard drive. You must manually delete the folder using File Explorer to free up space. Notebooks stored in OneDrive or SharePoint are deleted from those services when you delete them from OneNote.

What is the difference between closing and deleting a notebook?

Closing a notebook (in OneNote 2016) removes it from your sidebar but does not delete it. You can reopen a closed notebook anytime by going to File > Open > Recent Notebooks. Deleting a notebook moves it to the recycle bin and removes it from your recent list. Closing is safer if you just want to declutter your sidebar temporarily.

Can I delete just one section instead of the whole notebook?

Yes. Right-click a section name (not the notebook name) in the sidebar and select Delete Section. The section moves to the recycle bin. You can delete individual pages the same way — right-click a page name and select Delete Page. This is useful if you want to keep the notebook but remove old or unwanted content.

What if I deleted a notebook and cannot find it in the recycle bin?

Check whether the notebook was stored in OneDrive, SharePoint, or locally on your computer. For cloud notebooks, go to your Microsoft account settings and look in the Data privacy recycle bin. For local notebooks, check your system recycle bin in File Explorer. If the notebook is not in either place and more than 93 days have passed, it may be permanently deleted. Contact Microsoft support if you need further help locating it.