Delete a notebook in OneNote by right-clicking it and selecting delete, or by opening OneNote settings and removing it from your account

The steps differ slightly depending on whether you're using OneNote on Windows, Mac, or the web version. The fastest method is to right-click the notebook name in your sidebar and choose delete — but OneNote doesn't permanently erase it right away. Instead, it moves the notebook to your recycle bin, where it stays for 93 days before OneNote deletes it automatically. If you change your mind within those 93 days, you can restore it.

If you can't find the delete option in your sidebar, the notebook may be stored in OneDrive or SharePoint, which means you'll need to delete it through those services instead. This guide covers both scenarios so you can remove the notebook you no longer need.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-clicking a notebook in your sidebar and selecting delete moves it to the recycle bin, where OneNote keeps it for 93 days before permanent removal.
  • Notebooks stored in OneDrive or SharePoint must be deleted through those services, not through OneNote itself.
  • You can restore a deleted notebook from the recycle bin within 93 days by opening OneNote settings and finding the deleted notebooks section.
  • Deleting a notebook removes it from all devices where you're signed into that OneNote account.

Delete a notebook from your sidebar in OneNote

Open OneNote and look at the left side of your screen where your notebook names appear. Right-click the notebook you want to remove. A small menu will pop up with several options — select "Delete Notebook" from that menu.

OneNote will ask you to confirm that you want to delete it. Click "Delete" again to confirm. The notebook disappears from your sidebar immediately, but OneNote moves it to a recycle bin instead of erasing it completely. You have 93 days to change your mind and restore it if needed.

On a Mac, the process is the same: right-click the notebook name and select "Delete Notebook" from the menu that appears.

Delete a notebook stored in OneDrive or SharePoint

Some notebooks are stored in OneDrive or SharePoint rather than on your local device. When you right-click these notebooks in OneNote, you may not see a delete option, or the delete option may not work. This happens because OneNote doesn't have permission to delete files stored in those services — you have to delete them there instead.

To delete a OneDrive notebook, open OneDrive in your web browser, find the notebook folder, right-click it, and select "Delete." To delete a SharePoint notebook, go to your SharePoint site, locate the notebook folder, and delete it through SharePoint's interface. The notebook will then disappear from OneNote on all your devices.

If you're not sure whether your notebook is stored in OneDrive or SharePoint, right-click it in OneNote and look for a "Share" or "Open in OneDrive" option. If you see those options, the notebook is stored in one of those services.

Restore a deleted notebook within 93 days

If you deleted a notebook by mistake, you can bring it back as long as you act within 93 days. Open OneNote and click the "Settings" icon (usually a gear symbol) in the top right corner of your screen. Select "Options" or "Settings" depending on your version.

Look for a section called "Recycle Bin" or "Deleted Notebooks." You should see a list of notebooks you've deleted recently. Click the notebook you want to restore and select "Restore." OneNote moves it back to your sidebar and syncs it across all your devices.

After 93 days, OneNote permanently deletes the notebook and you cannot restore it. If you need to keep a notebook but don't want to see it in your sidebar, consider archiving it instead of deleting it — right-click the notebook and select "Archive" if that option is available in your version.

Delete a notebook on the OneNote web version

If you use OneNote through your web browser instead of the desktop app, the delete process is slightly different. Open OneNote online and look at your notebook list on the left side. Click the three dots (more options menu) next to the notebook name you want to delete.

Select "Delete Notebook" from the menu. OneNote will ask you to confirm — click "Delete" again. The notebook moves to your recycle bin and stays there for 93 days before permanent removal, just like the desktop version.

What happens after you delete a notebook

Once you delete a notebook, it disappears from your sidebar on all devices where you're signed into that OneNote account. If you were sharing the notebook with other people, they will no longer see it in their OneNote either. However, if those people have already downloaded a copy of the notebook to their device, they can still access their local copy — deleting it from your account doesn't erase it from theirs.

If the notebook was synced to OneDrive or SharePoint, deleting it from OneNote may not delete the files from those services. Check OneDrive or SharePoint directly to make sure the files are gone if you want them completely removed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete a notebook permanently without waiting 93 days?

No. OneNote keeps deleted notebooks in the recycle bin for 93 days before removing them permanently. You cannot speed up this process through OneNote's settings. If you need the space immediately, you can delete the notebook files directly from OneDrive or SharePoint, which removes them right away.

What if I deleted a notebook more than 93 days ago?

Once 93 days have passed, OneNote permanently deletes the notebook and you cannot restore it. If you have a backup of your computer or if the notebook was synced to OneDrive, you may be able to recover it through those services, but OneNote itself cannot bring it back.

Does deleting a notebook delete it from other people's accounts?

If you were sharing the notebook with others through OneDrive or SharePoint, deleting it removes it from their OneNote sidebar too. However, if they downloaded a copy to their device before you deleted it, they still have access to that local copy. The shared version is gone, but their personal copy remains.

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

Yes. Right-click a section name (not the notebook name) in your sidebar and select "Delete Section." Sections move to the recycle bin just like notebooks do and can be restored within 93 days. This is useful if you only want to remove part of a notebook.