How to delete a OneNote notebook

To delete a OneNote notebook, open OneNote on your device, right-click or long-press the notebook name in the left sidebar, and select Delete. The notebook moves to your recycle bin and stays there for 93 days before permanent removal. If you use OneNote online through Microsoft 365, you can also delete a notebook by opening it, clicking the File menu, and selecting Delete Notebook.

The exact steps differ slightly depending on whether you use OneNote on Windows, Mac, or the web version. The notebook does not disappear immediately — it sits in your recycle bin for nearly three months, which gives you time to restore it if you change your mind. After 93 days, OneNote removes it permanently and you cannot get it back.

Key Takeaways

  • Deleted notebooks stay in your recycle bin for 93 days before OneNote removes them permanently.
  • On Windows and Mac, right-click the notebook name and select Delete from the menu.
  • On OneNote online, use the File menu to find the Delete Notebook option.
  • You can restore a deleted notebook from the recycle bin within the 93-day window by right-clicking it and selecting Restore.

Deleting a notebook on Windows

Open OneNote on your Windows computer and look at the left sidebar where your notebooks are listed. Find the notebook you want to remove, right-click its name, and a menu will appear. Click Delete from that menu. OneNote will ask you to confirm — click Delete again to finish.

The notebook now appears in your recycle bin instead of your main notebook list. You can still see it if you scroll down in the sidebar or check your recycle bin section. If you realize you made a mistake within the next 93 days, you can restore it by right-clicking the notebook name in the recycle bin and selecting Restore.

Deleting a notebook on Mac

The process on Mac is nearly identical to Windows. Open OneNote, locate the notebook in the left sidebar, and right-click (or Control-click) its name. Select Delete from the menu that appears, then confirm your choice when OneNote asks.

On Mac, the deleted notebook also moves to a recycle bin section. You can restore it the same way — right-click the notebook name in the recycle bin and choose Restore. The 93-day window applies on Mac just as it does on Windows.

Deleting a notebook on OneNote online

If you use OneNote through a web browser at office.com or through Microsoft 365, the deletion process uses the menu instead of a right-click. Open the notebook you want to delete, then click the File menu in the top left corner of the screen. Look for Delete Notebook and click it.

OneNote will ask you to confirm the deletion. Click Delete to move the notebook to your recycle bin. Like the desktop versions, the web version keeps deleted notebooks for 93 days before removing them permanently. You can restore a deleted notebook from the recycle bin during this time.

Finding and restoring a deleted notebook

If you delete a notebook by mistake, you have 93 days to bring it back. On Windows or Mac, scroll down in the left sidebar until you see a Recycle Bin section. Your deleted notebooks appear there. Right-click the notebook name and select Restore to move it back to your main notebook list.

On OneNote online, click File and then look for a Recycle Bin option. Your deleted notebooks will be listed there. Click the notebook name and select Restore to bring it back. After 93 days pass, OneNote permanently removes the notebook and you cannot restore it.

What happens to notebook data after deletion

When you delete a OneNote notebook, the data does not vanish immediately. It stays in the recycle bin for 93 days, during which time OneNote stores the full notebook with all its pages, sections, and notes intact. If you restore it, everything returns exactly as it was.

After the 93-day period ends, OneNote permanently removes the notebook from its servers. At that point, the data is gone and cannot be recovered through OneNote itself. If the notebook was synced to your computer's hard drive, a local copy may still exist on your device, but OneNote will no longer manage it.

Deleting individual sections or pages instead of the whole notebook

If you only want to remove part of a notebook rather than the entire thing, you can delete individual sections or pages. Right-click a section name in the left sidebar and select Delete Section, or right-click a page name and select Delete Page. These items also go to the recycle bin and follow the same 93-day restoration window.

This approach is useful when you want to keep the notebook but remove outdated or unwanted content. Sections and pages are easier to restore individually than entire notebooks, since you do not have to worry about losing other material you want to keep.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover a notebook after the 93 days are up?

No. Once the 93-day recycle bin period ends, OneNote permanently deletes the notebook and you cannot recover it through OneNote. If you had synced the notebook to your computer before deletion, a local copy might exist on your hard drive, but OneNote will not manage it anymore.

Does deleting a notebook delete it from all my devices?

Yes. If your notebook was synced across multiple devices through your Microsoft account, deleting it removes it from all of them. The deletion syncs across your devices just like any other change would. The notebook appears in the recycle bin on each device.

What if I delete a notebook by mistake and do not notice for two months?

You still have time to restore it. The 93-day window has not closed yet. Open your recycle bin, find the notebook, and click Restore. As long as you act before day 93 ends, the notebook returns with all its content.

Can I delete a shared notebook?

Yes, but the behavior depends on who owns it. If you own the notebook, you can delete it and it goes to your recycle bin. If someone else shared it with you, deleting it removes it from your view but does not delete it for other people who have access to it.

Is there a way to permanently delete a notebook without waiting 93 days?

No. OneNote does not offer an option to skip the recycle bin and delete permanently right away. The 93-day period is built into the system for all users. After 93 days pass, the permanent deletion happens automatically.