OneNote Sync Error 0xE000002E — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

OneNote Sync Error 0xE000002E means OneNote cannot synchronize your notebook with OneDrive or SharePoint. This usually means there is a permissions problem or a connection issue between OneNote and the storage location. Your notes are safe on your device — they just are not syncing to the cloud.

Affected Models

Microsoft OneNote for Microsoft 365
OneNote 2016
OneNote for Windows 10

Common Causes

Your Microsoft account session has expired and OneNote needs you to sign in again
The OneDrive folder where the notebook is stored has a permissions problem
The notebook was shared with you and the owner changed the sharing settings
OneDrive itself has a sync error that is blocking all connected apps including OneNote
A corrupted local section file within the notebook is preventing the entire notebook from syncing

How to Fix It

Sign out of your Microsoft account in OneNote and sign back in. Go to File > Account > Sign Out, then sign back in with your Microsoft account.

An expired session is the most common cause of this error — simply signing in again fixes it most of the time.
Check that OneDrive is running and signed in. Look for the OneDrive cloud icon in your system tray (bottom-right of screen). If it shows an error, fix OneDrive first.

OneNote uses OneDrive to sync. If OneDrive itself cannot connect, OneNote cannot sync either.
Force a sync manually. In OneNote, right-click the notebook name in the left panel and select 'Sync This Notebook Now'.

If a specific section is failing, you will see which section has the error icon — you can then sync just that section.
If a specific section is stuck, right-click that section tab and choose 'Sync This Section Now'. If it fails repeatedly, try closing and reopening the section.

A single corrupted section can block the whole notebook. Identifying it lets you work around the problem.
As a last resort, export your notes (File > Export), then close and delete the notebook from OneNote, and reopen it from OneDrive by going to onenote.com and reopening it from there.

This forces OneNote to rebuild a fresh local copy from the cloud version.

When to Call a Professional

OneNote sync errors rarely require professional help. If your notes are missing after a sync failure, contact Microsoft Support immediately — they can check OneDrive server-side logs to locate your content. Do not delete the notebook from your device while trying to fix this error.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are my notes lost when I see this sync error?

No. The sync error means new changes are not being sent to the cloud — it does not mean notes are deleted. All your notes are still saved locally on your device. Once you fix the sync issue, all changes will upload to the cloud automatically.

How do I know which notebook or section is failing to sync?

Look for a small warning triangle (!) icon next to the notebook or section name in the left panel. Clicking that icon usually shows a more specific error message that identifies which section is stuck and why.

Will fixing OneDrive fix my OneNote sync?

Very often, yes. OneNote relies on OneDrive for syncing, so if OneDrive has any problem — even in an unrelated folder — it can stop OneNote from syncing too. Always check OneDrive's status first before diving into OneNote-specific fixes.