How to Delete OneNote Notebook: What You Can and Can’t Do in 2025

Microsoft OneNote is a popular note-taking application that allows users to create and organize notebooks, sections, and pages. However, if you no longer need a notebook or want to clean up your OneNote app, deleting a notebook is a simple solution. In 2025, the process of deleting a OneNote notebook is straightforward, but there are some things you should know before proceeding. This guide explains how to delete a OneNote notebook, what you can and can’t do, and important considerations to keep in mind.

Can You Delete a OneNote Notebook?

Yes, you can delete a OneNote notebook, but it’s important to understand the differences between deleting a notebook on different platforms and how synchronization works. Deleting a notebook removes it from your OneNote app, but the process varies slightly depending on whether you’re using the OneNote desktop app, the web version, or the mobile app.

What You Can Do:

• Delete a OneNote notebook: You can permanently delete notebooks from your OneNote account, but the process depends on the platform you’re using. 
• Delete a notebook from OneDrive: If your notebook is stored on OneDrive, deleting it from OneNote will also remove it from your cloud storage. 
• Remove a notebook from the app: You can remove a notebook from your OneNote app without deleting it, which might be useful if you want to keep the data stored elsewhere.
  

What You Can’t Do:

• Recover a notebook after deletion: Once a notebook is deleted from OneNote and OneDrive, it cannot be recovered unless you have a backup. 
• Delete only specific sections of a notebook: You can only delete entire notebooks; individual sections must be deleted manually from within the notebook. 

How to Delete a OneNote Notebook on Windows Desktop

Follow these steps to delete a notebook from the OneNote app on Windows:

Close the Notebook in OneNote

1. Open the OneNote app on your Windows computer. 
2. In the Notebooks pane, right-click the notebook you want to delete. 
3. Select Close This Notebook. This removes it from your current OneNote session but does not delete it.
   

Delete the Notebook from OneDrive

1. Open OneDrive by visiting onedrive.live.com in your web browser. 
2. Find the Documents folder or the folder where your OneNote notebooks are stored. 
3. Locate the notebook you want to delete. 
4. Right-click on the notebook file and select Delete.
   

This will permanently remove the notebook from OneDrive and all associated devices.

How to Delete a OneNote Notebook on macOS

To delete a OneNote notebook on a Mac, follow these steps:

Close the Notebook

1. Open the OneNote app on your Mac. 
2. In the Notebooks pane, right-click on the notebook you want to remove. 
3. Select Close This Notebook.
   

 Delete the Notebook from OneDrive

1. Open OneDrive in your browser by going to onedrive.live.com. 
2. Navigate to the folder containing the notebook you want to delete. 
3. Right-click the notebook and select Delete.
   

This will remove the notebook from OneDrive and delete it from your OneNote app on macOS.

How to Delete a OneNote Notebook on Mobile Devices (iOS & Android)

While you can remove a notebook from your mobile device, you cannot delete it permanently using the OneNote mobile app. Instead, you can delete the notebook through OneDrive:

1. Open the OneNote app on your mobile device. 
2. Find the notebook you want to remove. 
3. Tap and hold the notebook name, then select Close to remove it from your app. 
4. To permanently delete it, go to OneDrive via the mobile app or browser, find the notebook, and delete it.
   

How to Delete a OneNote Notebook Using OneNote Online

If you’re using OneNote online, follow these steps:

1. Go to OneNote Online. 
2. Navigate to the Notebooks section and locate the notebook you want to delete. 
3. Click the three dots next to the notebook name and select Close. 
4. To delete it, go to OneDrive in your browser, find the notebook file, and click Delete.
   

How to Recover a Deleted OneNote Notebook

If you’ve accidentally deleted a OneNote notebook, you can attempt to recover it if it was stored in OneDrive:

1. Open OneDrive in your browser. 
2. Go to the Recycle Bin. 
3. Find the notebook and select Restore to return it to its original location.
   

If the notebook was deleted within the last 30 days, you can recover it from OneDrive’s Recycle Bin. After that, it’s permanently deleted.

How to Delete OneNote History and Notes

If you don’t want to delete an entire notebook but want to clear history or individual notes, you can manually delete pages or sections:

1. Open the OneNote app. 
2. Navigate to the section you want to delete. 
3. Right-click on the section or page you want to remove and select Delete.
   

You can also delete content from individual pages by selecting the text or media you want to remove and pressing Delete.

Will Microsoft Ever Let You Delete OneNote Notebooks More Easily?

As of 2025, the process for deleting OneNote notebooks is consistent across platforms, but Microsoft does not provide a one-click option to delete everything from OneNote, including entire notebooks and sections, directly from the app. Deleting notebooks still requires you to go through OneDrive or close the notebook first in the OneNote app.

In the future, Microsoft may introduce simpler ways to manage and delete content within OneNote, but for now, the process remains relatively unchanged.

FAQs About Deleting a OneNote Notebook

Can I delete my OneNote notebook from the app without deleting it from OneDrive?

Yes, you can close a notebook in OneNote, which removes it from the app, but it will remain on OneDrive until you delete it from there manually.

How do I delete a notebook in OneNote if I’m using the mobile app?

You cannot permanently delete a OneNote notebook directly from the mobile app. You can close it in the app, but to delete it, you’ll need to use OneDrive.

Can I recover a deleted OneNote notebook?

Yes, if you deleted the notebook from OneDrive within the last 30 days, you can recover it from the OneDrive Recycle Bin.

Can I delete individual sections or pages from a OneNote notebook?

Yes, you can delete individual sections or pages by selecting them and choosing Delete. However, you cannot delete only specific sections within the notebook through OneDrive.

Does deleting a notebook remove it from all devices?

Yes, deleting a notebook from OneDrive will remove it from all devices where your OneNote is synced.