Deleting a OneNote notebook removes it permanently from your account

When you delete a OneNote notebook, it goes to your recycle bin for 93 days before permanent removal. During that window, you can restore it if you change your mind. After 93 days, the notebook and all its pages are gone for good. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use OneNote on the web, Windows, or Mac, but the principle is the same: find the notebook, open its menu, and choose delete.

Before you delete, understand what you're losing. A notebook contains all the pages, sections, and notes you've stored in it. If you've been using it for work or school, those notes won't be recoverable after the 93-day window closes. If you only want to stop seeing the notebook but might need it later, consider archiving or renaming it instead of deleting.

Key Takeaways

  • Deleted notebooks sit in your recycle bin for 93 days and can be restored during that time.
  • On the web, right-click the notebook name in the left sidebar and select Delete Notebook.
  • On Windows or Mac, open the notebook, click the three-dot menu, and choose Delete Notebook.
  • After 93 days, the notebook is permanently removed and cannot be recovered.
  • If you're unsure about deletion, rename the notebook or move it to a folder instead.

Delete a notebook on OneNote online

Open OneNote in your web browser and sign in with your Microsoft account. On the left side of the screen, you'll see a list of your notebooks. Find the notebook you want to delete, right-click directly on its name, and a small menu will appear with several options.

Click Delete Notebook from that menu. OneNote will ask you to confirm the deletion—this is your final note to change your mind before the notebook moves to the recycle bin. Click the confirmation button, and the notebook disappears from your main list. It now sits in your recycle bin, where it will stay for 93 days.

Delete a notebook on Windows

Open OneNote on your Windows computer and navigate to the notebook you want to delete. At the top of the window, click the three horizontal dots (the menu icon), then look for an option labeled Delete Notebook or Notebook Settings. The exact wording depends on your OneNote version.

If you see Notebook Settings, click it first, then find the delete option within that menu. OneNote will ask you to confirm. After you confirm, the notebook moves to your recycle bin. You can still restore it from there within 93 days by opening your account settings and finding the recycle bin or deleted items section.

Delete a notebook on Mac

Open OneNote on your Mac and select the notebook you want to remove. Click the File menu at the top of your screen, then scroll down to find Delete Notebook. If you don't see it when ready, look for a settings or options menu within the File menu.

Click Delete Notebook and confirm your choice when prompted. The notebook will be removed from your sidebar and sent to your recycle bin. Like the web and Windows versions, you have 93 days to change your mind and restore it from the recycle bin before it's permanently deleted.

Restore a deleted notebook within 93 days

If you delete a notebook by mistake, you can bring it back as long as you act within 93 days. On OneNote online, click your profile picture in the top right corner, then select Settings. Look for an option called Recycle Bin or Deleted Items—this varies by account type.

Find the notebook you want to restore in the list, click it, and select Restore. The notebook will reappear in your main notebook list exactly as it was before deletion, with all pages and sections intact. On Windows and Mac, the process is similar: go to your account settings through the app, find the recycle bin, and restore from there.

What happens after 93 days

After 93 days in the recycle bin, OneNote permanently deletes the notebook. At that point, there is no way to recover it—not through OneNote, not through Microsoft support, not through any other method. The pages, sections, and all content within the notebook are gone.

If you think you might need a notebook in the future but don't want it cluttering your main list, consider renaming it with a prefix like "Archive:" instead of deleting it. This keeps it out of your way but preserves the content indefinitely. You can always delete it later if you're certain you won't need it.

Alternatives to deleting a notebook

Before you delete, think about whether you actually need to remove the notebook or just hide it. If you want to keep the content but stop seeing it in your daily list, you can archive the notebook by renaming it with a label like "Old Notes" or moving it to a separate folder. This keeps the notebook accessible if you ever need to search it, but it won't clutter your active workspace.

Another option is to share the notebook with someone else if it contains information they should have, then delete your copy. This way, the content isn't lost—it's just stored in someone else's account. You can also export pages as PDFs or Word documents before deleting, which creates a backup you can store elsewhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover a notebook after the 93-day window closes?

No. Once 93 days have passed since deletion, the notebook is permanently removed from OneNote and Microsoft's servers. There is no recovery option after that point. If you think you might need a notebook, restore it from the recycle bin before the 93 days are up.

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

No. If you shared the notebook with others, deleting it from your account only removes your copy. The people you shared it with will still have access to their copies. If you want to remove it from their accounts too, you must unshare it before deleting, or ask them to delete their copies separately.

What's the difference between deleting a notebook and deleting a section?

Deleting a section removes only the pages within that section, not the entire notebook. Deleting a notebook removes everything inside it—all sections and all pages. If you only want to remove some notes, delete the specific section instead of the whole notebook.

Can I delete a notebook if I don't own it but it was shared with me?

No. You can only delete notebooks you created or own. If someone shared a notebook with you, you can remove it from your view by unsharing it or hiding it, but you cannot delete the original notebook. The owner must delete it from their account.

Will deleting a OneNote notebook free up storage space in my Microsoft account?

Yes, but only after the 93-day recycle bin period ends. While the notebook is in the recycle bin, it still counts toward your storage limit. Once it's permanently deleted after 93 days, that storage space becomes available again.