How to Permanently Delete a Cloud-Based OneNote Notebook

Closing a notebook in OneNote does not delete it. Cloud-based notebooks are stored in services such as OneDrive or SharePoint, so permanent deletion must happen at the storage location.

How to delete a notebook

1. Close it in OneNote. This removes the notebook from the app but leaves its data untouched.

2. Open OneDrive or SharePoint and locate the notebook in its actual storage location.

3. Delete the complete notebook rather than individual sections.

4. Check the recycle bin. A normally deleted notebook remains recoverable until it is removed from the recycle bin or the retention period expires.

5. Empty the recycle bin if you want to remove it immediately from your accessible storage.

Business accounts need extra attention

Microsoft 365 business and SharePoint environments may have additional recycle-bin stages or organizational retention policies. These can preserve deleted information even after a user empties the recycle bin.

The key distinction is simple: closing removes a notebook from OneNote; deleting removes it from cloud storage. For permanent removal, always check the underlying storage and its recycle bin.

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