How to recover deleted page in onenote​?

​Microsoft OneNote is a powerful note-taking application that allows users to create, organize, and manage notes across multiple devices. As with any software, OneNote users occasionally encounter the issue of accidentally deleting pages, sections, or entire notebooks. The good news is that Microsoft OneNote has several built-in features to help users recover deleted pages, sections, and notebooks, making data loss less of a concern. 

OneNote’s Recovery Features

Before diving into the specifics of page recovery, it’s important to understand how OneNote handles deleted data. Unlike traditional file systems, where files are moved to the recycle bin before being permanently deleted, OneNote does not immediately remove content when it is deleted. Instead, deleted pages, sections, and notebooks are temporarily moved to a special folder known as the “Deleted Notes” section. This folder allows you to restore your deleted content, provided the data hasn’t been permanently deleted.

When a page is deleted in OneNote, it typically ends up in the “Deleted Notes” section of the notebook. OneNote’s auto-sync feature also plays a role in making sure that changes are quickly reflected across all devices. So, even if you delete a page on one device, other devices may still retain a copy for a short period of time, giving you a better chance of recovery.

Steps to Recover a Deleted Page in OneNote

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how to recover deleted pages in OneNote, based on the platform you’re using:

1. Recovering a Deleted Page in OneNote (Windows Desktop App)

The OneNote desktop app offers a straightforward method for recovering deleted pages. Follow these steps to restore a page that was accidentally deleted:

Step 1: Open OneNote

Launch the OneNote desktop app on your Windows PC.

Step 2: Navigate to the “View” Tab

In the top menu bar, select the “View” tab. This will display the available options for viewing and managing your notes.

Step 3: Click on “Deleted Notes”

In the View tab, find and click on the “Deleted Notes” button. This will open the Deleted Notes section, where you can find all deleted pages, sections, and notebooks.

Step 4: Search for the Deleted Page

In the Deleted Notes section, look for the page you want to recover. Deleted pages are typically listed by the notebook and section they belonged to.

Step 5: Restore the Page

Once you’ve located the deleted page, right-click on it and select “Restore to Current Notebook.” This will restore the deleted page to its original location within the notebook.

Step 6: Sync Your Changes

After restoring the page, make sure to sync your OneNote notebook to ensure the changes are applied across all your devices.

2. Recovering a Deleted Page in OneNote (Mac Desktop App)

If you are using OneNote on a Mac, the recovery process is slightly different but still quite simple. Here’s how to recover a deleted page on the Mac version of OneNote:

Step 1: Open OneNote

Open the OneNote app on your Mac.

Step 2: Go to the “Notebooks” View

In the left sidebar, click on the “Notebooks” option to view all your available notebooks.

Step 3: Open the “Deleted Notes” Section

From the “Notebooks” view, click on the “Deleted Notes” section. This section contains all the deleted content from your notebooks.

Step 4: Find the Deleted Page

Browse through the list of deleted pages to find the page you want to recover. You can also use the search bar at the top to make the process quicker.

Step 5: Restore the Page

Once you find the deleted page, right-click on it and select “Restore to Current Notebook.” This action will restore the page to its original location in your notebook.

Step 6: Sync Your Changes

Ensure that OneNote syncs your changes to all devices by clicking on “File” and then “Sync All Notebooks.”

3. Recovering a Deleted Page in OneNote Online (Web Version)

If you are using OneNote online through a web browser, the steps for recovering a deleted page are fairly similar to the desktop versions. Here’s how you can recover a page on OneNote Web:

Step 1: Open OneNote Online

Open your web browser and navigate to the OneNote Online site (https://www.onenote.com). Log into your Microsoft account if prompted.

Step 2: Go to the Deleted Notes

On the left-hand panel, scroll down and click on “Deleted Notes.” This will show you all the pages, sections, and notebooks that have been deleted.

Step 3: Find the Deleted Page

Browse through the list of deleted content to find the page you want to recover. You can also use the search functionality to locate the page more easily.

Step 4: Restore the Page

Once you find the deleted page, right-click on it and select “Restore.” This will restore the page back to its original location in your notebook.

Step 5: Sync Your Changes

OneNote Online automatically syncs your data, so once the page is restored, it will be reflected on all devices that are connected to your Microsoft account.

4. Recovering a Deleted Page in OneNote (Mobile App)

If you are using OneNote on a mobile device (iOS or Android), recovering a deleted page is just as easy, though the interface is a little more simplified. Here’s how to recover a deleted page using the OneNote mobile app:

Step 1: Open the OneNote App

Launch the OneNote app on your mobile device.

Step 2: Navigate to the “Notebooks” Section

Tap on the “Notebooks” icon in the sidebar to view all your notebooks.

Step 3: Tap on “Deleted Notes”

Scroll down and find the “Deleted Notes” section. This contains all the recently deleted content.

Step 4: Search for the Deleted Page

Tap on the “Deleted Notes” section to view all deleted pages. Browse through them to find the page you wish to recover.

Step 5: Restore the Page

Once you locate the page, tap on it and then select “Restore” or “Restore to Current Notebook” to recover it.

Step 6: Sync Your Changes

Your device will automatically sync your changes once the page is restored, ensuring it is updated across all your devices.

Additional Tips for Recovering Deleted Pages in OneNote

Check Your Recycle Bin (OneDrive): If you are using OneNote in conjunction with OneDrive, you may be able to recover deleted pages from the OneDrive recycle bin. OneDrive keeps deleted files in the recycle bin for 30 days before permanently deleting them. To check for deleted pages on OneDrive:

Go to the OneDrive website and log in to your account.

Navigate to the Recycle Bin section.

If you find your deleted OneNote page there, select it and click “Restore.”

Use Version History: If you can’t find your deleted page in the Deleted Notes folder, you can try using OneNote’s version history feature. This allows you to view and restore previous versions of a page. Right-click on a page in OneNote and select “Version History” to see older versions of the page.

Third-Party Recovery Tools: In some cases, if the page is not found in the Deleted Notes folder or through version history, you may need to use third-party data recovery tools to attempt to recover your OneNote data. These tools can scan your device’s storage for deleted files that have not yet been overwritten.

Preventing Future Data Loss in OneNote

To avoid losing important pages or notes in the future, consider implementing the following strategies:

Use Auto-Save and Sync: OneNote has an auto-save feature that automatically saves your changes as you make them. Ensure that this feature is enabled so that you don’t lose your notes.

Backup Your Notebooks: Periodically back up your notebooks to an external hard drive or cloud storage service to ensure you have a safe copy of your data.

Regularly Check Deleted Notes: Make it a habit to periodically check your Deleted Notes section to ensure that important pages haven’t been accidentally deleted.

Enable Version History: Version history can be a lifesaver if you need to restore an earlier version of a page. Make sure this feature is enabled to take advantage of it when needed.