If you want to change the default OneNote backup folder in Windows 11 or Windows 10, here is how you can do that. It is possible to modify or replace the default backup folder of the OneNote desktop app with the help of the in-built option, Local Group Policy Editor, and the Registry Editor.
By default, OneNote backs up all the files here:
C:\Users\user-name\AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneNote.
However, if you do not want to save data in that specific folder due to any reason, you can change it as per your requirements. In other words, if you want to change the default backup folder location to another drive, you can do that with the help of this guide.
How to change OneNote backup folder in Windows 11/10
To change OneNote backup folder location, follow these steps:
- Open OneNote on your computer.
- Click on File > Options.
- Switch to the Save & Backup tab.
- Select Backup Folder and click on Modify.
- Choose a folder and click on Select.
- Click the OK button.
To learn more about these steps, continue reading.
First, you need to open OneNote on your computer. After that, click on File and select Options visible in the bottom-left corner.
Then, switch to the Save & Backup tab, select the Backup Folder option and click on the Modify button.
After that, you need to choose a folder that you want to set as the backup folder location and click on the Select button.
Finally, click on the OK button to save the change.
How to change OneNote backup folder in Windows 11/10 using Group Policy
To change OneNote backup folder in Windows 11/10 using Group Policy, follow these steps:
- Press Win+R to open the Run prompt.
- Type gpedit.msc and hit the Enter button.
- Navigate to Save in User Configuration.
- Double-click on the Local of Backup Folder setting.
- Select the Enabled option.
- Enter the backup folder location.
- Click the OK button.
- Restart the OneNote app.
Let’s check out these steps in detail.
To get started, you need to open the Local Group Policy Editor on your computer. For that, press Win+R to open the Run prompt, type gpedit.msc, and press the Enter button. Once it is opened on your screen, navigate to the following path:
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft OneNote 2016 > OneNote Options > Save
In the Save folder, you can find a setting named Local of Backup Folder. You need to double-click on this setting to modify the setting. Following that, choose the Enabled option and enter the new backup folder location in the Backup Folder box.
Click the OK button to save the change. Once done, you need to restart the OneNote app if it was already running when you made the changes.
How to change default OneNote backup folder location using Registry
To change default OneNote backup folder location in Windows 11/10, follow these steps:
- Search for regedit and click on individual result.
- Click on the Yes button.
- Navigate to office\16.0 in HKCU.
- Right-click on 16.0 > New > Key and name it as OneNote.
- Right-click on OneNote > New > Key and name it as options.
- Repeat these steps to create another key named paths.
- Right-click on paths > New > String Value.
- Set the name as backupfolderpath.
- Double-click on it to set the Value data as the new folder path.
- Click the OK button.
- Restart your computer.
Let’s find out more about these steps.
To get started, search for regedit, click on the individual search result and click on the Yes button on the UAC prompt to open the Registry Editor.
Then, navigate to this path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\office\16.0
Right-click on 16.0 > New > Key and name it as onenote. Then, right-click on onenote > New > Key and set the name as options.
Repeat the same steps to create a key under options and name it paths. Once done, right-click on paths > New > String Value and set the name as backupfolderpath.
Then, double-click on this String Value and set the Value data as the folder path.
Click the OK button, close all windows, and restart your computer.
How do I change the location of OneNote in Windows 11/10?
If you want to change the default location of the Quick Notes Section, Backup Folder, and Default Notebook Location of OneNote in Windows 11/10, you need to follow the above-mentioned guides. In short, you need to open the OneNote Options panel and go to the Save & Backup section. Then, choose what you want to change, and click the Modify button. Following that, you can select the new location.
Read: How to change the default Save location in Office
Where is OneNote saved locally?
By default, OneNote saves all the notes here: C:\Users\user-name\Documents\OneNote Notebooks. However, if you want, you can change this location without any problem. For that, open the OneNote Options and switch to the Save & Backup section. Then, select the Default Notebook Location option, and click the Modify option. Finally, you can choose the new location as per your requirements.
