OneNote is a widely-used digital note-taking application by Microsoft that allows users to create, organize, and share notes across devices. One of its key features is automatic syncing, which ensures that your notes are always up to date no matter where or on which device you access them. However, users occasionally encounter sync errors like Error Code 0xE00009C8, which indicates that OneNote is struggling to sync one or more notebooks.
If you’ve encountered this error, here are several potential solutions to help fix the problem and restore smooth syncing functionality.
1. Check Your Internet Connection
Since OneNote relies on cloud storage services such as OneDrive for syncing, a stable internet connection is crucial. A weak or intermittent connection can trigger sync errors like 0xE00009C8. Here are steps to ensure your connection is not the issue:
– Restart your Wi-Fi or modem: Simply restarting your internet connection can fix minor connectivity issues.
– Switch networks: If possible, switch to a different Wi-Fi network or use mobile data to see if the error persists.
– Test your internet speed: If your connection is slow, OneNote may have difficulty syncing. Visit a site like Speedtest.net to check your internet speed.
2. Update OneNote
Using an outdated version of OneNote can lead to sync errors. Check for updates in OneNote, as newer versions often include bug fixes and performance improvements that could resolve error 0xE00009C8.
– For Windows 10 or the OneNote desktop app: Go to File > Account > Office Updates > Update Now.
– For OneNote on mobile devices: Head to your respective app store (Google Play Store or Apple App Store) and update the app if a new version is available.
After updating, try syncing your notebook again to see if the issue has been resolved.
3. Verify OneDrive Storage Limit
Since OneNote stores its notebooks in OneDrive, reaching your OneDrive storage limit could cause sync errors. If your storage is full, OneNote won’t be able to sync new changes, which can lead to error 0xE00009C8. Here’s how you can check:
– Go to OneDrive.com and log in with your Microsoft account.
– Check your available storage in the bottom-left corner of the page.
– If you’re close to or over the storage limit, delete unnecessary files or upgrade your storage plan.
Once you’ve cleared enough space, try syncing OneNote again.
4. Move the Notebook to a New Location
Sometimes, the problem may be specific to the current location where the notebook is stored. You can move the notebook to a new location in OneDrive, which could resolve the issue.
– Go to OneDrive and find the problematic notebook.
– Download the notebook and save it to your local drive.
– Upload it back to OneDrive under a new folder or with a new name.
– Open OneNote, select File > Open > Browse, and navigate to the new location to open the notebook.
Once the notebook is in a new location, try syncing it to see if the error persists.
5. Clear OneNote Cache
Corrupted cache files in OneNote can prevent the program from syncing properly, leading to errors like 0xE00009C8. Clearing the OneNote cache can resolve these issues without deleting your notebooks. Here’s how to do it:
– Close OneNote on your desktop.
– Navigate to the OneNote cache folder (usually found at: `C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneNote\[Version]\cache`).
– Delete the contents of this folder.
– Restart OneNote, and the app will rebuild the cache when it next syncs.
After clearing the cache, open the notebook and check if the sync issue is resolved.
6. Repair Office Installation
If OneNote is part of your Microsoft Office suite, performing a repair on your Office installation might fix the issue.
– Open Control Panel > Programs and Features.
– Locate Microsoft Office, right-click it, and select Change.
– Choose Quick Repair. If the problem persists, try the Online Repair option, which takes longer but can resolve more in-depth issues.
Once the repair is complete, restart OneNote and check if the sync error is fixed.
7. Check OneNote Status Online
If OneNote’s servers are experiencing downtime or maintenance, it could cause sync errors. You can check Microsoft’s service status online at the Office 365 Service Health portal or a third-party site like Downdetector to see if OneNote is experiencing outages.
If the service is down, there’s little you can do but wait for Microsoft to fix the problem.
8. Reinstall OneNote
If none of the above steps work, reinstalling OneNote can resolve deep-seated issues related to the app’s installation. To do this:
– Uninstall OneNote via the Control Panel (for desktop) or through your device’s app store (for mobile).
– Restart your device.
– Reinstall the app from the official Microsoft website or app store.
The OneNote sync failure error code 0xE00009C8 can be frustrating, but in most cases, it’s solvable using one of the steps outlined above. Whether it’s clearing the cache, checking your internet connection, updating the app, or moving the notebook to a new location, these solutions should help you get OneNote syncing properly again. If all else fails, Microsoft Support is always an option for further assistance.
