How to clear OneNote cache on Mac?

Microsoft OneNote is an essential note-taking application used by professionals, students, and anyone who wants to organize information effectively. While the Mac version of OneNote performs reliably in most cases, users may occasionally experience performance issues, sync errors, or a bloated application due to a growing cache. Clearing the OneNote cache on macOS can resolve many of these problems. This guide will walk you through the process of safely and thoroughly removing your OneNote cache so you can return to a smooth note-taking experience.

Why Clear the OneNote Cache?

The cache is a local copy of files and data that helps OneNote run faster and work offline. However, over time the cache can grow in size, become corrupted, or contain outdated information, which may cause:

Syncing issues between local notes and the cloud
Slow performance and lag when opening or editing notebooks
Display errors such as missing images or outdated content

Clearing the cache is a safe process that helps in refreshing the application’s data without deleting your notebooks—in fact, your online notebooks will re-sync once the application is restarted.

Step-by-Step Guide to Clearing OneNote Cache on Mac

Before beginning, make sure all your notes are synced and backed up. It’s also recommended to close OneNote completely before proceeding.

Step 1: Quit OneNote

Ensure OneNote is not running:

Click on the OneNote menu in the top-left corner of your screen
Select Quit OneNote
Alternatively, press Command + Q

Step 2: Open Finder

Navigate to Finder, which you’ll use to locate the application’s cache folder.

Step 3: Access the Containers Folder

Inside Finder, follow these steps to reach the OneNote cache location:

Click Go on the top menu
Choose Go to Folder…
Type in this path and hit Enter:

~/Library/Containers

This folder contains data used by applications from the Mac App Store, including Microsoft OneNote.

Step 4: Locate and Remove the OneNote Cache Folder

Inside the Containers directory, find the following folder:

com.microsoft.onenote.mac

To clear the cache:

Make a copy of this folder elsewhere if you want to be extra cautious
Then delete the original com.microsoft.onenote.mac folder
Empty the trash to complete removal

This will delete locally cached files. Your notebooks will still exist on the cloud and will sync again when you reopen the app.

Step 5: Restart OneNote

After clearing the cache, relaunch OneNote from your Applications folder. It may take a few moments to re-sync your notebooks, especially if they are large or if you have many of them. This is a normal part of the reinitialization process.

Alternative: Use Terminal to Clear Cache

For advanced users, the Terminal application can speed up the process of deleting the cache. Here’s how:

Open the Terminal application (found in Utilities)
Enter the following command:

rm -rf ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.onenote.mac

Press Enter and the folder will be removed. Always double-check the path before executing such commands to avoid deleting critical system files.

Important Considerations

While clearing the cache helps in resolving performance or syncing problems, it should not be used as a routine maintenance step unless you are advised or face persistent issues. Additionally:

Make sure OneNote is synced with your Microsoft account
Double check that any recent changes to notes have uploaded to the cloud
Don’t delete files if you’re unsure of their purpose

It’s also advisable to periodically check the size of the cache folder, especially if you’re storing lots of multimedia content in OneNote.

Conclusion

Clearing the OneNote cache on a Mac is a straightforward process that can resolve many common errors and performance hiccups. By following the comprehensive steps above, you ensure a smooth and efficient note-taking experience without compromising your stored data. Always remember to sync and backup your notebooks before making any significant changes to the application’s system files.