Microsoft OneNote is one of the oldest and most feature-rich note-taking applications out there. Unfortunately, even after years of development, the program suffers from Sync issues Randomness andOffline error Read-only status. The latter is quite confusing because it won't allow you to make any changes to the note in OneNote. Here are the best ways to fix the Read-only status in OneNote on Windows.
OneNote may be running read-only due to incorrect sharing permissions or changes to the notebook's properties. Let's discuss each possible scenario and troubleshoot the issue for you.
1. Disable read-only from the notebook properties.
By default, OneNote saves all notebooks in OneDrive app on WindowsYou can view these notebooks from the File Manager menu.
If you have "read-only" enabled for your notebook, it's time to disable it. With read-only status, you can only open the notebook and cannot make any changes to it.
Step 1: Open File Manager on a Windows computer using the Windows + E shortcut.
Step 2: Go to OneDrive > OneNote, and you'll see all your stored OneNote notebooks in the list.
Step 3: Right-click on the notebook that is causing you trouble and open Properties.
Step 4: From General > Themes, disable Read Only and click OK at the bottom.
Open OneNote and try to access a note in it.
2. Reopen the notebook
This trick worked wonders when we encountered OneNote sync errors and offline errors on a specific OneNote notebook. You can close and reopen a notebook from the same location. Here's what you need to do.
Step 1: Open OneNote on Windows 10/11.
Step 2: Click All Notebooks at the top and right-click a notebook that shows read-only status.
Step 4: Go to File > Open and locate the notebook from OneDrive and open it.
Try opening notes from the notebook section and you won't see the read-only error.
3. Get an editable link
OneNote also lets you: Sharing notebooks With others. If you're working with shared notebooks and receive a view-only link, you won't be able to edit the note. It will appear as read-only.
You must ask your administrator to send you a notebook link with editing permission. Here's how.
Step 1: Open the OneNote notebook you want to share.
Step 2: Go to File > Share > Get Share Link.
Step 3: Click Create Edit Link and share it with others.
From now on, anyone with access to the link can make Changes to the notebook OneNote. So be careful when sharing it with others.
4. Close ONENOTE from other devices
It's possible that the same note is open on another device. For example, if it's open on a Mac and you're trying to access it on a Windows computer.
In such cases, OneNote will continue to show read-only status. This means you can only open and use a note on one device at a time.
5. Activate your Microsoft 365 subscription.
Do you use the OneNote app that comes with your Microsoft 365 subscription? Most laptop manufacturers offer a 30-day free trial of Microsoft 365 Personal.
If you're using a free trial, it will expire after 30 days, and OneNote will stop in read-only mode.
You need to purchase a Microsoft 365 package or choose the free OneNote app for Windows available from the Microsoft Store.
Download OneNote from the Microsoft Store
6. Check the storage on the drive.
Microsoft offers only 5 GB of free OneDrive storage. This may not be enough for premium OneNote users. You can either purchase additional OneDrive storage from Microsoft or opt for a Microsoft 365 subscription, which unlocks all Office apps and 1 TB of OneDrive storage.
7. Update ONENOTE
If you're using the native Windows OneNote app, you'll need to check for updates or install the latest version from the Microsoft Store.
Older OneNote built on Windows 10/11 may show read-only status when you try to access a notebook.
Open the Microsoft Store app and go to the Library menu. Tap Get Update, and you'll see the new OneNote version, if available.
Install the OneNote update and try editing notes in it.
Start editing ONENOTE notes
If your OneNote pages still show read-only status, try accessing the same notebook from OneNote on the web. Even with Competitors like Notion و Apple Notes And Evernote, OneNote remains our top choice for several reasons.
Issues like a read-only notebook can ruin your mood. The methods above should fix the read-only status in OneNote, and you can start editing your notes again.
