One Note Notes not Syncing

Because the notebook opens correctly on the web and manual synchronization already fails with 0xE00012E3 (bbchm), back up any desktop-only edits, then close and reopen the notebook from its web URL to reset the Windows app’s connection.

Safely reconnect the notebook

Closing an incompletely synchronized notebook can discard desktop-only changes, so complete step 1 first.

1. Protect unsynchronized work
   • Compare the affected sections in the desktop app with OneNote for the web.
   • Copy any content that exists only in the desktop app into a separate document or a new page that successfully appears online.
   • Do not sign out, uninstall OneNote, or remove its local data; Microsoft warns that doing so during sync troubleshooting can cause data loss.^1^
2. Copy the notebook’s web address
   • In desktop OneNote, select File > Info.
   • Under Year 3, right-click the URL displayed below the notebook name and select Copy.
3. Close the affected notebook
   • Still under File > Info, select Settings beside Year 3.
   • Select Close.
4. Reopen it from the cloud
   • Paste the copied URL into a browser and open it.
   • Confirm that Year 3 and its sections load in OneNote for the web.
   • On the web ribbon, select Open in Desktop App.
   • Allow the notebook time to download and synchronize completely.

This is Microsoft’s documented procedure for resetting the connection between the desktop application and the OneNote service.^1^ A matching 0xE00012E3 (bbchm) case also reports that the error disappeared after the notebook was closed and reopened.^2^

If only particular sections still fail

The screenshot shows errors against several sections. After reopening, if the notebook synchronizes but one or more sections still report errors:

1. Create a new section in the same notebook.
2. For every page in an affected section:
   • Right-click the page.
   • Select Move or Copy.
   • Copy, rather than move, the page into the new section.
3. Press Shift+F9 to synchronize the notebook.
4. Verify that the copied pages appear in OneNote for the web.
5. Only after confirming the online copies are complete, delete the old problem section and rename the new one.

Microsoft recommends this copy-to-new-section procedure when individual sections stop synchronizing.^1^

If reopening does not clear the error

• Select File > Account > Update Options > Update Now, install the available Microsoft 365 updates, and reopen OneNote. The matching error guidance identifies updating OneNote as a subsequent recovery step.^2^
• If this is a work or school notebook stored in SharePoint, contact the Microsoft 365 administrator. Provide:
  • Error 0xE00012E3 (bbchm)
  • Notebook name Year 3
  • Confirmation that it opens in OneNote for the web
  • Confirmation that manual synchronization and the close/reopen procedure failed

Continue editing important notes in OneNote for the web until the desktop notebook shows Up to date.

References

1. [Windows](https://support.microsoft.com/onenote/onenote-help-and-learning/fix-issues-when-you-can-t-sync-onenote#notes-won't-sync)
2. Onenote Error 0xE00012E3 - Microsoft Q&A