Synch error

Leblanc, Colleen B 20 Reputation points
2026-10-19T14:05:05.16+00:00

I am receiving an Incomplete sync error "We can't access this section file or the attached file because the file was moved, the file name is invalid, or the file permissions have been changed. (Error code: 0x2 bdf5f)". How do I find what file it is referring to?

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneNote | For business | Windows
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Answer accepted by question author
Daniel-Vo 7,900 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
2026-10-19T14:44:23.5533333+00:00

Hello,

Thank you for reaching out. I understand that you're receiving an “Incomplete sync” error with code 0x2 bdf5f, indicating that a section file or an attached file cannot be accessed because its location, name, or permissions may have changed. I'll be happy to guide you through some troubleshooting steps.

If you're experiencing this issue in OneNote, please try the following:

1/ Check the synchronization status

  • Open OneNote.
  • Select File > Info > View Sync Status.
  • In the Shared Notebook Synchronization window, expand the affected notebook using the arrow beside it.
  • Check which section displays the sync error.

2/ Check for misplaced sections

  • Open your notebook in OneNote.
  • If it appears, open it and check whether the affected section is listed.

3/ Check the notebook online

  • Open your notebook in OneNote for the web.
  • Check whether the affected section is accessible and whether your latest changes are visible.
  • If the section is missing, check its original storage location in OneDrive or SharePoint, including the Recycle Bin if necessary.

Important: Before closing the notebook or making changes, back up any unsynchronized content to help prevent data loss.

Reference: Fix issues when you can't sync OneNote | Microsoft Support

Best regards,

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  1. AI answer

    2026-10-19T14:05:45.5533333+00:00

    In OneNote for Windows, open File > Info > View Sync Status, then expand the notebook marked with a yellow warning triangle to display the section causing error 0x2 bdf5f.^1^

    Find the affected section

    1. Open the OneNote desktop app.
    2. Select File > Info > View Sync Status.
    3. In Shared Notebook Synchronization, find the notebook with the yellow warning triangle.
    4. Select its notebook icon to display the name of the section that is failing.
    5. Select Sync Now beside that notebook and note whether the error remains associated with that section.

    OneNote may identify only the section, not the exact page or attachment. The error text alone does not provide a filename.

    Safely isolate and replace the failing section

    If only that section fails while the rest of the notebook syncs:

    1. Create a new section in the same notebook.
    2. In the affected section, right-click each page and select Move or Copy.
    3. Select the new section and choose Copy—do not move the pages, so the originals remain available.
    4. After copying the pages, press Shift+F9 to synchronize the notebook.
    5. If the new section syncs successfully, delete the old section and rename the new section as needed.^1^

    If the error follows the copied content, repeat with smaller groups of pages to narrow it to a page containing the unavailable attachment. Preserve the original section until all required content has synced.

    If View Sync Status does not identify an active section

    Check for a stale or corrupted item in the notebook’s Recycle Bin:

    1. Select History > Notebook Recycle Bin.
    2. Inspect the sections and pages there.
    3. For anything needed, right-click it and select Move or Copy, or copy its content into a valid section.
    4. Only after preserving required content, delete the original Recycle Bin item and synchronize again.^1^

    Deletion is permanent, so do not delete a section merely to test whether it is responsible.

    If the whole notebook is affected

    First copy or otherwise back up any recent unsynced notes. Do not sign out, uninstall OneNote, or close the notebook before preserving them, because Microsoft warns that these actions can cause data loss.

    Then reset the notebook’s sync connection:

    1. Go to File > Info.
    2. Right-click the notebook URL and select Copy.
    3. Beside the notebook, select Settings > Close.
    4. Paste the copied URL into a browser.
    5. After the notebook opens in OneNote for the web, select Open in Desktop App.^1^

    If the notebook cannot be opened in the browser, the issue is with its stored OneDrive or SharePoint location rather than only the desktop cache. For a business SharePoint notebook, contact the Microsoft 365 or SharePoint administrator to verify that the notebook and affected section still exist and that access has not changed.

    References

    1. [Windows](https://support.microsoft.com/onenote/onenote-help-and-learning/fix-issues-when-you-can-t-sync-onenote#sections-or-pages-won't-sync)
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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