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When I try to create a new notebook in OneNote for Mac, I receive the following error:
Cannot Create This Notebook
The location may not be available at this time, or you might not have permission to save files on it. Also try using fewer characters in your notebook name.
Simple solution just found it:
Seems to be a problem with university-sponsored 365 accounts.
Well, I experienced the same issue, It wouldn't login to my Microsoft account from the desktop application no matter how many times I tried. So, I tried to open it from the web application from onenote, created a new note and clicked on the option called 'Open in Desktop App' then it automatically logged in on my desktop application.
OneNote for the Mac is designed to work with Microsoft's (free) cloud service. Have you signed up for an account and linked OneNote to that account?
https://onedrive.live.com/about/en-us/
I am thinking that is the most likely cause of that error.
I was getting the exact same error message when I just set up OneNote through my University, and it kept asking me to sign in repeatedly.
Turns out, at least for me, the OneDrive cloud service that it was using wasn't actually set up yet even though I'd registered. I had to go to the OneNote website online to get to the OneDrive for Business and sign in there to get the drive set up. Once I did that I didn't have any problems!
I went through this as well with the same message. It would only show the OneDrive as my uni's. What you need to do is download the app OneDrive and then sign up. Works a treat now!
It may help if you log in to OneNote via your browser, create the new notebook, then click the tab (top right of browser page) to "open in OneNote, then it will open the app and force the app to open the new notebook. It's a Microsoft problem with syncing, where even if you're signed in to OneDrive, it won't let you create a new Notebook...alternatively, there is always Evernote!
For the people having problems with say the uni accounts.
I kept having this issue and couldn't get around it for ages. In the end what I decided to do is set up a microsoft account using my zmail (or whatever email you're using), go to onedrive and set it up for that email. Then connect the service in one note and it should allow you to create a workbook for that onedrive.
Found a solution: Start by signing out and singing back in with your school/work email. Seems to be a problem with school and work accounts.
At the time of the occurrence of the error, all the recommendations given in the above answers were already tried with no luck. This was due to a Microsoft bug which has been addressed a while ago.
Thanks to all of the contributors, anyway.
Had the exact same problem, mine is not a university account, but a personal 365. One of the solutions above helped. I logged into one note from browser and then changed the note save location - it prompted me to login again and the problem was gone.
For me it was the online privacy preference setting in the office suite. I had everything toggled off and that must have prevented the sync with MS one drive. Once activated and then one note closed and restarted - all worked.
Sign out of your OneNote account then log back in. That should fix the issue.
