Why do my folders keep moving around in my OneNote and when I move them back to alphabetical they do not stay that way?

OneNote does not have a built-in feature to automatically sort folders or sections in alphabetical order. The arrangement of notebooks, sections, and pages is typically manual, and any changes you make might not persist if the application is syncing or if there are issues with the notebook's location (such as being in an offline folder).

If your folders are rearranging themselves, it could be due to OneNote syncing with the cloud or conflicts arising from multiple users accessing the same notebook. Additionally, if your notebook is located in an offline folder, it may not sync correctly, leading to unexpected behavior.

To resolve this, make sure that your notebooks are not in an offline location and check for any syncing issues. You can also try moving the notebooks to a different location, such as OneDrive or SharePoint, to ensure better synchronization and stability.

If the problem persists, consider checking the settings or consulting support for further assistance.

Hello Robin Edgar,

The important thing to know is that OneNote doesn’t actually treat notebooks and sections like traditional folders. Instead, the order is managed by the sync service, and depending on whether you’re using OneNote for Windows 10, OneNote desktop (Microsoft 365), or the web version, the way notebooks are displayed can differ.

What’s happening in your case is most likely tied to synchronization behavior. When notebooks are stored in SharePoint, OneDrive, or Teams, the service pushes down its own ordering rules. That’s why even if you manually drag sections or pages into alphabetical order, they can revert after sync. OneNote doesn’t currently have a built‑in “sort alphabetically” option for notebooks or sections, so the order is either manual (per device) or dictated by the service.

To keep things consistent, you have two practical options:

• Rename notebooks or sections with a prefix (like numbers or letters) so they naturally sort the way you want across all devices.
• Stick to one version of OneNote (for example, the Microsoft 365 desktop app) to avoid conflicts between the Windows 10 app and the web version, since they sometimes display notebooks differently.

I hope this helps,

If this guidance proves helpful, please kindly click “Accept Answer” so we know we’re heading in the right direction 😊. And of course, I’m here if you need further clarification or support.

Domic Vo.