OneNote for iOS: Introducing automatic local backups

OneNote for iOS will automatically create local backups of notebooks stored in the iOS Files app, enabling self-service recovery via PC or Mac. This feature, rolling out mid-March to mid-April 2026, respects existing Intune app protection policies and is enabled by default unless restricted by organizational settings. We’re introducing automatic local backups in OneNote for iOS to improve notebook resilience and provide a self‑service recovery option that aligns with the backup experience already available on Windows and macOS. This update helps users recover notebooks independently while giving organizations control through existing Intune app protection policies. When this will happen General Availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCCH and DoD): Rollout will begin in mid-March 2026 and is expected to complete by mid-April 2026. How this affects your organization Who is affected All organizations with users who run OneNote for iOS. Applies to Commercial, GCC, GCC High, and DoD tenants that receive the standard OneNote for iOS app. What will happen OneNote for iOS will automatically create local backups of notebooks. Backups will be stored in a user‑accessible location in the Files app on iOS. Users will be able to recover notebooks using these backups by transferring the backup file to a Windows PC or Mac (iOS does not support opening notebook files directly). The feature will be on by default unless restricted through existing Intune app protection policies. The feature will respect your organization’s existing data protection settings. No new policy configuration will be required. If the Intune Send org data to other apps setting is not set to All apps, OneNote local backups will be automatically disabled for managed users. What you can do to prepare If you want to manage or restrict this capability: Review your existing Intune app protection policies: Send org data to other apps (parent policy) Save copies of org data (child policy) Allow user to save copies to selected services (child policy), with location validation set to Other. If Send org data to other apps is set to anything other than All apps, no action is required—backups will remain disabled automatically. If your organization has no Intune app […]

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