“We couldn’t start OneNote the last time we tried” error

We couldn't start OneNote the last time we tried. What do you want us to do? We're not sure what went wrong.
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“We couldn’t start OneNote the last time we tried” error

To fix the “We couldn’t start OneNote the last time we tried” error, try the three buttons on the error pop-up first, starting with Normal Mode.

How to Solve:

If the pop-up keeps returning or OneNote crashes immediately, follow the troubleshooting steps below to fix the problem
Step 1: Use the Error Pop-up Options
When the error box appears, it gives you three choices. Try them in this exact order: 
    1. Start Normally: Click this first. Sometimes it was just a temporary glitch.
    2. Delete Notebook Cache: If starting normally fails, reopen OneNote and click this. It clears stuck files but might take time to re-sync your notes.
    3. Delete Settings: If the top two options fail, click this to reset your OneNote app settings to default. 

Step 2: Clear Windows Credentials
Sometimes a bad login loop causes OneNote to crash on launch. Resetting your login data can fix it: 
    1. Close all Office apps.
    2. Open your Windows Control Panel.
    3. Click User Accounts and then choose Credential Manager.
    4. Select Windows Credentials.
    5. Look for any item with MicrosoftOffice or MicrosoftAccount in the name.
    6. Click the arrow next to them and select Remove.
    7. Restart your computer and try opening OneNote again. 

Step 3: Repair the Office Installation
If OneNote files are corrupted, running a built-in repair tool will fix them:
    1. Right-click your Windows Start menu button and choose Installed apps (or Apps and Features).
    2. Scroll down to find your Microsoft Office or Microsoft 365 product.
    3. Click the three dots (or right-click) and select Modify.
    4. Choose Quick Repair and click Repair.
    5. If the problem stays, repeat the steps but choose Online Repair instead.

Step 4: Delete the Cache Folder Manually
If you cannot even click the pop-up buttons before the app closes, you can wipe the cache folder manually:
  1. Make sure OneNote is completely closed.
  2. Press the Windows Key + R on your keyboard to open the Run box.
  3. Type %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneNote and hit Enter.
  4. Open the folder named after your version number (usually 16.0).
  5. Look for a folder named Cache, right-click it, and Delete it. 
 
  1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog.
  2. Type services.msc and press Enter.
  3. Scroll down, right-click Windows Firewall (or Windows Defender Firewall), and select Properties.
  4. Set the Startup type to Automatic, click Apply, and then click Start if the service is stopped.
  5. Restart Outlook and try previewing your attachment.

 Disable Protected View (Alternative)

If your organization requires the firewall to be disabled, you can bypass the preview restriction by turning off Protected View within your Office apps:

  1. Open Word or Excel (this must be done in the standalone app, not Outlook).
  2. Go to File > Options.
  3. Select Trust Center > Trust Center Settings.
  4. Click Protected View and uncheck Enable Protected View for Outlook attachments.
  5. Click OK, restart Outlook, and check if the preview works.

Repair Office 

1. Open Control Panel
Click the Windows Start button, type Control Panel into the search box, and select it from the results.

2. Access Installed Programs
Under the Programs category, click Uninstall a program. (If your Control Panel is set to large/small icons, click Programs and Features directly).

3. Locate Microsoft Office
Scroll down the list until you find your Office version (e.g., Microsoft 365, Microsoft Office 2021, or Microsoft Office 2016).

4. Initiate the Repair
Click on the Office application to highlight it, and then click Change at the top of the program list.

5. Choose Repair Option
A window will pop up asking how you would like to repair your programs. Select Online Repair, then click the Repair button.

Note: A Quick Repair option is also available and fixes most issues faster without needing an internet connection, but Online Repair does a more thorough cleanup and restoration.

6. Complete and Restart
Let the process run (it may take 10-20 minutes depending on your internet speed). Once finished, restart your computer and try opening your Office applications again.

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