Quick Ways to Recover .ONETOC2 Files After System Problems

Have files been deleted due to a user’s error or software error? Have you formatted a disk by accident and need to know how to recover the files? Read our .ONETOC2 file recovery guide for Windows, MacOS, Android and IOS in 2024.

Quick Ways to Recover .ONETOC2 Files After System Problems

What is a .ONETOC2 file?

Index file created by Microsoft OneNote, a program used for personal journaling and note taking; stores information about the ordering of different note-taking sections; used for organizing the collection of notes in the notebook.

What Are Common Causes of ".ONETOC2" Files Lost or Failure?

There are several common causes of ".ONETOC2" files being lost or experiencing failure:

  1. Accidental deletion: Users may accidentally delete the ".ONETOC2" files while managing or organizing their OneNote notebooks.
  2. File system corruption: Issues with the file system, such as disk errors or improper shutdowns, can lead to corruption of the ".ONETOC2" files.
  3. Software or system crashes: If OneNote or the operating system crashes while the ".ONETOC2" files are being accessed or modified, it can cause data loss or corruption.
  4. Virus or malware infections: Malicious software can infect and damage the ".ONETOC2" files, making them inaccessible or causing them to fail.
  5. Syncing issues: If there are problems with syncing OneNote notebooks across devices or with cloud storage services, it can result in the loss or failure of ".ONETOC2" files.
  6. Hardware failure: Hard drive failures, power outages, or other hardware issues can lead to the loss or corruption of ".ONETOC2" files.
  7. Software updates or upgrades: Sometimes, when updating or upgrading OneNote or related software, compatibility issues can arise, resulting in the loss or failure of ".ONETOC2" files.

It is important to regularly back up your OneNote notebooks to prevent the loss of ".ONETOC2" files and other important data.

How to recover lost ".ONETOC2" files?

Sometimes while working with a computer, laptop or other stationary or mobile devices, you may encounter various bugs, freezes, hardware or software failures, even in spite of regular updates and junk cleaning. As a result, an important ".ONETOC2" file may be deleted.

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🧺 How to Recover Files and Folders After Sending Them to the Recycle Bin and Deleting? (Windows 11)

🧺 How to Recover Files and Folders After Sending Them to the Recycle Bin and Deleting? (Windows 11)

By no means should you think that the only way to recover a ".ONETOC2" file is always to create it once more.

Use programs for recovering ".ONETOC2" files if a file was lost after accidental or deliberate deleting, formatting the memory card or the internal storage, cleaning the storage device, after a virus attack or a system failure.

Programs to recover ".ONETOC2" files

Looking for a way to get files back? In cases when files were deleted and they cannot be restored by using standard operating system tools, use Hetman Partition Recovery.

Partition Recovery™ 4.9
The tool recovers data from any devices, regardless of the cause of data loss.
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Follow the directions below:

  1. Download Hetman Partition Recovery, install and start the program.

  2. The program will automatically scan the computer and display all hard disks and removable drives connected to it, as well as physical and local disks.

    File Recovery Software
  3. Double-click on the disk from which you need to recover ".ONETOC2" files, and select analysis type.

    Hetman Partition Recovery - Analysis Type
  4. When the scanning is over, you will be shown the files for recovery.

    Hetman Partition Recovery - Files that Can be Restored
  5. To find a file you need, use the program’s interface to open the folder it was deleted from, or go to the folder "Content-Aware Analysis" and select the required file type.

    Hetman Partition Recovery - Deep Scan
  6. Select the files you have been looking for and click "Recovery".

    File Recovery Software - Files List for Recovery
  7. Choose one of the methods for saving the files and recover them.

    Saving recovered files in Hetman Partition Recovery

How to open file with ".ONETOC2" extension?

Looking for how to open a stereo microsoft OneNote Table of Contents File image file file?

Programs that open ".ONETOC2" files

Windows
Microsoft OneNote 2016 Microsoft OneNote 2016

Additional Information

  • File type: Microsoft OneNote Table of Contents File

  • File extension: .ONETOC2

  • Developer: Microsoft

  • Category: Settings Files

  • Format: Binary

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Comments (1)

  • Hetman Software: Data Recovery
    Hetman Software: Data Recovery 18.12.2019 16:13 #
    Leave a comment if you have any questions about Recovering lost .ONETOC2 files after deleting, cleaning or formatting!
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Vladimir Artiukh

Author: Vladimir Artiukh, Technical Writer

Vladimir Artiukh is a technical writer for Hetman Software, as well as the voice and face of their English-speaking YouTube channel, Hetman Software: Data Recovery for Windows. He handles tutorials, how-tos, and detailed reviews on how the company’s tools work with all kinds of data storage devices.

Oleg Afonin

Editor: Oleg Afonin, Technical Writer

Oleg Afonin is an expert in mobile forensics, data recovery and computer systems. He often attends large data security conferences, and writes several blogs for such resources as xaker.ru, Elcomsoft and Habr. In addition to his online activities, Oleg’s articles are also published in professional magazines. Also, Oleg Afonin is the co-author of a well-known book, Mobile Forensics - Advanced Investigative Strategies.

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Questions and answers

  • What is a .ONETOC2 backup file and how is it created?

    A .ONETOC2 backup file is a file created by Microsoft OneNote to store backup information about a notebook. OneNote uses these files to track changes made to a notebook and to recover data in case of any issues or data loss.

    The .ONETOC2 file is created automatically by OneNote when you create or modify a notebook. It contains information such as the structure of the notebook, page hierarchy, and other metadata. This file is stored alongside the notebook files and is used by OneNote to keep track of changes and ensure data integrity.

    Whenever you create a new notebook or make changes to an existing one, OneNote automatically creates a .ONETOC2 file to reflect those changes. It is a hidden file and is not meant to be directly accessed or modified by users. Its purpose is to provide a backup and recovery mechanism for OneNote notebooks.

  • How can I restore a .ONETOC2 backup file in Microsoft OneNote?

    To restore a .ONETOC2 backup file in Microsoft OneNote, you can follow these steps:

    1. Open Microsoft OneNote on your computer.
    2. In the navigation pane, click on the "File" tab located at the top left corner.
    3. From the drop-down menu, click on "Open Backup".
    4. A dialog box will appear showing the backup files available. Browse to the location where the .ONETOC2 backup file is saved.
    5. Select the .ONETOC2 backup file you want to restore and click on the "Open" button.
    6. OneNote will prompt you to choose a location for the restored notebook. Select the desired location and click on the "Restore" button.
    7. OneNote will restore the backup file, and you should see the restored notebook in the navigation pane.

    Note: The .ONETOC2 file is a backup of the notebook's table of contents, not the entire notebook. If you want to restore the entire notebook, you should look for a .ONEPKG or .ONE file, which contains the complete notebook data.

  • Are .ONETOC2 backup files compatible across different versions of OneNote?

    Yes, .ONETOC2 backup files are generally compatible across different versions of OneNote. OneNote uses the .ONETOC2 file format to store table of contents information for notebooks. This file format has remained relatively consistent across different versions of OneNote, allowing for compatibility when opening backup files. However, it's always recommended to use the same or a newer version of OneNote to ensure the best compatibility and functionality when opening backup files.

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