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Is Microsoft Forcing a Troublesome OneNote Upgrade Before the October 2025 Deadline?
Microsoft is retiring the “OneNote for Windows 10” application, with support officially ending on October 14, 2025. This date coincides with the end of support for the Windows 10 Home and Pro editions. After this date, the application will enter a read-only mode, meaning you will be able to view existing notes but not edit them or create new ones. The ability to synchronize notes across devices will also be disabled.
This change does not mean you can no longer use OneNote on Windows 10. You will still have access to the newer “OneNote” application, which is part of the Microsoft 365 suite and is the version designed for Windows 11. The legacy app, also known as OneNote UWP (Universal Windows Platform), was initially designed for touch-screen devices and came pre-installed with Windows 10. To encourage the transition, Microsoft has acknowledged that it has intentionally slowed down the sync feature in the older OneNote for Windows 10 app.
Identifying Your OneNote Version
To determine which version of OneNote you are using, you can perform a simple check:
- New OneNote App If you launch the application and see a “File” menu at the top, you are using the current version and are not affected by this change.
- Legacy OneNote for Windows 10 If there is no “File” menu visible, you are using the older version that is being retired. The title bar of the app will also likely read “OneNote for Windows 10.”
Microsoft is also displaying in-app banners to notify users of the upcoming change. These banners include a “Switch now” button that directs users to the new OneNote application.
Migrating Your Notes
To ensure a smooth transition and avoid any data loss, it is crucial to sync your notebooks to your OneDrive account before the deadline, especially if you have saved notes locally.
Steps to Sync Your Notebooks:
- Open the OneNote for Windows 10 application.
- Right-click on each notebook you wish to save.
- Select the “Sync this notebook” option.
- If you have multiple notebooks, you can use the “Sync all notebooks” option to back up everything to the cloud.
- Check for any sync errors and resolve them before proceeding.
- It’s also recommended to look for any “misplaced sections” under the View Tab. These are notes that are not part of any notebook and need to be moved into a notebook to be synced.
Once you have successfully synced your data, you can either use the in-app migration option to switch to the new application or download the new OneNote app from the Microsoft Store and sign in with your Microsoft account. After installing the new app, you may need to use the “Open backups” option to restore all your notebooks. It is advisable to verify that all your content has migrated successfully before uninstalling the old application.
The New OneNote Experience
The new OneNote application is the standard for both Windows 11 and Microsoft 365 users. While the transition is not as forceful as the migration from the old Mail and Calendar app to the new Outlook, some users have reported occasional freezes with text actions in the new app. However, the volume of complaints is not as high as it was for the new Outlook. The new OneNote app is part of Microsoft’s broader strategy to integrate its native Windows applications more closely with Microsoft accounts, a trend also seen with apps like Sticky Notes and Notepad.