Microsoft has unified its supported OneNote experience on Windows 11, but a PC can still have more than one OneNote application installed. The supported app is called OneNote or OneNote on Windows; the legacy OneNote for Windows 10 app may remain installed, but it is now read-only.
Microsoft ended support for OneNote for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. The supported app is available through the Microsoft Store and is included with Microsoft 365.
What Microsoft means by one OneNote app
Microsoft has unified the supported Windows experience around the desktop-style OneNote app. Older documentation and user discussions may call this application OneNote 2016, but Microsoft now generally refers to it simply as OneNote.
There are two different ways to interpret “one OneNote app”:
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| Question | Current answer |
|---|---|
| How many supported OneNote experiences does Microsoft provide for Windows? | One: OneNote on Windows. |
| Can Windows still have multiple OneNote programs installed? | Yes. OneNote for Windows 10 can remain installed, and the desktop OneNote app can coexist with it. |
| Can OneNote for Windows 10 still edit notes? | No. It is read-only after October 14, 2025. |
| Does installing the supported app remove the old app? | No. You must uninstall the old app separately if you no longer need it. |
New Windows 11 devices no longer include OneNote for Windows 10 as an inbox app. Microsoft does not automatically remove the legacy app from computers where it was already installed.
How to tell which OneNote app is open
The quickest check is the menu bar:
- Open OneNote.
- Look at the top-left area of the window.
- If you see a File menu, you are using the supported OneNote on Windows app.
- If there is no File menu, you are using OneNote for Windows 10. The old product name is also shown in its title bar.
The two applications have different capabilities. The old app can display existing notebooks, but Microsoft no longer supports editing, syncing, bug fixes, security updates, or technical support for it.
How to install the supported OneNote app
If Microsoft 365 is already installed, the supported app may already be on the computer.
- Open Start.
- Search for OneNote.
- Open the result that has the File menu when launched.
You can also install the supported app from the Microsoft Store. The app is free to use, although a Microsoft 365 or Office license unlocks some premium features.
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For the desktop installation associated with Microsoft 365 or Office 2019, use Microsoft’s OneNote download and reinstall process:
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- Select Download OneNote.
- When the download finishes, double-click the downloaded setup file.
- Let Setup detect whether the existing Microsoft 365 or Office 2019 installation is 32-bit or 64-bit.
- Complete the installation using the matching version.
Since March 2020, OneNote has been installed alongside Word, Excel, and PowerPoint when the applicable Microsoft 365 or Office 2019 desktop applications are installed. On a work or school computer, an administrator may need to make the application available.
What to do before moving from OneNote for Windows 10
Do not simply uninstall the old app if you have recently made changes in it. First confirm that those changes reached the cloud.
- In OneNote for Windows 10, right-click each notebook.
- Select Sync Now.
- Resolve every sync error shown by the app.
- Open the View tab and select Misplaced Sections.
- Move any misplaced sections into the correct notebook.
- Sync again and confirm that the sections upload successfully.
A misplaced section is not safely filed in the notebook structure you expect. Leaving one there can make it appear to be missing when you open the notebook elsewhere.
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Do not uninstall OneNote for Windows 10 until those checks are complete. Cloud-saved content should be available in the new app, but changes that never synchronized will not appear just because you signed in with the same account.
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Recovering notes that did not sync
Microsoft says unsynced changes and sync errors may be recoverable from the local backup created during migration. Recovery is performed in the supported desktop OneNote app.
- Open OneNote.
- Select File > Options > Save & Backup.
- Find the location shown for Backup Folder.
- Open that folder in File Explorer.
- Look for files ending in .one. Each file represents a section.
- Double-click a .one file to open the section.
- Right-click the opened section and select Move or Copy.
- Choose the required notebook, then move or copy the section into it.
- Repeat for each recovered section.
This recovery path cannot retrieve every possible local change. If the old app had sync errors and no usable local backup exists, the new app cannot display those changes from the server because they were never uploaded.
How to remove OneNote for Windows 10
Once all notebooks and recent changes have been checked in the supported app or on the web, remove the legacy application from Windows 11:
- Open Settings.
- Select Apps > Installed apps.
- Find OneNote for Windows 10.
- Select its … button.
- Select Uninstall.
Uninstalling the old app deletes local data associated with that application. Any changes that were never synchronized may be lost, so uninstalling should be the final step rather than the migration method.
What if both OneNote versions open notebooks?
Windows can retain multiple OneNote versions side by side. If it detects more than one version, it may ask which application should be the default for opening notebooks.
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You can set the preferred application manually:
- Open Start > Settings.
- Select System > Apps > Default apps.
- Select Set defaults by app.
- Find the desired OneNote application and select Manage.
- Under file type and protocol associations, assign the relevant associations to that application.
If the old app is still the default, clicking a notebook link may launch the read-only program even though the supported OneNote app is installed. Changing the associations avoids that confusion.
Fixing small or compressed text in the new app
The supported app can look different from OneNote for Windows 10, particularly around text spacing and layout. If the interface appears too small or compressed:
- Open OneNote.
- Select File > Options > General.
- Select Optimize for compatibility.
- Restart OneNote.
Updating OneNote
To update the desktop OneNote installation:
- Select File > Account.
- Beside Office Updates, select Update Options.
- Select Update Now.
On work or school devices, administrators can control which updates are installed and when they are delivered.
A licensing detail that can look like an error
If OneNote was installed before Microsoft 365 or Office 2019 was installed and activated, it may initially show the license as Home and Student. After activating Microsoft 365 or Office 2019, restart OneNote. The activated Office license supplies the applicable licensed capabilities even if the displayed default license wording still says “Home and Student.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What has actually changed
Several commonly repeated descriptions are now misleading:
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- “Windows 11 has no OneNote app.” Incorrect. Windows 11 no longer includes OneNote for Windows 10 as a new inbox app, but the supported OneNote app remains available through Microsoft Store and Microsoft 365.
- “The new app automatically removes the old one.” Incorrect. Both can remain installed.
- “OneNote for Windows 10 will keep syncing.” Incorrect. Since October 14, 2025, it is read-only and unsupported.
- “All local notes automatically migrate.” Incorrect. Unsynced changes require successful synchronization or recovery from a local backup.
- “OneNote 2016 is still the current product name.” Outdated. Microsoft now calls the desktop app OneNote, although older shortcuts, installers, and support discussions may still use OneNote 2016.
FAQ
Is OneNote for Windows 10 discontinued?
It is no longer supported for editing or syncing. Since October 14, 2025, it is read-only and does not receive bug fixes, security updates, or technical support.
What is the supported OneNote app for Windows 11?
It is called OneNote or OneNote on Windows. It is available from the Microsoft Store and is included with Microsoft 365. Microsoft formerly referred to the desktop version as OneNote 2016.
Does Windows 11 include OneNote?
New Windows 11 devices do not include OneNote for Windows 10 as an inbox app. The supported OneNote app is still available through Microsoft Store and Microsoft 365.
Can I uninstall OneNote for Windows 10?
Yes, but first verify every notebook and recent change in the supported OneNote app or OneNote for the web. Uninstalling the old app removes its local data and can destroy changes that never synced.
Why are my latest notes missing in the new OneNote app?
They may not have synchronized from OneNote for Windows 10. Resolve old sync errors and check the backup folder in the supported desktop app through File > Options > Save & Backup. The .one files in that folder can be opened and moved into the correct notebook.
The Bottom Line
Microsoft now has one supported OneNote experience for Windows 11, but that does not mean every PC has only one OneNote application installed. The legacy OneNote for Windows 10 app can remain installed, and it is now read-only. Use the supported OneNote app, confirm that every notebook has synchronized, recover any necessary backup sections, and only then uninstall the old program.
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