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Fix OneNote Stuck on Loading and Unable to Sign In
Question details
The user is experiencing an issue where the OneNote application is stuck on a loading screen when trying to sign in to resolve a synchronization error.
- Product
- Microsoft OneNote
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to sign into the OneNote desktop application to fix a syncing issue.
- Observed behavior
- OneNote displays the error message 'We are having trouble syncing. Click Sign in to fix the issue.' Clicking sign-in results in an infinite 'Loading, please wait' screen, despite other Office apps working normally.
Before proceeding with troubleshooting, ensure you have your correct Microsoft account credentials ready and verify that your internet connection is stable.
Test Account Online and Change Network Connection
Determine if the issue is caused by your local network blocking Microsoft servers or a temporary account restriction.
Open your web browser, navigate to onenote.com, and sign in to ensure your account credentials are valid and active.
Disconnect your device from the current Wi-Fi network. Turn on the mobile hotspot feature on your smartphone and connect your laptop to it to bypass any router-level network restrictions.
Open the OneNote desktop application again and click on the sign-in prompt to see if it successfully bypasses the infinite loading screen.
Repair or Reinstall the OneNote Application
If other Office apps like Word and Excel are working normally, your OneNote installation files or local profile may be corrupted.
Switch to WPS Office for a Reliable and Seamless Experience
Since OneNote loading issues often require patches from Microsoft to fully resolve, you might need a dependable alternative right now. WPS Office is a powerful, lightweight suite that offers robust document creation tools without persistent syncing or sign-in glitches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is OneNote stuck on 'Loading, please wait'?
This typically happens when the application struggles to connect to Microsoft's authentication servers. It can be caused by network firewalls, a corrupted local application cache, or temporary Microsoft server outages.
How can I access my notes if the app refuses to load?
You can still access your fully synced notebooks by visiting onenote.com in any web browser and logging in with your Microsoft account credentials.
Will uninstalling OneNote delete my notes?
No, uninstalling the desktop application will not delete notes that have already been synced to your Microsoft account in the cloud. However, any unsynced offline changes might be lost.
