How to Fix OneNote 2016 Stuck Inserting a PowerPoint or PDF Printout
Question details
The user needs to resolve an issue where OneNote 2016 freezes or stops responding while attempting to insert a PowerPoint presentation or PDF file as a printout.
- Product
- Microsoft OneNote 2016
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to insert or print a PowerPoint or PDF document directly into a OneNote notebook.
- Observed behavior
- The application gets stuck on the 'inserting a document' loading screen or does absolutely nothing when the printout command is triggered.
Before beginning the troubleshooting process, verify that your current OneNote notebooks are fully synchronized with OneDrive to prevent any accidental data loss if a software repair is needed.
Test for and Isolate Notebook Corruption
Determine if the freeze is isolated to a specific corrupted notebook or if it affects the entire OneNote application.
Often, a single corrupted section or notebook can prevent files from inserting properly. By creating a fresh notebook, you can test if the core application is functioning correctly.
Open OneNote 2016, go to 'File', select 'New', and create a completely new notebook saved to your OneDrive.
Navigate to the new notebook and attempt to insert the problematic PDF or PowerPoint printout.
If the file inserts successfully into the new notebook, your previous notebook is likely corrupted. Manually copy your existing sections into the new notebook and delete the corrupted one.
Launch OneNote in Safe Mode
Start OneNote without background add-ins or corrupted cache files to see if the printout successfully inserts.
Repair the Microsoft Office Installation
Use the built-in Windows repair tool to fix underlying Microsoft Office file corruptions causing OneNote to freeze.
Switch to WPS Office for Seamless PDF and Presentation Management
If Microsoft Office applications continue to freeze during your daily workflow, WPS Office provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and completely free alternative. You can smoothly open, edit, and manage PowerPoint presentations and PDF files without performance hiccups.
- 1. Download the software: Visit the official WPS website and download the free WPS Office installation package.
- 2. Install the suite: Run the installer and follow the simple on-screen instructions to set up WPS Office on your device.
- 3. Open your files directly: Launch WPS Office and directly open your PPT or PDF files to seamlessly read, edit, and annotate them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will uninstalling OneNote 2016 delete all of my notebooks?
No, if your notebooks are properly synchronized and saved to your school or personal OneDrive account, they will remain safely in the cloud. You can reinstall OneNote and simply log back into your account to reopen them.
Why does Ctrl-click not open OneNote in Safe Mode?
The Ctrl-click shortcut can sometimes fail to trigger depending on your system settings or if the application is severely frozen. As a more reliable alternative, press Windows + R, type 'onenote /safeboot', and press Enter.
Can I use OneNote for Windows 10 to insert printouts instead?
Yes. The OneNote for Windows 10 app is built on a different architecture and often bypasses the printout insertion bugs found in OneNote 2016. Your notebooks will sync across both versions seamlessly.
How do I check my exact version of OneNote 2016?
Open OneNote, click on 'File' in the top-left corner, and select 'Account'. Your exact version and build number will be listed on the right side under 'Product Information'.
