Office Apps Freezing

How to Fix OneNote Camera Pictures Stuck on Surface Pro

Amos Gikunda Oct 23, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where the camera feature in OneNote for Windows 10 freezes and becomes stuck while trying to capture a picture.

How to Fix OneNote Camera Pictures Stuck on Surface Pro

Product: Microsoft OneNote for Windows 10
Device & OS: Windows 10
Scenario: Attempting to take a picture using the built-in camera option within the OneNote application.
Observed behavior: The camera interface opens but becomes completely stuck during image capture. The camera hardware remains locked as 'in use' until the OneNote application is forcibly closed.

Before you start

Before attempting repairs, verify that your Surface Pro's camera functions correctly in the default Windows Camera app and OneNote for the web to confirm the issue is isolated to the desktop application.

Solution 1Recommended

Repair and Reset the OneNote App

Use the built-in Windows Settings to repair or reset the OneNote application, which often resolves internal software glitches without losing synced data.

Windows 10 provides built-in troubleshooting options for Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps like OneNote. Repairing the app fixes minor file corruptions, while resetting it clears locally cached data and reinstalls the app cleanly.

Open Apps Settings

Click the Start button, select Settings (the gear icon), and navigate to Apps > Apps & features.

Access Advanced Options

Scroll down or search for 'OneNote for Windows 10' in the app list. Click on it, then select the 'Advanced options' link.

Run the Repair Tool

Scroll down to the Reset section and click 'Repair'. Windows will attempt to fix the application without affecting your data. Restart OneNote and test the camera.

Reset the App

If the repair does not work, return to the same menu and click 'Reset'. Ensure your notes are fully synced to OneDrive before doing this, as unsynced local data will be deleted.

Sync Check: Always log into OneNote for the web first to verify that all your recent notebooks have successfully synced to the cloud before choosing the Reset option.

Solution 2

Check Camera Privacy Permissions

Ensure that Windows privacy settings are not blocking OneNote from properly accessing the Surface Pro camera hardware.

Solution 3

Perform a Windows Clean Boot

Start Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs to determine if background software is causing a conflict with the camera.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Stable, Lightweight Office Experience

If Microsoft Office applications like OneNote continue to freeze or consume excessive system resources on your Surface Pro, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly compatible, fast, and free alternative for viewing, editing, and managing all your important documents.

1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS website to download the free installation package for Windows.
2. Open Existing Documents: Launch WPS Office and open your existing .docx, .xlsx, or .pptx files directly without needing any format conversion.
3. Enjoy Seamless Productivity: Use the lightweight, all-in-one interface to edit your documents without worrying about unexpected crashes or heavy resource usage.

Highly compatible with Microsoft Office formats including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files.Lightweight architecture ensures it runs smoothly on all Surface Pro devices without freezing.Familiar, easy-to-use tabbed interface for seamless migration from other office suites.Free all-in-one workspace that seamlessly handles documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and PDFs.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my camera stay 'in use' after OneNote freezes?

When OneNote crashes or hangs during image capture, the internal background process connected to the camera fails to terminate properly. Closing OneNote completely, or using Task Manager to end the OneNote background process, will release the hardware lock on the camera.

Will resetting OneNote for Windows 10 delete all my notes?

Resetting the app only clears locally cached data and settings. If your notebooks are successfully synced to your Microsoft account (OneDrive or SharePoint), they will automatically download and appear again once you sign back into the freshly reset application.

What details should I provide to Microsoft Support if the issue persists?

To get the best help from support, provide your exact OneNote app version, your specific Surface Pro model (e.g., Surface Pro 7), your Windows OS build, whether the issue happens on a personal or business account, and if it affects all notebooks or just a specific one.

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