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How to Fix OneNote Drawing Noise and Graphical Glitches
Question details
The user experiences a high-pitched noise, colored artifacts, and blank windows when using the drawing tools in OneNote and Word.
- Product
- Microsoft OneNote
- Device & OS
- Windows 11
- Scenario
- Drawing or using pen tools in desktop Office applications.
- Observed behavior
- Drawing triggers graphical glitches such as colored artifacts and blank windows, accompanied by a high-pitched noise that is not caused by the cooling fans.
Before beginning the troubleshooting process, test the drawing tool in OneNote for the web to determine if the issue is isolated strictly to your desktop applications.
Update Graphics Drivers and Repair OneNote
Since the issue involves graphical glitches and noises similar to GPU coil whine, updating the graphics driver and repairing the app files is the recommended first step.
High-pitched noises during graphical rendering and at the beginning of games often indicate stress on the graphics processing unit (GPU). Ensuring your graphics drivers are up to date can resolve rendering conflicts with Office hardware acceleration.
Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager. Expand 'Display adapters', right-click your graphics card, and select 'Update driver'. Choose to search automatically for drivers.
If you are using OneNote for Windows 10, open Windows Settings > Apps > Installed apps. Locate OneNote, click the three dots, select 'Advanced options', and click the 'Repair' button.
For the standard desktop OneNote or Word apps, open Windows Settings > Apps > Installed apps. Locate Microsoft Office, select 'Modify', and choose 'Quick Repair' or 'Online Repair' to fix corrupted program files.
Test a New Windows Profile and Reinstall Office
If repairing does not resolve the drawing noise and glitches, a corrupted Windows user profile or a deeply broken Office installation may be the culprit.
Switch to WPS Office for Smooth Document Editing and Drawing
If persistent graphical glitches and performance issues in Microsoft Office disrupt your workflow, try WPS Office. It provides a highly stable and lightweight environment that handles drawing and document editing seamlessly.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installer for Windows.
- 2. Install and Open: Run the installer. Once installed, open WPS Office and create a new document or PDF.
- 3. Use Drawing Tools smoothly: Navigate to the Draw or Comment tab to use the pen and highlighting tools without triggering hardware noise or artifacts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my computer make a high-pitched noise when drawing in OneNote?
This noise is often 'coil whine' from your graphics card. When you draw in applications like OneNote or Word, hardware acceleration puts sudden stress on the GPU, which can cause its internal components to vibrate at high frequencies.
How do I know if the graphical glitches are a software or hardware problem?
Test the drawing tools in OneNote for the web. If it works perfectly in your browser but glitches in the desktop app, it is a software or local driver issue. If the noise and artifacts also happen during games, it is likely a hardware or GPU driver issue.
Will resetting OneNote delete my notebooks?
Using the 'Repair' or 'Reset' options in Windows Settings for OneNote will not delete your notebooks if they are successfully synced to OneDrive. However, any unsynced local changes might be lost, so verify your sync status online before resetting.
