Office for Mac Issues

How to Fix OneNote Freezing Immediately on macOS

Maira Mehtab Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where Microsoft OneNote becomes completely unresponsive right after launching or during note editing on a Mac.

Product: Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Launching or editing notes in the OneNote application
Observed behavior: The application freezes immediately upon opening or during use, becoming entirely unresponsive and requiring a manual force quit.

Before you start

Before proceeding, ensure that your Mac is connected to power and that you have saved your work in other open applications, as troubleshooting may require restarting software.

Solution 1Recommended

Roll Back to an Earlier Version of OneNote

If a recent Microsoft update is causing the application to freeze, reverting to a previously stable version can often resolve the issue.

Software updates occasionally introduce bugs or compatibility issues with certain macOS versions. Rolling back to a previous build of OneNote is a highly effective workaround until Microsoft releases a permanent fix.

Uninstall Current Version

Open the Applications folder on your Mac, locate Microsoft OneNote, and drag the application to the Trash.

Download Previous Version

Navigate to the official Office for Mac update history page at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/officeupdates/update-history-office-for-mac and download an earlier release of the OneNote installation package.

Install and Disable Updates

Run the downloaded installer to set up the older version. Once installed, open OneNote, go to Help > Check for Updates in the top menu bar, and temporarily disable automatic updates to prevent the buggy version from reinstalling.

Data Synchronization: Ensure your notebooks were successfully synced to your OneDrive account before the freezing began, so you do not lose any local offline changes when reinstalling.

Solution 2

Test with a New Blank Notebook

Determines whether the freezing issue is caused by a specific corrupted notebook rather than the application itself.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Experience Stable Document Management with WPS Office

If Microsoft Office applications continue to freeze or crash on your Mac, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and seamless environment for all your document, spreadsheet, and presentation tasks without the heavy resource drain.

1. Download the Installer: Navigate to the official WPS website and download the Mac version of WPS Office.
2. Install the Application: Open the downloaded installation file and follow the simple on-screen instructions to add WPS Office to your Applications folder.
3. Open Your Files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing Microsoft Office files to continue working seamlessly.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats, including .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx.Lightweight architecture prevents freezing and ensures smooth performance on macOS.Familiar user interface allows for seamless migration without a steep learning curve.All-in-one suite includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF editing tools in a single app.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does OneNote keep freezing immediately upon opening on macOS?

This issue is frequently caused by a faulty recent application update from Microsoft, corrupted local notebook caches, or synchronization conflicts with OneDrive.

How do I force quit OneNote when my Mac screen freezes?

Press the Command + Option + Escape keys simultaneously, select Microsoft OneNote from the Force Quit Applications window, and click the 'Force Quit' button.

Will I lose my notes if I uninstall and reinstall OneNote on Mac?

As long as your notes were synced to OneDrive before the freezing issue started, they are safe. Once you reinstall and log back into your Microsoft account, your notes will download and sync automatically.

How can I stop Microsoft AutoUpdate from reinstalling the version that freezes?

Open any Office application on your Mac, navigate to 'Help' in the top menu bar, select 'Check for Updates', and turn off the toggle or uncheck the box for 'Automatically keep Microsoft Apps up to date'.

Office App Problems