Which OneNote App Should Microsoft 365 Users Choose on Windows 10?
Question details
The user wants to know whether to use the Microsoft 365 desktop version of OneNote or the OneNote for Windows 10 application.
- Product
- Microsoft OneNote
- Device & OS
- Windows 10
- Scenario
- Setting up or organizing digital notes on a Windows 10 device that has multiple versions of OneNote installed.
- Observed behavior
- Windows 10 displays both the Microsoft 365 desktop version of OneNote and the older OneNote for Windows 10 app, causing confusion over which one is actively supported.
Check your Windows Start menu by searching for 'OneNote' to verify if you have both the desktop application and the Windows 10 specific app installed on your system.
Switch to the Desktop OneNote Application
Microsoft recommends using the desktop version of OneNote (included with Microsoft 365 or Office 2021), as it is the actively supported application moving forward.
OneNote for Windows 10 is no longer receiving feature updates and will eventually be phased out. The standard desktop version of OneNote is the unified application that receives all new updates and supports powerful third-party plugins like Onetastic.
Open the Windows Start menu, type 'OneNote' into the search bar, and look for the app icon that is simply named 'OneNote' (avoiding the one labeled 'for Windows 10').
Right-click the correct OneNote application in the search results and select 'Pin to taskbar' so you can easily access the supported version in the future.
Open the application and sign in with your Microsoft 365 account credentials to automatically sync your existing notebooks from OneDrive.
To prevent future confusion, you can right-click 'OneNote for Windows 10' in the Start menu and select 'Uninstall'.
Looking for a Unified and Lightweight Office Suite?
If managing multiple app versions in Microsoft 365 feels overwhelming, try WPS Office. It provides a single, unified workspace for document, spreadsheet, presentation, and PDF tasks—eliminating app confusion while saving system space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still use Onetastic with OneNote for Windows 10?
No, Onetastic and similar third-party add-ins are only supported on the desktop version of OneNote. You must switch to the desktop application to use these extensions.
Will OneNote for Windows 10 stop working immediately?
No, it will continue to function for some time. However, it will not receive new feature updates and will eventually reach its end of support, making it highly recommended to migrate to the desktop app.
How do I transfer my notebooks to the desktop version of OneNote?
Since notebooks are tied to your Microsoft account and stored on OneDrive, no manual transfer is needed. Simply open the desktop OneNote application, click 'File' > 'Open', sign in with the same account, and select your notebooks to load them.
