What the heck?! Microsoft is set to start reducing the performance of OneNote on Windows 10, compelling users and professionals who depend on this application to upgrade to Windows 11. A recently updated support document indicates that official support for OneNote on Windows 10 will end in October 2025.
Initially unveiled by Bill Gates in 2002, OneNote was launched at a time when Windows XP and Windows 2000 were still the norm for most users. The note-taking application was included in the Office suite and was subsequently revamped to be offered for free across various operating systems and online. However, Microsoft is now pushing for a more unified software experience, leaving Windows 10 users in the dust.
In essence, the announcement confirms that OneNote’s “legacy” version is being phased out along with Windows 10. This operating system is also scheduled to lose support in October, and Microsoft is currently encouraging users to either upgrade to Windows 11 or purchase new hardware that comes with the latest operating system. While software updates are typically an inconvenient reality for PC users, Microsoft seems to be adding an extra layer of frustration with the impending phase-out of OneNote.
Enterprise customers using OneNote on Windows 10 are urged to transition to the newest version, known as “OneNote for Windows,” which can be obtained via the Microsoft Store. Microsoft is attempting to clarify the current confusion surrounding its offerings, which presently include three distinct versions of the same note-taking application: one for Windows 10, another tailored for Windows 11, and a web-based variant.
Microsoft has also announced that starting in June 2025, OneNote on Windows 10 will intentionally operate with reduced sync speeds, making seamless collaboration and access across multiple devices a challenge. What could be the reasoning behind this? The company states that faster synchronization will be a feature reserved for OneNote for Windows, which offers Copilot AI capabilities, updated security features, and various “improvements.”
A few years back, Microsoft indicated that users would not be obligated to upgrade their current OneNote setups and that they would retain control. Although OneNote for Windows 10 will technically remain functional after October 2025, those of us who favor it should brace ourselves for a decrease in performance… for absolutely no valid reason at all.
Despite being nearly a decade old, Windows 10 continues to be the most prevalent desktop operating system. Windows 11 hasn’t been embraced in the same way, and it seems Microsoft is reverting to its typical aggressive strategies to adjust the market power. Unsurprisingly, there are numerous noteworthy alternatives for note-taking if you opt to continue using Windows 10 past October 2025.
