Retirement of Legacy OneNote for Windows 10 App Scheduled for October 14, 2025

On October 14, 2025, Microsoft will discontinue support for OneNote for Windows 10 (legacy), a Universal Windows Platform (UWP) version of its note-taking application originally designed for touch-enabled devices. While this marks the end of official support, users will still be able to access the new OneNote app created for Windows 11.

Earlier this year, Microsoft announced that they intentionally slowed down the syncing feature for those still using OneNote UWP on Windows 10, hinting at a push toward newer software solutions.

To clarify, OneNote for Windows 10 (UWP) was a modern app introduced with Windows 10, tailored for touchscreen interactions, but it is no longer actively maintained. The Microsoft Store highlights its legacy status, although the app has maintained a commendable rating of 4.6 due to its reliable performance.

It’s important to distinguish the legacy version from the updated OneNote that is included with Microsoft 365. Microsoft is steering users towards the latest application as it phases out support for the older version and the associated operating system.

What Will Happen to Your OneNote Data?

According to Microsoft’s official announcement, following the end of support on October 14, 2025, the legacy app will transition to a read-only mode. Users will be unable to edit or sync their notes, effectively locking them out of any modifications beyond that date.

The recommended course of action is to transition to the newer OneNote application available for Windows 11 and Microsoft 365 users. Before making this switch, ensure your notebooks are synchronized with your OneDrive account, especially if you had been saving notes locally.

Once your notebooks are synced, utilize the in-app migration option to seamlessly transfer to the new version of OneNote.

This transition is similar to how Microsoft facilitated users moving from the older Mail and Calendar apps to Outlook, albeit with the provided freedom to initiate the sync manually.

If you prefer, you can download the new app directly from Microsoft and link it to your Microsoft account. Note that the data will not transfer automatically; you will need to manually restore your notebooks using the Open backups option.

Microsoft accounts remain integral to all native Windows applications, with even basic tools like Sticky Notes and Notepad now requiring one.

In our observations, Windows Latest has identified that Microsoft is actively alerting users about the upcoming end-of-life for OneNote for Windows 10 through an in-app banner, which features a ‘Switch now’ button directing users to the new OneNote for Windows 11.

Microsoft states, “This version of OneNote will reach the end of support on October 14, 2025, and become read-only. Switch to the new OneNote app to maintain editing capabilities and access the latest features.”

If you’re curious about the user experience in the new OneNote, it generally aligns with the expectations set by mainstream Microsoft products. While it lacks the extensive complaints seen with the latest Outlook, some users do report occasional freezing during text actions, although this seems to be an isolated occurrence.

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