Microsoft is slowing down OneNote on Windows 10 to force users to upgrade

[Alfonso Maruccia]

WTF?! Microsoft will soon begin slowing down OneNote on Windows 10, forcing users and professionals who rely on the tool to upgrade to Windows 11. According to a recently updated support document, Microsoft confirms that OneNote for Windows 10 will reach the end of official support in October 2025.

The original OneNote was announced by Bill Gates in 2002, back when most people were still using Windows XP or Windows 2000 on their PCs. The note-taking tool was part of the Office suite and later updated and made available free of charge in different versions for various operating systems and the web, but Microsoft is now pushing to streamline the software – while leaving Windows 10 users behind.

As for the current announcement, simply put, OneNote's "legacy" version is being retired alongside Windows 10. The operating system is also set to lose support in October, and Microsoft is now urging users to install Windows 11 or buy a brand-new device running its latest OS. Software upgrades are an annoying fact of life for PC users, but Redmond seems to be cooking up something extra frustrating in the case of OneNote's demise.

Enterprise customers still using OneNote on Windows 10 are advised to switch to the latest version – called "OneNote for Windows" – which is available on the Microsoft Store. Microsoft is attempting to simplify the current mess of offerings, as it currently maintains three different versions of the same note-taking platform: one for Windows 10, another for Windows 11, and a web-based version.

Microsoft also confirmed that starting in June 2025, OneNote for Windows 10 will deliberately experience slower sync performance, making real-time collaboration and multi-device access more difficult. Why would Microsoft do this? The company explains that faster synchronization is a feature exclusive to the latest OneNote for Windows, which also includes Copilot AI features, new security options, and other "improvements."

A few years ago, Microsoft stated that users would not be forced to upgrade their existing OneNote installations and that they would remain in control. While OneNote for Windows 10 will technically still work after October 2025, those of us who prefer it should now expect degraded performance... for absolutely no practical reason whatsoever.

Despite being nearly 10 years old, Windows 10 remains the most widely used desktop operating system. Windows 11 hasn't received the same warm welcome, and Microsoft now appears to be resorting to its usual heavy-handed tactics to break the market stalemate. Needless to say, there are plenty of alternative note-taking tools to consider if you plan to stick with Windows 10 beyond October 2025.

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Microsoft is slowing down OneNote on Windows 10 to force users to upgrade

 

[The Talking Tech]

Since Trump took office all of the sudden all these companies are trying to pull a fast one on consumers....from Nvidia prioritizing certain models of their graphics cards, HP not admitting wrongdoing in their ink cartridges unlawful actions, Amazon removing privacy terms from their Alexa devices to Microsoft sabotaging older versions of Windows and applications.

Of course as we have a convicted criminal as President, they truly believe they can also getaway with scummy actions.

 

[ScottSoapbox]

Forget OneNote and switch to UpNote. It's elegant and doesn't require the mess known as OneDrive.

 

[VariableSpike]

If there ever was an impetus to unchain yourself from as many of micros**t's products as possible, then it seems like a prime time, fair enough if you still need to use windows (even though windows 11 is horrendous), but there's certainly parts where MS is becoming more than keen to completely and utterly screw you over, never mind dodgy practices

 

[Achaios]

What is One Note?

Never used it and never will.

 

[RudyBob]

Forcing people is not good

 

[Rocky4040]

Since I have updates turned off on my Windows 10 this or anything else Micrsoft does will affect me in the slightest. Yes, my updates are off because I have had my windows messed up too many times from MS bad updates & my brand-new drivers downgraded by Windows update to let it go on anymore.

I do some of the updates manually mostly security updates and I review and then choose if I want them, and they are not going to bung hole my system.

 

[NumberNine]

Good luck slowing it down in my web browser, ya punks.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Since Trump took office all of the sudden all these companies are trying to pull a fast one on consumers....from Nvidia prioritizing certain models of their graphics cards, HP not admitting wrongdoing in their ink cartridges unlawful actions, Amazon removing privacy terms from their Alexa devices to Microsoft sabotaging older versions of Windows and applications.

Of course as we have a convicted criminal as President, they truly believe they can also getaway with scummy actions.

You've created a false equivalency. None of those things were new under Trump.

- people have been accusing NVidia of prioritizing markets other then gaming GPUs since Ampere. Everyone used the same AI excuse the entirety of Ada's reign. Before that it was crypto mining.

- HP has been continuously screwing with their printers and consumers in horrible ways for the last 20 years. The HP smart app fiasco was under Biden, for example.

- Amazon has been caught repeatedly lying about selling data from Alexa and fire devices and your purchase data since said data existed. What they have done now is removed the fake, ignored privacy option and just come out with the truth: they WILL sell your data and you will like it, which they were already doing.

- Microsoft has been sabotaging Windows 10 for several years, and they were sabotaging windows 7 way back in 2015 when people didnt want to move to 10.

There is no evidence that Trump existing has caused any of this behavior.

 

[Liranan]

Forget OneNote and switch to UpNote. It's elegant and doesn't require the mess known as OneDrive.

There are many (open source) solutions to M$py's products.

 

[Nobina]

It's not that people love Windows 10, it's just that they don't need an unnecessary "upgrade". If it works, leave it be. Microsoft is constantly bothering their userbase with dumb stuff like this.

 

[Zintin]

Forget OneNote and switch to UpNote. It's elegant and doesn't require the mess known as OneDrive.

Exactly let OneNote go the way of Cortana. I use to use Cortana for quick web searches till they locked it to Edge.

 

[J spot]

Since Trump took office all of the sudden all these companies are trying to pull a fast one on consumers....from Nvidia prioritizing certain models of their graphics cards, HP not admitting wrongdoing in their ink cartridges unlawful actions, Amazon removing privacy terms from their Alexa devices to Microsoft sabotaging older versions of Windows and applications.

Of course as we have a convicted criminal as President, they truly believe they can also getaway with scummy actions.

I was not expecting a Trump comment. This is some strong level of TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome). I guess if Kamala was President, then Microsoft wouldn't be doing this.

 

[BabyFaceLee]

You've created a false equivalency. None of those things were new under Trump.

- people have been accusing NVidia of prioritizing markets other then gaming GPUs since Ampere. Everyone used the same AI excuse the entirety of Ada's reign. Before that it was crypto mining.

- HP has been continuously screwing with their printers and consumers in horrible ways for the last 20 years. The HP smart app fiasco was under Biden, for example.

- Amazon has been caught repeatedly lying about selling data from Alexa and fire devices and your purchase data since said data existed. What they have done now is removed the fake, ignored privacy option and just come out with the truth: they WILL sell your data and you will like it, which they were already doing.

- Microsoft has been sabotaging Windows 10 for several years, and they were sabotaging windows 7 way back in 2015 when people didnt want to move to 10.

There is no evidence that Trump existing has caused any of this behavior.

I totally agree. I loathe and despise all things related to Trump and his fawning minions but blaming Trump for this is just plain nonsense.

 

[Impudicus]

Is Microsoft trying to make people hate them?

 

[BobHome]

Windows 7? 10? 11? How about go to Linux--there are 'only' over 200 flavors to pick from:
https://www.linuxlinks.com/big-list-linux-distros/

Yes, I realize there are those Top 5/7/10 lists, but with an OS so splintered, why would anyone businesses) take it seriously?
The Wiki list is even longer and includes variants like ChromeOS and ChromuimOS.

 

[The Talking Tech]

I was not expecting a Trump comment. This is some strong level of TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome). I guess if Kamala was President, then Microsoft wouldn't be doing this.

Could these events be happening with Kamela in power? Absolutely, but they would be looked into with a ton of scrutiny under a real and fully functional FTC department...which we don't have under Trump.

 

[LimyG]

Since I have updates turned off on my Windows 10 this or anything else Micrsoft does will affect me in the slightest. Yes, my updates are off because I have had my windows messed up too many times from MS bad updates & my brand-new drivers downgraded by Windows update to let it go on anymore.

I do some of the updates manually mostly security updates and I review and then choose if I want them, and they are not going to bung hole my system.

We have a similar approach. I manually download patch Tuesdays, or anything else that seems important. My W10 update doesn't even function. I managed to totally break it.

1. Funny thing is, its easy to download ALL update from MS catalogue at a time of our choosing. Installs fine.
2. The window "WUSHOWHIDE.DIAGCAB works fine and show if I need any.
3. There is a great little program, WUMTx64 (and x32) that doesn't even need installing. It checks both Windows update, and Microsoft update, even drivers if one wishes, and installs them seemlessly.
It also lists all updates on a machine, and highlights critical ones going back years.

There are check boxes for MS update, Win update, Drivers, and one more. It allow to just search, which it does with 100% accuracy. Download the package only. (Install later, or just keep it, whatever) or it simply installs the updates selected. (In my case that's .NET previews/updates, security patches, and the regular patch Tuesdays, although they are cumulative, so I download/install them unless there is something important.

The updates are downloaded direct from MS, then the program downloads them to us so MS don't even know. No direct connection to MS. The little program takes care of that.

It works better than MS own update. Hard to fathom. Total control of what and when to install which updates. I recommend folks to use it. I've been using this little gem for a year, and it works flawlessly with far more user control than the one included with all editions of Windows.

I am surprised it's not more widly talked about. But don't take my word for it. Give it a try. Remember it doesn't need installation.

Starting it is fast, and is totally manual so it doesn't run unless I click on the short cut for it on my task bar. The small program is in a folder with my other exe only (no-installation) programs like CPUz etc. I'll repeat, it doesn't run in the background, and only updates what and when the user wishes. Perfect.

Never recieve a forced update again, and have the freedom to check for updates anytime, without them automatically installed. There are a few other options, but what I've listed is all that's really needed, for me anyway.

I could even get rid of my two GPO not to seach windows update for drivers, and the other don't install drivers with new feature updates. It's worth it for that alone. I use, "Driver Easy," for my driver updates.

Edited for terrible typos!!

 

[LimyG]

Woops, this thread is about Onenote.

Sorry, double post. As for onenote, well I've never used it, and have it fully disabled in Group Policy. (One GPO setting)

 

[bwbeam]

What is One Note?

Never used it and never will.

heard of it but obviously I never used it

 

[bwbeam]

I was not expecting a Trump comment. This is some strong level of TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome). I guess if Kamala was President, then Microsoft wouldn't be doing this.

no they would be worse under that *****

 

[MakeMSGreatAgain]

M$FT has been doing their damnedest to get people to "upgrade". Forcing updates through trickery, forcing Edge on us, etc. etc. etc. It has been really bad since Windows 8 and that is when I wrote off Windows for personal use. I switched to Mac and Linux... mostly Mac though because there are loads of apps and support and it isn't DIY to fix things like it is on Linux. Apple doesn't constantly change core OS features and functions and force their stupid crap down your throat like M$FT does.

 

[Liranan]

Windows 7? 10? 11? How about go to Linux--there are 'only' over 200 flavors to pick from:
https://www.linuxlinks.com/big-list-linux-distros/

Yes, I realize there are those Top 5/7/10 lists, but with an OS so splintered, why would anyone businesses) take it seriously?
The Wiki list is even longer and includes variants like ChromeOS and ChromuimOS.

Looking at the server market and Linux dominance (Windows near 0% presence), you are totally right, who wants the OS that runs on everything from servers to phones to routers, TV's and every other appliance you can think of? We should stick with the bestestestest OS evaaaaar: Win Rubbish (11).

 

[Liranan]

I was not expecting a Trump comment. This is some strong level of TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome). I guess if Kamala was President, then Microsoft wouldn't be doing this.

I absolutely love the drama, crying, wailing and gnashing of teeth by those who haven't figured out whether their mother or father gave birth to them, it's hilarious.