Share via

One note sync across devices is slow

Anonymous
2025-01-01T03:06:18+00:00

I use one note with my desktop device and my Ipad to take notes. I type notes and insert images with my desktop device and use an apple pen to write with on the ipad. To do this efficiently, I depend on one note to sync between the two devices in a timely manner. For the past few years one note has always synced between the two devices within a few seconds, but as of a month or two ago it can take minutes for the two devices to sync fully. I don't know what is the issue. The issue persists with my laptop and Ipad as well and across different networks with high speed internet. Was there some kind of change that happened recently I am unaware of as to why this might be happening or does anyone know any way that I can get the syncing to happen quicker?

My Desktop devices use windows 10. My IPad is an IPad Pro 10.5 inch.

I use one note for windows 10

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneNote | For home | Windows

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

7 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2025-04-12T20:25:55+00:00

    Hi, also have had the same issue (only really starting occuring recently). Seems to be the PC version has a problem, not the iOS version. The PC version usually used to auto-sync perhaps every second but now seems to auto-sync every 15 seconds.

    To fix the issue, I manually use CTRL-S to force a sync on the OneNote for Windows 10 app, and the update shows on my iPad within a second.

    Hope this helps!

    Was this answer helpful?

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2025-01-15T10:07:16+00:00

    Good day

    I have the same problem.

    I am using Windows 10 version on my PC as well as the iPad version.

    Very slow to update on the iPad - I have used it for years like this and this problem started this year only.

    Please help!

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2025-01-29T18:14:15+00:00

    So for me, it was actually that my one note on my desktop was an older version I believe. I had one note for windows 10 but that apparently was not the same version as was on my IPad. I uninstalled one note on my desktop and reinstalled from the Microsoft store I think. That gave me a different version of one note, and this one syncs much quicker. If anyone is having issues I would recommend

    1: Uninstalling one note on the devices you are using it on and MAKING SURE you reinstall with all the same versions of one note

    2: Try one note on different machines and see if that syncs faster.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2025-01-26T05:19:55+00:00

    I've been having this exact issue as well. I use OneNote on the IPad Air 5 and two Windows 11 PCs. All versions are completely up to date.

    In the past, syncing has been almost instant, and I've usually been able to live-edit the same page across devices with very few hiccups. Since the start of this year, auto-syncing has become incredibly unreliable and even manually syncing pages seems to take several minutes.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2025-01-01T07:50:57+00:00

    Hi, Richard MitchellIV

    Thank you for using Microsoft products and posting them to the community.

    What version of OneNote do you have on your IPad?OneNote for windows 10 refers to the Microsoft Store app available only on Windows 10. There are still some differences from the OneNote program downloaded directly from the official website.

    It is recommended that you download and use the same type and version of OneNote on both your PC and IPad. Your problem should be that there is an incompatibility between the latest update of OneNote for windows 10 and the latest update of OneNote that is causing the slowdown.

    I hope the above information can help you. Feel free to send a message if you need further help.

    Best wishes

    Aiden.C - MSFT |Microsoft Community Support Specialist

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments