I need to update my OneNote from old to new versionbecause I´m blocked to do work in the old version. But I have problems to swith from old to new OneNote.

Question

Hello,

I need to update my OneNote from old to new versionbecause I´m blocked to do work in the old version. But I have problems to swith from old to new OneNote.

Answer 1

Hi @Stefan Lunner, 

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum.      

Based on the details you shared, I understand you need to update from the old OneNote to the new OneNote because the old version is blocking your work, but you are having trouble switching successfully. I appreciate the effort you have already made to move forward, and I understand how important it is to regain full access to your notes without disruption. 

In many cases, this happens because both OneNote versions can be installed at the same time and may be connected to different sign in sessions or different notebook locations. Additionally, if a notebook was previously opened from a local file path or an older sync connection, the new OneNote may not automatically detect it until the notebook is reconnected through OneDrive or re added from the correct account. As a result, the new app can appear ready, but your notebooks may not show up as expected. 

To make the switch smooth and reliable, please follow the steps below in order. 

1/ Confirm you are using the correct new OneNote and the correct account 

• First, close OneNote completely, then reopen the new OneNote app. 
• Next, sign in using the same Microsoft account or work or school account that you used in the old OneNote. 
• Then, allow a few minutes for the sync to complete, since notebooks can take a short time to appear after sign in. 

2/ Bring your notebooks into the new OneNote by opening them directly 

• First, open the old OneNote and check where your notebook is stored, since this determines the correct next step. 
• If the notebook is stored in OneDrive or SharePoint, open the new OneNote, go to the notebook list, and choose the option to open more notebooks so you can select it from your account. 
• If the notebook is stored locally on your device, move or copy the notebook to OneDrive from the old OneNote, and then open the new OneNote again so it can load the notebook from the cloud. 

3/ Refresh OneNote components to remove sign in and sync conflicts 

• First, run a repair for your Microsoft 365 installation or the OneNote app, because this often corrects switching and loading issues caused by outdated components. 
• Next, restart your device to ensure the repaired services reload correctly. 
• Finally, open the new OneNote again, sign in, and check whether your notebooks now appear and open normally. 

If you share the details below, I will tailor the exact steps to your setup and shorten the process for you.  

• Where are your notebooks currently stored? Are they saved in OneDrive/SharePoint (cloud) or locally on your computer (a file path on the device)? 
• What exactly happens when you try to switch to the new OneNote? 
• Do you see any error message, do your notebooks not appear, does it keep asking you to sign in, or does it open but not sync? 

Once you share some information above, I can guide you with exact steps to fix it. 

Thank you for your patience and your understanding. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need any assistance with the process.   

Wishing you a great day ahead. 

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Answer 2

To update your OneNote from the old version to the new version, you can follow these steps:

1. Uninstall the Old Version: It is recommended to uninstall the old version of OneNote before installing the new version. You can do this through the Control Panel on Windows or by using the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant tool if you encounter issues during uninstallation.
2. Install the New Version: You can download the new version of OneNote from the Microsoft Store or through the Microsoft 365 portal. If you encounter issues during installation, ensure that your internet connection is stable and try using a different network if possible.
3. Check for Updates: After installing the new version, open OneNote and check for updates to ensure you have the latest features and fixes.

If you continue to experience problems, consider reinstalling Microsoft 365, as this may resolve underlying issues affecting your OneNote installation.

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References:

• OneNote for Windows 10 migration guidance
• We couldn't start OneNote the last time we tried error