I'm stuck on an old version of OneNote for Windows

Question

I'm stuck on an old version of OneNote for Windows

JK 0

I have a new HP Windows 11 PC, and I own Office Home and Student 2019. However, I can't seem to get the current version of OneNote - the version of OneNote that installs on this PC is an old one:

enter image description here

"About OneNote" on the Account screen shows Version 2509 (Build 19231.20172 Click-to-Run).

enter image description here

When I click on the button next to that text, it shows something different: 2016 MSO (Version 2509 Build 16.0.19231.20138) 64-bit

enter image description here

I have tried installing and uninstalling both OneNote and Office 2019, and installing one before the other, as well as installing OneNote from the Store. I've used the uninstall troubleshooter and the install troubleshooter. Nothing seems to work.

I've looked at other questions regarding this, and haven't found a solution. This is hugely disappointing and frustrating, and taken up a lot of my time. Can someone please help and suggest a solution? It'd be greatly appreciated.

2 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

Alex_T 3,665 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hello JK,

Thank you for reaching out in Microsoft Q&A forum.

I understand that you’re frustrated because despite having Windows 11 and Office Home & Student 2019, your PC keeps installing an outdated OneNote 2016 version instead of the latest OneNote.

You need to install the latest standalone OneNote for Windows (OneNote 2021), which is free and works alongside Office.

Go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps > Search for OneNote and uninstall the desktop version (the one showing “Microsoft OneNote 2016 MSO”) > Restart your PC.
Go to https://www.onenote.com/download > Choose OneNote for Windows (Desktop) > Install it.
Open any Office app > File > Account > Update Options > Update Now. This ensures compatibility between Office and the new OneNote.
Launch the new OneNote > Sign in with your Microsoft account. Your notebooks should sync automatically from OneDrive.
Open OneNote > File > Account > About OneNote. It should show OneNote Version 2021 or later, not 2016 MSO.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

JK 0 Reputation points

2025-10-12T23:36:43.3566667+00:00

Thanks for your reply. It makes sense that the problem is that I need the 2021 version.

My OneNote wasn't showing in the list of applications, neither going by way of System, nor in Control Panel. It seems to now be tied to Office 2019, which does show up. So I uninstalled that and restarted.

When I click on your link, it redirects me to https://onenote.cloud.microsoft, and I end up here at OneNote online. There's no download option here:

If I sign out before clicking on your link, I end up at the OneNote sign in page:

At the bottom of this page is a Download link:

When I click on that, it takes me to https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/how-to-download-onenote-146efaac-d372-4412-abde-e00151ac202d

And when I click on "Windows", it takes me to the MS Store installation:

Any advice on how to proceed? Thanks again for your help, I hope we can resolve this!

PS: BTW, I just tried installing the MS Store version with Office 2019 uninstalled, and the same outdated OneNote 2016 was installed.
Alex_T 3,665 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-10-13T01:10:42.2133333+00:00
Hi JK,

Thank you for updating.

Based on your descriptions, please try to uninstall OneNote 2016 completely:

Open PowerShell as Administrator and run: Get-AppxPackage *OneNote* | Remove-AppxPackage

Then go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps, search for OneNote and remove any remaining desktop version.

Please let me know how it goes
JK 0 Reputation points

2025-10-13T02:38:41.18+00:00

Thank you. I did #1 and #2, and confirmed OneNote didn't show up. I also have Office 2016 uninstalled. I downloaded the OneNote installer.exe from the Store website link, and it again installed old OneNote 2016.

Any advice how to proceeed?
Alex_T 3,665 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-10-13T16:31:03.81+00:00

Hi JK,

Please try to uninstall Office via this tool: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/uninstall-microsoft-365-from-a-pc-9dd49b83-264a-477a-8fcc-2fdf5dbf61d8
JK 0 Reputation points

2025-10-13T19:05:49.28+00:00

OK, thank you for your continued attention, I appreciate it.

I tried your suggestion, and I get: "There was a problem uninstalling Microsoft 365 applications with the uninstall troubleshooter."

It then invites to use a manual method, which is to uninstall through Control Panel, which I've tried before. That way does uninstall Office 2019 (Word, Excel, PP), and I can also uninstall OneNote, too. It's just that any reinstall of any kind remains the same OneNote 2016.

I've also noticed that any reinstall of OneNote starts with all my custom settings (Quick Access toolbar, the same notebooks already opened.) I've tried every way of uninstalling / reinstalling OneNote and Office. I've even done an Update re-install of Windows 11 (that keeps all apps and settings), to no effect.

Any thoughts form here? Is it just not possible anymore to have both Office 2019 and OneNote 2021?
Alex_T 3,665 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-10-15T15:44:37.4033333+00:00
Hi JK, sorry for the late reply because I was out of working hours. I'm very appreciate your efforts.

We will try the last shot before going to Microsoft support site, hope you understand:

Open PowerShell as Administrator again and run: Get-AppxPackage *OneNote* | Remove-AppxPackage

Then open File Explorer and manually delete these folders if they exist (remember to sync your data to OneDrive): C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\ C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\ C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Office\ C:\Users\<YourUser>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneNote\ C:\Users\<YourUser>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\OneNote\

Then try to uninstall Office via the Microsoft tool i sent above. Run it, and when prompted, choose Remove all Office versions. Restart your PC after it completes.

Reinstall Office 2019/2021 from your Microsoft account page. During installation, use a custom configuration XML that excludes OneNote.

Save this as config.xml: <Configuration> <Add OfficeClientEdition="64" Channel="PerpetualVL2019"> <Product ID="HomeStudent2019Retail"> <Language ID="en-us" /> <ExcludeApp ID="OneNote" /> </Product> </Add> </Configuration>

Then run this command: setup.exe /configure config.xml

Now go back to the Store link: https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/onenote/9wzdncrfhvjl.Click Get in Store app > install > open OneNote.

If it still fails, I will guide you to contact a Microsoft support agent.

I'm waiting for your updates
JK 0 Reputation points

2025-10-15T19:37:37.56+00:00

Thanks very much for your continued attention, I appreciate it.

I completed the first two steps you described. But while trying to uninstall office from the uninstall troubleshooter in Get Help (that's where the link on that page directs), I got a message, "There was a problem uninstalling Microsoft 365 applications with the uninstall troubleshooter."It offered a manual method to uninstall through Control Panel, and I did that. Then I restarted my PC.I reinstalled from my MS account page, where it downloaded OfficeSetup.exe. I made the config file, and ran the command you gave. It didn't like the Channel, so I changed it to "Current". I ran it again, and it then downloaded and installed Office 2019 without OneNote.

I went to the Store application the way you described, and installed OneNote from the MS Store.

Unfortunately, it's still the old OneNote 2016.

What do you suggest?

Thanks again for your help.
Alex_T 3,665 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-10-15T23:00:22.93+00:00

Hi JK,

Thanks for updating, I'm very sorry about this inconvenience.

Your situation will need higher tech support. Please go to https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/contactus > type Can't install OneNote 2019 > click Get help > click Contact support > choose Microsoft 365 and Office > choose Phone/Chat support (remember to contact them at working hours/leave your phone number when no one online to support you immediately).

Sorry again. I hope you can understand, thank you.
JK 0 Reputation points

2025-10-16T00:37:34.9566667+00:00

OK, thank you for all your help. I'll do that on Friday when I have time. I'll post here how it eventually goes, for others' future reference, too.
pallavi shinde 0 Reputation points

2025-12-01T09:45:15.8433333+00:00

Hi JK,
Were you able to get a solution for the OneNote problem. I am facing the same problem and would be grateful if you can share your developments.

Thanks
Pallavi
JK 0 Reputation points

2025-12-02T04:48:37.9466667+00:00

Hi pallavi,

I wasn't able to get a solution. I'm still stuck on the old UI of OneNote.

The support was one of the worst experiences I ever had with tech support. The Chat support agent didn't seem to know much more than me. He got control of my PC, and when he did everything I had already done without any resolution of the problem, he started manually changing the layout around in the old UI of OneNote that I'm stuck with, to try to make it more like the newer UI. I called him out on it, and he said the newer UI is only available for Microsoft365 licenses. I told him I thought it was available for everyone. He then suddenly restored the restore point he had made before starting, and I lost contact. It was awful, I don't recommend it.

Answer 2

Deleted

This answer has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The answer was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.

Comments have been turned off. Learn more

Share via

I'm stuck on an old version of OneNote for Windows

2 answers

Your answer