Microsoft's popular note-taking application ecosystem is undergoing significant changes as the company moves to streamline its offerings while simultaneously encouraging users to migrate to Windows 11. The tech giant has confirmed plans to end support for a specific version of its note-taking software, which will impact many Windows 10 users who rely on the application for daily productivity.
OneNote for Windows 10 Reaching End of Life
Microsoft has officially announced that OneNote for Windows 10 will reach the end of its support lifecycle in October 2025, coinciding with the end of Windows 10 support itself. This move is part of Microsoft's broader strategy to consolidate its note-taking applications, as the company currently maintains three different versions: OneNote for Windows 10, OneNote for Windows (the desktop version), and a web-based version. Users of the Windows 10-specific app are being directed to transition to the newer desktop version, available through the Microsoft Store.
Controversial Performance Throttling
Perhaps the most contentious aspect of this transition is Microsoft's plan to deliberately degrade the performance of OneNote for Windows 10 before its official end-of-life date. According to a recently updated support document, starting in June 2025, Microsoft will intentionally slow down sync performance for the Windows 10 version of OneNote. This artificial throttling will make real-time collaboration and multi-device synchronization more difficult for users who choose to remain on the older application. Microsoft justifies this approach by positioning faster synchronization as an exclusive feature of the latest OneNote for Windows version.
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| Microsoft's plan to slow down OneNote for Windows 10 could impact user experience as seen in this screenshot |
Feature Differences Between Versions
The desktop version of OneNote offers several advantages over its Windows 10 counterpart, including the ability to save notebooks offline without requiring a OneDrive account. The newer version also incorporates Copilot AI features, enhanced security options, and various performance improvements. However, some users prefer the Windows 10 version, particularly on touch-enabled devices, as it was specifically designed with a cleaner interface optimized for mobile and touch interaction.
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| The desktop version of OneNote offers enhanced features, as illustrated in this project kickoff page layout |
User Options Moving Forward
While Microsoft is pushing users toward its desktop version of OneNote, the application will technically continue to function after October 2025, albeit with degraded performance and no security updates. Users who prefer not to upgrade have several options: they can switch to the desktop version of OneNote (which is free), continue using the increasingly limited Windows 10 version, or explore alternative note-taking applications like Obsidian, which even offers the ability to import existing OneNote content.
Microsoft's Broader Strategy
This move appears to be part of Microsoft's larger effort to drive Windows 11 adoption, which has been slower than the company likely anticipated. Windows 10 remains the dominant desktop operating system despite being nearly a decade old. By gradually removing support for applications on Windows 10 and implementing performance limitations, Microsoft seems to be employing more aggressive tactics to encourage both software and operating system upgrades among its user base.