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Android OneNote will work for about a day, then require reinstall

Dominic Di Cocco 10 Reputation points
2026-04-15T17:14:10.28+00:00

OneNote on Android (which appears to be mostly unsupported) will work for about a day, get stuck on the screen where it appears it's trying to sync notes (shows the recent pages button, but pages are empty, my notebooks aren't listed, and the actual page window shows a nonstop loading animation), and won't work again until uninstalling, restarting my device, and reinstalling. Clearing cache, app data, signing out and back in all do not work. OneNote has worked mostly without issues for months before this. It always starts with inking something, then when I try to pan around or zoom, the ink stays fixed to the screen and doesn't move with the page. Then trying to do anything further breaks the whole app. Uninstalling and reinstalling has been the only solution that allows me open up notebooks and use OneNote as normal.

This is a larger issue affecting all MS Office 365 apps on the latest version on Android:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5861805/outlook-app-conflict-on-android-15
https://www.reddit.com/r/microsoft365/comments/1sjp9pg/is_anyone_else_having_problems_with_microsoft/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Outlook/comments/1sk5y4p/cant_log_in_into_microsoft_365_account_from/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Office365/comments/1slmdxf/android_word_powerpoint_stuck_on_configuring/

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneNote | For education | Android

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  1. AI answer

    2026-04-15T17:14:26.4666667+00:00

    Follow these steps to troubleshoot recurring OneNote for Android hangs and forced reinstalls:

    1. Verify and reset account credentials
      Corrupted or stale credentials can cause sync to hang and block notebook loading.
      1. Open OneNote on Android and tap Notebooks (bottom left).
      2. Tap the three-dots menu (upper right) > Settings.
      3. Tap Account.
      4. Tap Sign Out, then OK.
      5. Use the recent apps button, find OneNote, and swipe it away to fully close it.
      6. Start OneNote again and sign in with the correct Microsoft 365/education account.
    2. Force a full notebook sync instead of reinstalling
      Once signed back in, force sync to clear partial or stuck sync states that can cause the endless loading animation:
      1. In OneNote, locate a notebook that is not loading correctly.
      2. Tap the three-dots menu (upper right).
      3. Choose Sync (account name) notebook.
      4. To sync everything, go to the Notebooks list, tap the three-dots menu, and choose Sync all.
      5. Leave the device powered on and OneNote in the foreground until sync completes; large or first-time syncs may take a long time.
    3. Update OneNote for Android to the latest version
      A recurring daily failure can be caused by a bug fixed in a newer build.
      1. Open the Play Store app.
      2. Tap the menu icon > My apps & games.
      3. If OneNote shows an Update button, tap Update (or Update All).
      4. Relaunch OneNote and confirm notebooks load and sync.
    4. Check for known account issues on Android
      If the account was originally set up with a phone number on the device, OneNote can stop syncing and show persistent sign-in or account errors. In that case:
      1. Ensure OneNote is updated from the Play Store.
      2. If an Account Error – Action Required message appears, tap Add Email and attach a valid email address to the account so notes can sync normally.
    5. Confirm notebooks open in OneNote for the web
      To rule out notebook corruption or server-side issues, open the same notebooks in a browser via OneNote for the web. If they open and show recent changes there, focus troubleshooting on the Android app (credentials, sync, and updates as above). If they do not, there may be a broader service or notebook issue.

    If the app continues to hang daily after these steps, keep OneNote updated and use OneNote for the web or desktop as a stable fallback while monitoring for app updates that address the behavior.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  2. Ruby-N 11,730 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-04-19T22:13:06.6066667+00:00

    Dear @Dominic Di Cocco,   

    Thank you for sharing the additional information and related links.

    Recently, I have seen similar issue threads from other users in the community, and I have identified a few workarounds that may help in the meantime. You are welcome to try the options below and see if they improve the behavior on your device:

    Option 1: Reset Android System WebView 

    • Go to Settings and search for Android System WebView. 
    • Open App details in store and select Remove updates. 
    • Restart your device. 
    • Return to Settings and search for Android System WebView again. 
    • Open App details in store and select Update. 
    • Restart your device once more. 

    Note: If Android System WebView doesn't appear in your app list, navigate to: Settings > Google > All services > System services > Android System WebView. 

    After completing these steps, launch Teams and sign in again. 

    Option 2: Enable Secure Folder 

    This is an alternative workaround. 

    • Open Settings on your device. 
    • Search for Secure Folder and complete the default setup. 
    • No apps need to be added to the folder. 
    • Once Secure Folder is enabled, try launching OneNote again.

    However, many users have encountered similar issues with the latest Android update, which has affected multiple applications. At this time, I don’t see any related advisories or incidents listed in the Microsoft 365 admin center. This does not necessarily mean the issue does not exist, as it may currently affect only a small number of users and hasn‘t yet been widely reported.    

    Because of this, the best next step is to contact Microsoft Support directly so logs can be collected and the issue can be analyzed in more detail.

    • I understand that in some situations, reaching your IT administrator can be difficult. In that case, you may also share your experience through Microsoft Feedback: Microsoft apps not working properly on Android · Community. Submitting feedback through the Microsoft Feedback portal is very helpful, as it increases visibility and priority for investigation when multiple users report the same behavior.

    I also encourage highlighting or sharing this response within the community, as it may help other users who are experiencing the same symptoms but aren‘t yet aware of possible workarounds.

    I hope this clarifies the current situation and the available next steps. Please feel free to reply if you have questions or if there is anything else I can help with.

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  3. Ruby-N 11,730 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-04-16T19:48:45.7666667+00:00

    Dear @Dominic Di Cocco,   

    Thank you for sharing your experience so openly. I am truly sorry for how disruptive this has been, especially since OneNote on Android with a stylus is central to how you work. I fully understand your inconvenience, and I appreciate the time and effort you have already spent trying to resolve this. 

    In this Microsoft Q&A forum, I can help by explaining expected behavior and providing end user troubleshooting guidance. However, I don’t have access to tenant level diagnostics such as Azure AD sign-in logs, authentication token lifecycle data, Conditional Access evaluation, or OneNote service side sync traces for a specific Microsoft 365 account. Because of this limitation, deeper investigation isn‘t possible from a public forum thread. 

    From what you described, OneNote works briefly after reinstall, then notebooks stop loading and the app stays stuck in a loading state. This usually points to an underlying sign in or sync issue that returns over time, where reinstalling or clearing cache only helps temporarily. 

    • Since this keeps recurring despite those steps, the next practical step is to have your organization’s IT administrator raise a support case through the Microsoft 365 Admin Center so it can be checked at the tenant level. 

    This allows Microsoft Support to access tenant side diagnostics using time bound, least privileged access and investigate authentication token refresh failures, Conditional Access policies, or service restrictions that may be impacting OneNote on Android. 

    I didn‘t intend to redirect you unnecessarily, and I am sorry if it felt that way. This recommendation is based solely on platform limitations and the type of investigation required for this issue. I want to be transparent rather than suggest workarounds that would not address the root cause. 

    Thank you again for your patience and for explaining your workflow and concerns so clearly. I hope your IT administrator can escalate this with Microsoft Support and get a definitive resolution for you. 

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  4. Ruby-N 11,730 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-04-15T18:28:09.9066667+00:00

    Dear @Dominic Di Cocco, 

    Good day, and I appreciate the clear explanation of your concern.   

    Based on what you described, OneNote for Android is unable to fully connect to the cloud, so notebooks do not load and the app stays stuck on a loading screen. Since reinstalling the app temporarily fixes the issue, this suggests the app’s local sync or sign‑in state becomes corrupted over time, and standard steps like clearing cache or signing out are usually not enough to reset it. 

    Here are some workarounds you can consider:

    Option 1: Use OneNote online on a PC 

    Go to https://onenote.cloud.microsoft/ and sign in with the same Microsoft account. 

    Access and edit notebooks through OneNote on the web, or use the OneNote desktop app if available. 

    This option allows you to continue working with your notebooks without running into the Android app sync issue. 

    Option 2: Contact Microsoft Support  

    Since you have already completed all standard end-user troubleshooting steps, the best next step is to contact your organization’s IT administrator and request that they create a support ticket through the Microsoft 365 Admin Center > Support > Help & Support for further investigation. 

    A technical support engineer can perform a remote session to investigate the situation, verify the backend configurations, and run any necessary synchronization tools to resolve the problem. If the issue requires further attention, they can escalate it to a specialized team for deeper analysis.    

    As a moderator, I don't have the tools to investigate your specific account directly because this is a user-to-user support forum. Moderators and contributors, including external Microsoft employees, cannot directly intervene in Microsoft product features or access back-end systems. Our role is limited to providing technical guidance on reported issues, requests, or ideas. However, I will try my best to guide you as clearly as possible.    

    If you have any questions or need further support, please don’t hesitate to reach out at any time. 

    Thank you for your patience and understanding. 

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

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