OneNote is Microsoft’s Office-linked note manager that you always find on lists of the best note-taking apps because that’s what it is: even if it has a slightly odd design compared to what the competition offers, it’s not just that it’s one of the most complete solutions in its category, but it’s also free.

However, the future of OneNote is tied to the future of Microsoft 365, and the future of that is tied to the future of Windows 11, so that’s where Microsoft is putting its efforts. After redesigning the interface in the style of the new version of the operating system OneNote is coming to the Microsoft Store. That was already, yes, but with nuances.

It is the new version of OneNote that will arrive in the Microsoft Store, but only for Windows 11. On the contrary, the Windows 10 version will be downloadedleaving behind a sort of legacy package that will no longer receive any further updates and will be out of support in 2025, the date Windows 10 is also slated to say goodbye.

Making something easier while making something else more difficult doesn’t seem like the best strategy, but it’s one the company has decided to adopt. In short, if you want to install OneNote on Windows 11, you can find it in the Microsoft Store… although the truth is that OneNote is already part of the office suite applications that come pre-installed with the system.

This is what the new OneNote for Windows 11 looks like

So this move will really serve to make OneNote easier to update, rather than install, though it’s likely that both cases could happen. Stay tuned if you’re a OneNote user on Windows 11. Additionally, Microsoft warns that there is a bug where if you’ve installed OneNote with an executable from their website and entered the store, it will appear as if you don’t have it installed even though it’s the same app.

Now, if you’re a OneNote user on Windows 10, pay attention to the data, because there is some confusion: you can install OneNote from both its website and the Microsoft Store, although access from the second store will soon be discontinued. In any case, be careful because unlike what happens in Windows 11, you can have two OneNotes installed at the same time.

It knows which one you have installed, but it’s simple: just open the app and look at the window panel: if it says OneNote, you have a new app; if he puts it down OneNote for Windows 10Yippee heritage. You will also notice this if you are a regular user as the new one has a refreshed design. What are the differences in support between one and the other? In theory, the new one is the one that Microsoft will develop further.

In practice, though, it is advisable to use the new one, because it will receive updates, whereas OneNote for Windows 10 will not… Support for the former ends in 2025, along with support for Windows 10 itself. So use the one that provides you win, because in a few years you will either jump to Windows 11, or you end up with OneNote (this is of course a support and therefore security related saying).