Install the supported OneNote desktop application directly from Microsoft’s Download OneNote link, then run the downloaded installer.
Install OneNote desktop directly
- Download OneNote from Microsoft: Download OneNote.
- Open File Explorer → Downloads.
- Double-click the downloaded setup file.
- Approve the Windows User Account Control prompt if it appears.
- When installation finishes, open Start, search for OneNote, and launch it.
- Sign in with the Microsoft account associated with Microsoft 365 or Office.
The installer detects whether the existing Microsoft 365 or Office installation is 32-bit or 64-bit and installs the matching OneNote desktop version. It should then associate OneNote with the activated Microsoft 365 or Office 2019 license.^1^
Do not look specifically for OneNote for Windows 10. That older Store app is no longer available to new users and became read-only after October 14, 2025; the currently supported desktop application is named OneNote or OneNote on Windows.^2^^3^
If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription
Install the full desktop suite instead if the standalone installer does not complete:
- Go to Microsoft 365 Apps.
- Sign in with the Microsoft account used to purchase Microsoft 365.
- Select Install apps → Microsoft 365 apps.
- Run the downloaded setup file and select Yes when Windows asks for permission.
- Wait for “You’re all set! Office is installed now.”
- Open OneNote from the Start menu and sign in to activate it.^4^
If Install apps is missing, check that the subscription or Office purchase is associated with the account currently signed in. For a work or school account, the organization’s administrator may also need to assign a license and permit desktop-app installation.^4^
If installation still fails
Record the complete error message and error code. Microsoft’s recommended next step for a general Microsoft 365 installation failure is:
- Open Microsoft’s installation article.
- Under Installation or sign-in issues, launch the Microsoft 365 setup troubleshooter.
- Follow the prompts in the Windows Get Help app.^4^
Only if the troubleshooter identifies a damaged or conflicting Office installation should Office be removed and reinstalled. Uninstalling removes the installed Office applications, so ensure documents and any unsynchronized OneNote content are backed up first.
For direct assistance, use Contact Us at the bottom of Microsoft’s OneNote support page if you have Microsoft 365 for home or an eligible one-time Office purchase.^5^
References
- Install or reinstall OneNote for Windows | Microsoft Support
- Features in OneNote for Windows 10 | Microsoft Support
- Step-by-Step Migration Guide: OneNote for Windows 10 to OneNote on Windows. | Microsoft Support
- Download, install, or reinstall Microsoft 365 or Office 2024 on a PC or Mac
- Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in OneNote for Windows | Microsoft Support