Microsoft OneNote is stuck updating, and you cannot get past the spinner, download bar, or “pending” state. That leaves you unable to open notebooks, sync notes, or use the app normally. This guide shows you the fastest fix first, then walks you through the exact steps to get OneNote updating again.
Quick fix
The most likely fix is to close OneNote completely, force the Microsoft Store and update services to refresh, then restart OneNote and sign in again. In many cases, OneNote is not truly broken — it is waiting on a stalled Store download or a bad cached update state. If you clear that hang and relaunch the app, the update finishes.
Why this happens
OneNote gets stuck updating when the app, the Microsoft Store, or Windows Update loses track of the install state. A partial download, a sign-in mismatch, or a corrupted cache can leave OneNote thinking an update is still in progress even though nothing is moving. The problem is especially common after a network drop, a forced shutdown, or switching accounts on the same PC. The fix is to clear the update path and let OneNote start clean.
How to fix it
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Close OneNote and stop it from running in the background.
Click the X in OneNote, then press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. End any OneNote or Microsoft Office processes that are still running so the app is not holding the update open. When it is closed correctly, reopening it should show a fresh startup instead of the same update screen. -
Run the Microsoft Store cache reset.
Press Windows + R, type wsreset.exe, and press Enter. A blank command window opens briefly, then the Microsoft Store launches on its own. This clears the Store’s stale update cache, which is one of the most common reasons OneNote stays stuck on “Updating.” -
Check whether the update is paused in Microsoft Store.
Open Microsoft Store, click Library in the lower-left corner, then select Get updates. If OneNote appears in the list, let the download finish completely before opening the app again. If the store shows a queue that is frozen, sign out of the Store, sign back in, and run Get updates once more. -
Repair OneNote from Windows settings.
Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps. Find OneNote, click the three dots, choose Advanced options, then scroll to Repair and click it. This rebuilds the app without removing your notebooks, and it fixes damaged app files that can block the update process. If Repair completes, launch OneNote and confirm that the update prompt is gone. -
Reset OneNote if Repair does not clear the problem.
Go back to Settings > Apps > Installed apps > OneNote > Advanced options, then select Reset. Reset clears the app’s local data and sign-in state, so you will need to sign in again afterward. Use this when OneNote still says it is updating after Repair, because the local app cache is the part that is usually stuck. If your notebooks are stored in OneDrive, they come back after you sign in again. -
Reinstall OneNote through Microsoft Store or Office.
Uninstall OneNote from Settings > Apps > Installed apps, then open Microsoft Store and install it again, or start an Office repair from Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Microsoft 365 > Modify. This is the cleanest fix when the installation itself is corrupted. After reinstalling, open OneNote once, sign in, and give it a few minutes to finish the first sync before you judge whether the update is complete.
Common error messages
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“We’re having trouble updating OneNote.”
This means the app cannot complete the download or install step, usually because the Store cache or local app state is blocked. -
“Something went wrong. Please try again later.”
OneNote is reaching the update service but failing before it can finish, which points to a sign-in problem, cache issue, or damaged install. -
“This app can’t be updated because it’s currently running.”
OneNote is still active in the background, so Windows will not replace its files until you end the running process. -
“Download pending.”
The Store has queued OneNote but has not started the install, which often means another update is stuck ahead of it or the Store cache needs to be cleared.
When this means it’s a bigger problem
If OneNote still gets stuck updating after a Store reset, a Repair, and a full reinstall on a different network, the problem is no longer a simple app cache issue. That points to a deeper Windows profile problem, a broken Microsoft account sign-in, or a device management policy that is blocking app updates. If the same stall happens on a fresh Windows user account as well, stop troubleshooting locally and contact official Microsoft support or your work IT team.
Helpful answers
Frequently Asked Questions
Will repairing or resetting OneNote delete my notebooks?
Repair does not delete your notebooks or remove your sign-in. Reset clears the app’s local data and sign-in state, but your notebooks stay in OneDrive and come back after you sign in again. If you keep notebooks only on the device, make a backup first before using Reset.
How long should OneNote take to finish updating after I reopen it?
A clean update should move past the spinner quickly, and the first sync usually finishes in a few minutes. If OneNote sits on the same “Updating” screen with no change after you clear the Store cache and reopen it, the update state is still blocked and needs another fix.
What if OneNote is still stuck after I reinstall it?
If reinstalling OneNote does not fix the update stall, the problem is no longer the app package itself. Check whether your Microsoft account is signing in correctly and whether a work or school policy is blocking updates. For a deeper account-side reset path, see Microsoft Account Sign-In Problems.
Can I use OneNote on another Windows account to get around this?
Yes. A fresh Windows user account isolates the problem from your current profile. If OneNote opens and updates normally there, your original Windows profile has a broken cache or sign-in state. If the same stall appears on the new account, the issue is on the device, not your user profile.
How do I go back after using Reset in OneNote?
You can reopen OneNote and sign in again to restore your synced notebooks from OneDrive. There is no undo button for Reset, but your cloud notebooks return after the first sync. If you need help restoring content that was stored only locally, use OneNote Notebook Recovery