OneNote: 22 Tips for the Modern App

Key insights

• OneNote for Windows 10 goes read-only for commercial and consumer users on Oct 15, 2025, with education customers moved to a later date to avoid mid-semester disruption.
  Make migration a priority so notes stay editable and sync continues in the new app.
• Modern OneNote replaces the legacy app and installs from the Microsoft Store; it offers a refreshed interface and deeper Microsoft 365 integration.
  Open the Modern OneNote after confirming all notebooks are fully synced in the old app to ensure a clean migration.
• Key productivity features include Copilot Chat for AI help, Loop components for live collaborative content, Fast OCR to extract text from images, and tight Teams integration for meeting notes.
  These tools streamline brainstorming, meeting capture, and shared editing in real time.
• Writing and layout tools improve note creation: inking upgrades (new pens, ink eyedropper, handwriting straightening), vertical tabs, image crop, merge table cells, and page templates.
  Ink now “sticks” to images and you can print to background pages or lock pages for consistent layouts.
• Security and compliance labels and options to export or save notebooks locally help teams meet policy and backup needs.
  After the deadline the old app becomes read-only and will no longer accept new edits or sync changes.
• IT admins should follow Microsoft migration guidance and plan rollouts early; education customers get a later cutoff, but schools should still prepare and migrate before the deadline to avoid disruptions.
  Test migrations, ensure user sync, and communicate timing to users ahead of the switch.

A new YouTube video by Mike Tholfsen outlines the end of support for OneNote for Windows 10 and the push to the Modern OneNote app. In the video, he demonstrates more than two dozen tips and features, and he clarifies important dates and migration steps. Notably, Microsoft has set a read-only deadline for commercial and consumer users in mid-October 2025, while educational customers will receive a later date to avoid interrupting semesters. As a result, organizations and individual users must prepare now to avoid data or workflow disruptions.

Overview of the Change

Microsoft will retire OneNote for Windows 10 and encourage users to adopt the Modern OneNote experience on Windows. According to the video, commercial and consumer editions go read-only on October 15, 2025, and support will end at that time, which means syncing and new edits will stop for that version. For education customers, Microsoft plans a later cutover to reduce impact during school terms, and administrators will get guidance on migration windows. Therefore, syncing notebooks and preparing migration plans are urgent steps.

Meanwhile, the Modern OneNote installs from the Microsoft Store and promises a unified experience across Windows devices. It merges familiar features with new productivity tools and deeper integration into the broader Microsoft 365 ecosystem. Since Microsoft is moving forward with feature consolidation, users will see ongoing updates and new integrations rather than maintenance for the legacy app. Consequently, the shift aims to modernize note-taking while encouraging consistency across platforms.

What the Modern OneNote Adds

The Modern OneNote brings refreshed navigation and improved inking tools, including vertical tabs, new pen effects, an ink eyedropper, and handwriting straightening. In addition, it adds productivity features such as page templates, the ability to merge table cells, and image cropping inside notes. Notably, the app also supports Fast OCR for quicker text extraction from images, and it offers tighter connectivity to meetings and collaboration tools. As a result, users who rely on inking and mixed-media notes should find the new app more capable.

Moreover, the Modern OneNote introduces collaborative building blocks like Loop components and brings AI features such as Copilot Chat into the note-taking workflow. These functions let teams share dynamic content and use AI to draft or summarize notes directly inside OneNote. However, these additions raise new considerations for privacy and compliance, which the app addresses through security and labeling features. Thus, organizations will need to weigh collaboration gains against governance requirements.

Highlights from Mike Tholfsen's Video

Tholfsen structures the video as both a tutorial and a migration checklist, showcasing practical tips you can apply immediately. He walks through actions like exporting notebooks for local backup, using dictation, enabling recent edits view, and leveraging integrations with meeting details and Teams. Furthermore, he demonstrates how ink can “stick” to images, how to forward links, and how to print background pages and lock them for reference. Therefore, the clip serves as a hands-on preview of what users will encounter when they switch apps.

He also points out features that long-time users might miss or not expect, such as merge table cells, image crop, and compatibility with add-ins like OneTastic, while warning that some workflows may need adaptation. For administrators, the video highlights available migration guidance and the importance of ensuring notebooks are fully synced before transition. Consequently, the presentation balances excitement about new tools with pragmatic migration steps. In short, it offers a useful roadmap for both individual and enterprise users.

Tradeoffs and Migration Challenges

Switching to the Modern OneNote brings clear benefits but also tradeoffs that teams must consider. On one hand, the new app offers stronger integration with Microsoft 365 and AI-driven assistance, which can boost productivity and collaboration. On the other hand, it introduces a learning curve for users accustomed to the old interface and may change how certain add-ins or custom macros behave. Therefore, organizations should plan training and pilot tests to reduce disruption.

In addition, migration raises technical challenges like ensuring full sync of notebooks, handling large or local-only notebooks, and preserving shared workflows. IT teams must coordinate timelines carefully, especially for schools that may not move mid-semester, and they must test compliance and backup processes in advance. Meanwhile, balancing the benefits of features like Copilot Chat against privacy and security policies will require policy reviews and possibly configuration changes. Thus, careful planning will determine whether migration goes smoothly or causes friction.

Implications for Users and Organizations

For many users, the timing means immediate action: test the Modern OneNote, back up important notebooks, and train staff or students in the new workflows. Administrators should follow migration guidance, confirm that sync is complete before the deadline, and communicate timelines clearly to minimize surprises. Additionally, teams should evaluate AI and collaboration features to align with governance, especially where sensitive data or compliance labels matter. Consequently, readiness and communication are the keys to a successful transition.

Overall, Mike Tholfsen’s video offers a concise guide to the shift from OneNote for Windows 10 to the Modern OneNote, combining practical tips with a clear migration timeline. It notes both promising new capabilities and the challenges that organizations will face, so viewers can plan accordingly. Therefore, whether you are an individual user or an IT manager, this update deserves attention as the October 2025 date approaches. In summary, the video acts as a useful starting point for informed migration planning.

Keywords

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