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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
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The verdict on

Microsoft OneNote

60
User verdict / 100 High confidence Divided

Microsoft OneNote is a powerful, versatile note-taking app, especially on Windows, but recent reviews highlight significant functionality gaps, sync issues, and numerous bugs on Apple devices, contradicting developer claims of bug fixes.

4.7★ lifetime (1,051,146) Free + in-app purchases since 2011 by Microsoft Corporation updated 0.2 mo ago recent negative 42% 120 reviews across 2 regions
iOS/iPadOS Functionality Bugs and Glitches Sync Issues Drawing/Handwriting Experience Organization & Utility
5★89
4★27
3★30
2★19
1★85
recent reviews across 2 regions, vs the 4.7★ lifetime average

Microsoft OneNote is widely appreciated for its organizational capabilities and cross-platform accessibility, allowing users to consolidate notes, journals, and business goals. However, recent user feedback, particularly from Apple device users, points to a decline in functionality, persistent syncing problems, and various bugs that hinder the note-taking experience.

What users like

  • Excellent for organizing notes, ideas, and information across multiple notebooks and pagesR7R11R16R20
  • Reliable cross-platform syncing and accessibility on various devices, especially desktopR11R16R23R30
  • Effective for academic and professional use, including sharing notes and reviewing educational contentR13R16R38R87
  • Many essential features are available for freeR50

What users complain about

  • Significant lack of features and optimization on Apple devices (iOS/iPadOS) compared to WindowsR1R2R12R19
  • Frequent and critical syncing issues across devices, leading to lost or unavailable notesR4R17R23R25
  • Numerous bugs and glitches, particularly affecting drawing, text selection, and general app stabilityR9R10R15R18
  • Drawing and handwriting features are poor, lacking tools like a ruler, stabilization, and proper palm rejectionR2R8R12R28
  • The 'Send Copy of Page' feature is frequently broken on iPad, preventing export or sharing of notesR70R73R75R76
  • App can be clunky, slow, and drains battery quickly on mobile devicesR29R62R100
  • Search functionality, especially for handwritten text, is poorR6R90R94

Latest update · v16.111.3

What the developer says changed (the verdict above weighs this against what reviewers report):

This month’s update is bug fixes only. Thanks for using OneNote! We listened to your feedback and updated the application with optimizations to help improve your note taking experience. Having trouble? Send feedback in the app (OneNote->Settings->Send Feedback) Have an idea? Add to our feature suggestion box at https://aka.ms/onenotefeedback

Recurring themes

iOS/iPadOS Functionality negative
Many users report that OneNote on Apple devices (iOS/iPadOS) is significantly less functional and optimized than the Windows version, lacking key features like rulers, paper guides, and proper image editing. The mobile experience is described as clunky and missing desktop functionalities, making it frustrating for students and power users. This contradicts the developer's general 'optimizations' claim.R1R2R12R19
Sync Issues negative
A recurring problem is unreliable syncing between devices, with notes failing to update, getting stuck 'offline,' or even disappearing. This leads to significant frustration and loss of crucial data, particularly for students and professionals who rely on cross-device access.R4R17R23R25
Bugs and Glitches negative
Despite recent updates claiming 'bug fixes only,' users report numerous persistent and new bugs. These include issues with drawing tools selecting text instead, text formatting problems, app crashes, inability to create new notes/notebooks, and gestures interfering with text selection. The 'Send Copy of Page' feature on iPad is particularly broken.R9R10R15R18
Drawing/Handwriting Experience negative
Users, especially those with Apple Pencils, find the drawing and handwriting experience poor. Complaints include a lack of essential tools like a ruler, no stabilization for handwriting, poor palm rejection leading to 'ghost lines,' and lag when drawing. This makes the app unsuitable for detailed or engineering-related note-taking.R2R8R12R28
Organization & Utility positive
Many users praise OneNote for its robust organizational structure, allowing them to create notebooks, sections, and pages to manage personal, academic, and business information. It's seen as a versatile tool for consolidating various types of notes, including text, photos, and handwritten entries.R7R11R16R20

Who it's for

OneNote is for users who need a comprehensive, free note-taking and organizational tool, especially those on Windows devices or who prioritize cross-platform accessibility for basic note-taking R11R16R50. It is particularly useful for students and professionals who manage a large volume of information and benefit from its notebook/section structure R7R38. It is NOT recommended for users heavily reliant on Apple devices (iOS/iPadOS) for detailed note-taking, drawing, or sharing, as these platforms suffer from significant feature gaps and bugs R2R12R73.

Evidence note: The recent reviews skew heavily negative, particularly concerning Apple device functionality and bugs, which contrasts with the high lifetime rating. Many positive reviews are general affirmations without specific details, while negative reviews are highly detailed about specific issues. The developer's release notes mention 'bug fixes only,' but recent reviews frequently contradict this, reporting new or unresolved bugs.

Frequently asked

Is OneNote good for Apple devices?
Based on recent reviews, OneNote on Apple devices (iOS/iPadOS) severely lacks features and optimizations compared to its Windows counterpart, with users reporting issues like missing drawing tools, poor handwriting support, and numerous bugs R2R12R19.
Are there syncing problems with OneNote?
Yes, many users report frequent and critical syncing issues across devices, where notes fail to update, get stuck 'offline,' or become unavailable, leading to frustration and potential data loss R4R17R25R32.
Does OneNote have good drawing features?
The drawing and handwriting features in OneNote, especially on Apple devices, are often criticized for lacking essential tools like a ruler, having poor stabilization, and suffering from bad palm rejection, making the experience frustrating for many users R2R8R12R28.
Is OneNote free to use?
Yes, OneNote is free to use, and many essential features are available without charge R50.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R7] 5/5 · CA This is my whole life (im not exaggerating): This One Note literally has my whole life. It's my journal - like a diary. It has all my notes from studying. And my goals for my business! I literally write everything inside this app.
  2. [R11] 5/5 · CA Flexible, accessible, and adaptive: I love OneNote. I set mine up with the Bullet Journal methodology. I love how it’s accessible across all platforms and devices!
  3. [R16] 5/5 · CA Ease of use: I have used OneNote extensively over the past few years to record notes and share with others. I appreciate how I can download a file into a sheet on my computer and write on it seconds later on my tablet. It’s also great that all my notes are in one place regardless of the device I have with me - no more searching multiple notebooks & pieces of paper. I also use it on my Mac and PC p
  4. [R20] 5/5 · CA A Versatile & Easy To Use Online Binder System: I love this App. I use it every day to keep track of my daily notes and reflections. I am able to create the folders I need with ease. I love that, in addition to text, I can put in photos, and handwritten notes.
  5. [R23] 4/5 · CA Reliable app: I've been using this app sporadically for many years now, and it has never failed me. My files are still there, no matter what platform I use. No hassle ever, except logging in to my account and there they are. This is one of Microsoft's successful product example. Update: Can't print with the new app? Update on my PC doesn't want to sync with my tablet anymore. Why MS had to change
  6. [R30] 3/5 · CA Crashes when you scroll down quickly on iPad: Super annoying glitch. Pen also have a lag when drawing. Only using it for the helpful syncing - for note taking on iPad it has some issues.
  7. [R13] 5/5 · CA Efficient tool: I use this a lot
  8. [R38] 5/5 · CA Easy and reliable: From my college and still I keep saving all slides, files.Articles, everything. I love OneNote ❤️❤️
  9. [R87] 4/5 · CA Classroom: The app is great for reviewing notes written/shared by your educators, along with a separate note page for you as a student to write your notes creatively without any limits.
  10. [R50] 5/5 · CA JUST PERFECT: Many of the essential features are available completely free of charge
  11. [R1] 3/5 · CA Notetaking on IOS: Although I understand the reason why ipads would have more features, the fact that there aren't options to change the pen colours are limiting. I'm also frustrated with the inability to apply paper guides such grids, lines etc., which is already a function on apple notes.
  12. [R2] 1/5 · CA Do NOT use if you have an Apple Device: I'm an engineering student and I was required to use a shared Onenote for a group project. It was the worst experience I've ever had with a note-taking app ever. The functionality for writing and drawing on an Apple device is ridiculously annoying to navigate around. Onenote on Apple devices severely lacks in features and optimizations compared to what is av
  13. [R12] 3/5 · CA Good for laptop, need to be better for iPad: The app is ok-ish to use. A lot of options do not work correctly on iPad. If you are a beginner or do not need it for multiple classes or just for simple use it’s ok. I would also not recommend it for engineering or any classes you need to draw. As mentioned some options lack, one of them is the automated formatting, it can’t even detect a straight line
  14. [R19] 1/5 · CA Apple Pencil: Apple Pencil features are not working and I can’t have my OneNote page full screen on iPad the same as windows. I have one inch bar showing on top for no reason
  15. [R4] 4/5 · CA Sync: Works great but the mobile app continues to display sync issues even after reloading app, relogging in
  16. [R17] 3/5 · CA Poor syncing: This Microsoft app on iOS does not sync properly / timely with the latest data entered on my Windows 11 computer
  17. [R25] 2/5 · CA Stuck “working offline”: Not too sure when this started to happen but my notes are no longer syncing and the top left of the app keeps telling me the app is “working offline” even though the iPad is definitely connected to the internet. Looks like others online have been facing similar issues. Please fix this, as my notes are now stuck on this device.
  18. [R9] 1/5 · CA Won’t let me make notes and notebooks: Literally just says it fails too, I rest and deleted it and it still doesn’t let me. Help me developers.
  19. [R10] 1/5 · CA Indents now wrong after highlighting bug fixed: It’s frustrating to see features just suddenly stop working with bugs. Now indents are all off and too indented after each sub indent. The highlighting text issue was fixed finally, but now this new problem has emerged.
  20. [R15] 2/5 · CA New update, same issues, plus some extra: WRITING BUGS BUG 1 When trying to write with any the markers, erase, use the lasso tool for selecting, or anything like that, it insists on selecting the text tool even though I did not choose it. I have to usually wait for a few seconds for it to select the text tool and THEN select the tool I chose in the first place. I am now at the point where I always
  21. [R18] 1/5 · CA Too Buggy: This app has gone downhill. It no longer works properly with split screen on iPad, which makes it frustrating and almost unusable for multitasking. There are also way too many bugs; the cursor often won’t drag more than a few words at a time, so highlighting text or copying and pasting is incredibly difficult. Basic functions feel broken. Not reliable anymore and definitely not worth us
  22. [R8] 2/5 · CA Why no ruler?: Please add a ruler!
  23. [R28] 3/5 · CA Good but could be better: I wish there was at least a LITTLE bit of stabilization on the drawing feature. If you don’t have those paper texture screen protectors, your handwriting will suddenly be horrid on one note which sucks because I like hand writing my notes and the text feature doesn’t give that memory retention benefit that physically writing does. I also really enjoy the organization thou
  24. [R70] 4/5 · CA PLEASE FIX SHARE BUTTON ON IPAD: Great app, sometimes glitchy but works. PLEASE FIX THE SHARE BUTTON ON IPAD. Nothing happens when shade is pressed or it opens window to share options and does nothing.
  25. [R73] 1/5 · CA SEND COPY ON IPAD: Won't work, it crashes. Tried doing the all the trouble shooting nothing work.. Please update and fix
  26. [R75] 1/5 · CA Send copy of page quit working: I use this exclusively at work and about 2 weeks ago I can no longer send copy of page. This needs to be fixed asap. Microsoft support page is littered with this issue. When are you going to fix this Microsoft!
  27. [R76] 1/5 · CA send a copy of page: normally if some wanted to save the page as a pdf to the files app, they would choose share - send a copy of this page - save to files, but after selecting “send a copy of this page” it doesn’t do anything. bug is only on iPad, on iPhone it works fine, please fit it ASAP
  28. [R29] 2/5 · CA Good but drains the battery: It drained 40% of my ipad pro m1 in 40 minutes while drawing, this is too fast. And my ipad was super hot. It's barely usable to take notes in long meetings because my ipad's battery would be emptied too quickly.
  29. [R62] 1/5 · CA Clunky and slow: App is clunky and slow mobile app lacks features of the desktop version
  30. [R100] 3/5 · CA Mobile Experience Lacking: While the Windows desktop experience is pretty good, the mobile experience on iPhone is lacking. I find the interface on iPhone clunky and notes feel like browsing a unoptimized website. Notes with very little text should be scaled for mobile screens and not allow you to scroll horizontal to blank space. It’s a very annoying feeling using the app after using Evernote for
  31. [R6] 2/5 · CA Need improvement: Its note search ability is very very poor.
  32. [R90] 3/5 · CA Handwriting unsearchable: App is great but I’m unable to search handwritten text cause it’s only read as a drawing
  33. [R94] 5/5 · CA Almost great: Please make it easier for searching printout text, make dictation less buggy, add Apple Pencil Pro support for the new barrel squeeze and double tap features.
  34. [R35] 2/5 · CA Mac version lacks huge amount functionalities vs Windows: It does make sense that a firm would protect its own products from the competitive market, to a consumer. However, as one of top tech company that owns the most market share, certain portion of your customers may want to use another product from many brands. It feels sucks to jump between same product with enormous gaping holes in between t
  35. [R32] 3/5 · CA Unreliable: One note has become increasingly unreliable. One of my big lecture notes suddenly became unavailable 1 day before my exam which is extremely disappointing. With regard to the cost of this service I have to say the quality of the service/one note, doesn't remotely match. I had so much respect for this app but unfortunately I’m starting to lose faith which is heartbreaking :(((

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store