Uninstall OneNote for Windows 10: Permanent Removal in 4 Simple Steps

My first time uninstalling OneNote from Windows 10 left me staring at a stubborn "still running" message for 20 minutes. ⚡ That experience taught me the right way to remove it permanently—without leftover files or registry ghosts.

Here's how I do it now, step by step, so you skip the frustration entirely.

The cleanest method uses Windows Settings, but PowerShell handles stubborn cases where the uninstaller gets stuck. I'll walk you through both, plus how to verify OneNote is truly gone—no more hidden processes or lingering shortcuts.

This works even if OneNote came bundled with Office, though I'll show you how to disable it first if you just want to keep the space.

You'll need admin rights (backup your notes first if you haven't exported them), about 5 minutes for the basic uninstall, and another 10 minutes if you're doing the deep clean. The difference between these two approaches is night and day—one leaves junk behind, the other wipes it completely.

After we're done, I'll show you how to confirm OneNote is fully removed and what to do if you change your mind later. Trust me, once you see how clean a proper uninstall leaves your system, you'll never settle for the quick-and-dirty method again.

What you need

Step-by-step instructions for removing OneNote from Windows 10

Here’s how to permanently delete OneNote without leaving behind traces.

Right-click the Start button and select Apps and Features. This opens the full list of installed programs. Scroll down and locate Microsoft OneNote in the list—it’s usually grouped under Microsoft Store apps.

Click OneNote, then select Uninstall. Windows will prompt you to confirm—click Uninstall again. Wait for the process to complete. This removes the main application but leaves behind some system files and shortcuts.

If you don’t see OneNote here, try searching for it in the search bar at the top of the Apps and Features window. Some versions of Windows bundle OneNote with Office and may not appear in this list.

Open the Microsoft Store by searching for it in the Start menu. Click your profile icon in the top-right corner and select Download history. Find OneNote in the list and click the three dots next to it, then choose Uninstall.

This ensures any Store-linked version is fully removed. If OneNote isn’t listed, it might have been installed as part of Office—skip to the next step. Wait for the uninstall to finish before proceeding.

Here’s the thing—some users report OneNote reappearing after a Windows update. To prevent this, we’ll take extra steps to block its reinstallation.

Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and hit Enter. This opens the Local Group Policy Editor. Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > OneNote. Right-click the Prevent the use of OneNote policy and select Edit.

Choose Enabled, then click Apply and OK. This prevents OneNote from reinstalling automatically during updates. If you don’t see the Group Policy Editor, your Windows version might not support it—skip to the next step.

For users on Windows 10 Home (which lacks Group Policy), we’ll use a registry tweak instead. Press Win + R, type regedit, and navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\OneNote. Create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value named DisableOneNote and set it to 1. Restart your PC for changes to take effect.

Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Program Files\WindowsApps. Look for any folders containing OneNote (e.g., Microsoft.Office.OneNote_) and delete them. You may need to take ownership first—right-click the folder, select Properties > Security > Advanced, then click Change and enter your username.

Next, remove any lingering shortcuts. Press Win + S, type OneNote, and delete any remaining desktop or Start menu shortcuts. Check the Send To menu (right-click > Send To) and remove OneNote if it appears there.

Finally, restart your computer. OneNote should now be completely gone—no traces in the Start menu, no hidden files, and no automatic reinstalls during updates.

Tips & tricks for permanent OneNote removal

Let me save you the headache I went through when OneNote kept popping back up after uninstall. These are the tricks that actually work to keep it gone for good.

Backup first: Before making any changes, create a system restore point. Press Win + R, type rstrui, and follow the prompts. This way, if anything goes wrong during the removal process, you can easily roll back to a working state. I learned this the hard way after accidentally breaking a registry key while trying to remove a different app.

Check for Office integration: If OneNote doesn't appear in Apps and Features or the Microsoft Store, it might be bundled with Microsoft Office. Open any Office app (like Word or Excel), go to File > Account, and click Manage product key. If you see OneNote listed there, you'll need to uninstall it through Office's uninstall tool instead. This is a common oversight that leaves OneNote lingering.

Registry tweak safety: When editing the registry to create that DisableOneNote DWORD value, be extremely careful. Always back up the registry first by right-clicking the registry key and selecting Export. I recommend creating the backup in a known location like your Desktop. If you accidentally delete the wrong key, you can restore it instantly. Never edit the registry without a backup!

Final verification: After completing all steps, perform a thorough search for OneNote. Press Win + S, type OneNote, and check every location it might appear—Start menu, taskbar, desktop, and even the hidden C:\Program Files\WindowsApps folder. I once missed a shortcut in the Send To menu that kept recreating the app icon after every restart. It's worth the extra 5 minutes to be absolutely certain.

Frequently asked questions

Got questions about uninstalling OneNote from Windows 10? Here are some of the most common ones—and their straightforward answers!