[Windows 10 Fix] OneNote App Crashes and Closes on Startup
In this troubleshooting article, we are going to address a very weird and annoying problem related to the built-in OneNote app in Windows 10 operating system.
Windows 10 comes preinstalled or bundled with OneNote app and you can launch OneNote app from Start Menu programs list.
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Recently an AskVG reader “Errol” contacted me regarding an issue with OneNote app.
The OneNote app was crashing and exiting without any warning message upon launch. As soon as the user was trying to open OneNote app, it was crashing and closing without showing any error code or message so that the user can know the reason behind this problem.
The user found a workaround to temporarily fix the issue. He was able to fix the issue by resetting the app using “Settings app -> Apps -> Apps & Features” page as mentioned in following tutorial:
[Tip] How to Reset or Terminate an App in Windows 10
After resetting, the app started working again but after a few days the same crashing problem started occurring again and the user had to reset the app again and again.
Following is the exact comment shared by the user describing his problem in details:
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Hello VG, I have an unusual issue with Windows 10 built in OneNote Version 16001.11126.20076.0. I’m on Windows 10 version 1903 (OS Build 18362.175) I also had the same issue with previous version of Windows 10. The issue I’m having with OneNote; It will open up today, then a few days later I come back and open it only to crash and exit without any warning. Then I go to Settings under Apps and terminate OneNote and Reset it and voila it works again. However the issue starts all over again after a few days when it’s not opened and I have to go and reset it all over again. So far I’ve not lost any of my information I’ve wrote on it. But I’m afraid that something will give eventually especially with continuous crashes from OneNote.
Can you please look at this issue and see if there is a way to prevent the crash issue. Thanks in advance.
I suggested him to disable “Let apps run in the background” option under “Settings -> Privacy -> Background apps” page.
It didn’t work. Following is his reply:
Hello VG, I waited until this day to see if the issue will occur again (One full week), and sadly I have to say I’ve had to reset it two times again. I did it the second time just before the writing of this message. I did exactly as you described but don’t know what else to do. Hope in some way you can find a solution of if anyone in the forum here knows of a solution to help, I’ll really appreciate it very much.
I suspected that it might be a registry issue but the user was sure that there was no problem in his Windows registry:
VG I beg to differ because I’ve been using Onenote since Windows 10 1809 release. I’ve since updated to Windows 10 version 1903 (OS Build 18362.239) updated a few days ago. I reinstalled Windows approx a month ago and it started from that time to the present. I personally don’t believe that the registry is corrupted where it will affect Onenote, if it was then when I reset Onenote it’s back up and running for a few days then it crashes after a few days. Windows Defender is working in all sections of my windows. I’ve not blocked it from any of my directories etc. I also have a few installed software like Mirillis Action, Adobe Photoshop 2019, VMware Workstation, Winrar, WhatsApp for desktop PC, Adobe Audition, TubeDigger, Serif Affinity Photo Firefox & Thunderbird. I don’t think any of these software will cause Onenote to crash!
Finally, the user was able to fix the issue. The problem was occurring due to “Print Spooler” service disabled in his computer.
Here is his final reply containing the solution:
Hello VG I hope all is well (Covid 19) with you and your family. Picking up from my issues with OneNote; I uninstalled it from my PC with the thought of doing so and reinstall would fix the issue! Well! that only made matter worse for me, in that I could not even get it installed, giving me an “Error 0x800706D9”. All that has been going on for the past few months since my last interaction here.
I finally found a way for it to reinstall. I did have my Printer disabled so I went to Services and enabled the Print Spooler, then went to the Microsoft Store and was able to reinstall OneNote and now it’s working. Just thought I’d give a feedback so others having similar issues can probably solve their own.
So the culprit behind this OneNote issue was Print Spooler service which was manually disabled by the user. As soon as the user re-enabled Print Spooler service, the problem disappeared.
The bottom line, if you also face such kind of issue with OneNote app in Windows 10, make sure Print Spooler service is set to Automatic and running in your system.
You can check whether Print Spooler service is running and enabled using services.msc command.
Also Check:
I just solved my issue of crashing OneNote 2016: I made a QuickNote in the iOS-App and it crashed when syncing. I deleted all QuickNotes under iOS and the QuickNote-Folder in Onenote. It stopped crashing. Hope this helps someone.
Problem is similar. OneNote fails to start, drops off on opening note files.
It happens in one computer. On other computers and laptops all works fine (still).
I suspect, the root of problem is some conflict in opening notebook files.
The sequence of events on onenote start can be described:
– stats the initial window;
– starts to open notebook;
– one after another “colorizes” tabs of the open notebook …
… 1-2 sek and crash.
The problem sits in my new work-computer where I started to install-initiate the the set of my notebooks. Something went wrong and now I can’t fix it.