How to Disable or Remove OneNote in Windows 10. Microsoft Office is one of the most widely used productivity suites across the globe. It is used by both professionals and everyday users for a wide range of tasks such as word processing, creating presentations, handling spreadsheets, and managing email. Among these tools is Microsoft OneNote—a digital note-taking app designed to help users organise thoughts, research, and tasks. While OneNote can be incredibly useful for some, others may find it unnecessary or even bothersome. If you fall into the latter category, this article will guide you through how to disable or remove OneNote from your Windows 10 system.
What Is OneNote And Why Might You Disable It?
Microsoft OneNote is an application meant to take, organise, and share notes digitally. It’s popular with students, researchers, and professionals who need to compile notes, sketches, or clippings in one place. However, not everyone finds it essential. For users who don’t rely on digital note-taking, OneNote may feel more like a nuisance, especially when it automatically launches at startup or is set as the default printer without permission.
One particularly frustrating aspect is that, after installing Microsoft Office, OneNote often configures itself as the system’s default printer. This can cause issues if you use a physical printer for your documents. Additionally, OneNote’s background activity during system boot can slow down your PC unnecessarily.
How To Disable Or Remove OneNote In Windows 10?
If you’re looking to disable or remove it, here are three effective solutions.
Method 1 – Remove OneNote As The Default Printer:
OneNote can appear in your printer list and be selected by default when printing documents. Fortunately, this is easy to undo.
Steps to Remove OneNote as a Printer:
1.Open the Settings menu by pressing Win + I.
2.Go to Devices.
3.Then, click Printers & scanners on the left panel.
4.From the list of installed printers, locate OneNote.
5.Select it and click Remove device.
6.Confirm the action when prompted.
By removing the virtual OneNote printer, your system will no longer attempt to route print jobs through it, which helps avoid unintentional printing issues.
Method 2 – Disable OneNote From Running At Startup:
OneNote is often configured to launch as soon as your PC starts, which can take up unnecessary system resources. Disabling it from startup can speed up your boot time and free up memory.
How to Disable OneNote at Startup:
1.Right-click on the Start menu or press Win + X.
2.Then choose Task Manager.
3.Click the Startup tab.
4.Find OneNote in the list of programs.
5.Select it and click Disable at the bottom right.
This will prevent OneNote from launching automatically every time your system starts. If you need it later, you can still open it manually from the Start menu.
Method 3 – Permanently Uninstall OneNote:
If you’re certain you’ll never use OneNote, you can go one step further and uninstall it completely. Since OneNote is bundled with Microsoft Office, you’ll need to modify your Office installation.
Steps to Remove OneNote Permanently:
1.Open the Control Panel.
2.Click on Programs and Features.
3.Locate your version of Microsoft Office in the list, such as Microsoft Office Enterprise.
4.Right-click on it and choose Change.
5.In the Office setup window, choose Add or Remove Features and click Next.
6.This will take you to Installation Options.
7.Find Microsoft OneNote in the list of Office applications.
8.Click on the drive icon next to Microsoft Office OneNote and select Not Available.
9.Click Continue to save your changes and uninstall OneNote.
This process will remove OneNote entirely from your Office package without affecting the other applications like Word, Excel, or Outlook.
Conclusion:
While OneNote is a powerful note-taking application for many, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. If you don’t use it and find its presence more intrusive than helpful, you now have three solid options: remove it as a default printer, disable it from startup, or uninstall it altogether. Each method serves a different purpose and can be chosen based on how much control you want over the app’s presence on your system.
Hopefully, these solutions make your Windows 10 experience smoother and more tailored to your actual needs. If you found this guide helpful, feel free to share it or leave a comment with your feedback.