Sign in problem in OneNote app for Android

Elena T 0 Reputation points
2026-08-31T08:39:25.13+00:00

The last few days there is an issue I'm my OneNote app in my mobile phone. A box appeared that said if I want to keep my notes updated I have to sign in. I was already signed in. And when I clicked on that, there was a problem. I signed in in the browser, it was okay.

I tried signing out and in again, but nothing changed. I tried uninstall the app and install again, still the same problem.

I cleared the cache memory, I forced it to stop, but nothing changed still. I don't understand what the problem is. Any help?

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneNote | For home | Android

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  1. Xavier-D 12,485 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-09-02T07:33:10.4766667+00:00

    Hello Elena T ,

    Since AI has already suggested several troubleshooting methods for you to try.

    Here are a few additional checks that do not repeat the previous steps:

    1. In Google Play, update Google Chrome and Android System WebView, then restart the phone. These components may be used during the in-app sign-in process.
    2. Temporarily disable any VPN, Private DNS, ad blocker, firewall, or security app, and test OneNote using a different connection, such as switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data.
    3. Confirm that Date and time and Time zone are set automatically in Android settings.
    4. If other Microsoft apps are installed, check which Microsoft account they are using. OneNote for Android may automatically reuse an account already signed into another Microsoft 365 app. If multiple accounts appear on the OneNote sign-in screen, choose Sign in using another account and select the intended personal Microsoft account.
    5. Check whether the Microsoft account has available cloud storage and whether the notebooks open with their latest content in OneNote for the web.

    If the sign-in fails again, please note the complete error message, error tag, error code, and timestamp shown on the screen. Those details can help determine whether this is an authentication or app-specific problem.

    If everything works on the web but the Android app still fails after these checks, please contact Microsoft Support and provide the error details, phone model, Android version, and OneNote version. This may require investigation on the service or application side. Here is how to contact Support:

    Please note that this is a user-to-user support forum. Moderators and contributors, including external Microsoft employees, are not allowed to directly interfere with Microsoft product features or access back-end systems. Our role is limited solely to providing technical guidance on reported incidents, requests, or ideas.  

    1. Open a website link - Contact - Microsoft Support 
    2. In the box below "We're here to help", type Microsoft 365, click "Get Help", and then click "Contact Support" below.
    3. In this section, you will need to sign in to your Microsoft account. 
    4. Select "Microsoft 365 and Office" under Products & Services, select "Technical Support" as the category, and click to confirm 
    5. You can select " Chat with a support agent in your web browser " to access the chat window. 

    I hope one of these checks helps fix your issue,

    have a nice day

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  2. AI answer

    2026-08-31T08:39:41.8+00:00

    For OneNote on Android, the most relevant next steps are:

    1. Update OneNote to the latest version from Google Play.
    2. Reset OneNote credentials:
      • Open OneNote.
      • Tap Notebooks at the bottom left.
      • Tap the three dots in the upper right.
      • Go to Settings > Account.
      • Tap Sign Out and confirm with OK.
      • Open recent apps and swipe OneNote away to fully close it.
      • Start OneNote again and sign in.
    3. If the account in Android was originally set up using a phone number under Personal Account, check Settings > Accounts on the phone. If the phone number is listed there, update OneNote to the latest version, restart the app, and if prompted with Account Error - Action Required, use Add Email to connect a valid email address. This restores syncing for affected accounts.
    4. If sign-in works in the browser but not in the app, verify the app is using the correct Microsoft account.

    Important: if there are notes on the device that are not syncing, avoid uninstalling the app again because unsynced notes stored only on the device can be lost if the app is removed.

    If the issue continues after the steps above, report it through the OneNote Android community forum.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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