Critical OneNote Sync Issue: Android Devices Not Automatically Syncing with Windows/iOS

Dear Born-Blessed,

Thank you very much for your prompt and detailed response.

To address your questions and suggestions:

Signing out and back into OneNote on Android:
Yes, I have already tried signing out and signing back into my Microsoft account on the Android device. This did not resolve the issue.

Network connection confirmation:
The Android device is consistently connected to a stable and high-speed Wi-Fi network. I have also tested with mobile data (5G), and the issue persists regardless of the network used.

VPN or restrictions:
There are no active VPNs or app-level restrictions on the device. OneNote has full access to background data and unrestricted battery usage.

Testing on another Android device/network:
I tested the issue on another Android device (Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite), and the sync problem was identical. Additionally, I asked a friend who also uses an Android tablet, and they confirmed experiencing the exact same issue. This further suggests that the problem is not limited to a specific device or network, but rather a broader issue with the Android version of the OneNote app.

In response to your additional suggestions:

Resetting OneNote Sync (toggle off/on):
It did not make any difference.

Clearing Sync Cache (not full data):
I cleared the app cache (without clearing data). Still, the app does not sync unless I manually trigger it or use the “navigate between pages” workaround I mentioned earlier.

Background Data Sync Enabled:
Confirmed. Background data is fully enabled for OneNote.

Testing with a New Notebook:
I created a brand-new notebook on the Android device. Surprisingly, it also experienced the same sync delay and inconsistency, even though it was very small and newly created. This suggests the issue is not tied to the size or age of the notebook.

Summary & Additional Observation:
All basic and intermediate-level troubleshooting steps have been completed. The issue continues to be isolated to the Android app’s ability to sync in real time. The same notebooks sync instantly and flawlessly between iOS and Windows, which points to a deeper problem with the Android sync mechanism — potentially a background service issue or app-side sync trigger bug.

To further illustrate the behavior, here is a direct observation I posted publicly on the Google Play Store:

"OneNote sync on my Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra (Android 15) is critically broken. Changes I make on Android don't automatically reflect on my other devices (Windows 11, iPhone). While iOS and Windows sync instantly and flawlessly, manual sync is essential for Android. Even then, to see Android changes on other devices, I have to switch pages and return, or manually sync on those devices too. Similarly, to see changes from other devices on Android, I must manually sync or navigate pages."

This persistent behavior not only disrupts workflow but also undermines the core value of real-time, cross-platform cloud synchronization — which OneNote is expected to provide.

Given that the problem is reproducible across multiple Android devices and users, and all local configurations are correct, I strongly believe this is a deeper application-level issue within the Android version of OneNote.

I kindly request that this matter be escalated to the OneNote development team for further investigation.

Thank you once again for your assistance and support.

Best regards,
Serkan

Dear Born-Blessed,

Thank you very much for your prompt and detailed response.

To address your questions and suggestions:

Signing out and back into OneNote on Android:
Yes, I have already tried signing out and signing back into my Microsoft account on the Android device. This did not resolve the issue.

Network connection confirmation:
The Android device is consistently connected to a stable and high-speed Wi-Fi network. I have also tested with mobile data (5G), and the issue persists regardless of the network used.

VPN or restrictions:
There are no active VPNs or app-level restrictions on the device. OneNote has full access to background data and unrestricted battery usage.

Testing on another Android device/network:
I tested the issue on another Android device (Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite), and the sync problem was identical. Additionally, I asked a friend who also uses an Android tablet, and they confirmed experiencing the exact same issue. This further suggests that the problem is not limited to a specific device or network, but rather a broader issue with the Android version of the OneNote app.

In response to your additional suggestions:

Resetting OneNote Sync (toggle off/on):
It did not make any difference.

Clearing Sync Cache (not full data):
I cleared the app cache (without clearing data). Still, the app does not sync unless I manually trigger it or use the “navigate between pages” workaround I mentioned earlier.

Background Data Sync Enabled:
Confirmed. Background data is fully enabled for OneNote.

Testing with a New Notebook:
I created a brand-new notebook on the Android device. Surprisingly, it also experienced the same sync delay and inconsistency, even though it was very small and newly created. This suggests the issue is not tied to the size or age of the notebook.

---

Summary & Additional Observation:
All basic and intermediate-level troubleshooting steps have been completed. The issue continues to be isolated to the Android app’s ability to sync in real time. The same notebooks sync instantly and flawlessly between iOS and Windows, which points to a deeper problem with the Android sync mechanism — potentially a background service issue or app-side sync trigger bug.

To further illustrate the behavior, here is a direct observation I posted publicly on the Google Play Store:

"OneNote sync on my Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra (Android 15) is critically broken. Changes I make on Android don't automatically reflect on my other devices (Windows 11, iPhone). While iOS and Windows sync instantly and flawlessly, manual sync is essential for Android. Even then, to see Android changes on other devices, I have to switch pages and return, or manually sync on those devices too. Similarly, to see changes from other devices on Android, I must manually sync or navigate pages."

This persistent behavior not only disrupts workflow but also undermines the core value of real-time, cross-platform cloud synchronization — which OneNote is expected to provide.

Given that the problem is reproducible across multiple Android devices and users, and all local configurations are correct, I strongly believe this is a deeper application-level issue within the Android version of OneNote.

I kindly request that this matter be escalated to the OneNote development team for further investigation.

Thank you once again for your assistance and support.

Best regards,
Serkan

Hi, I'm a user from Mexico and I'm using a translator to write this post. I'm experiencing the same issue: I can't sync my notes in real time between an Android device and a Windows PC. I watched a video where someone accomplished exactly what I'd like to do: sync notes instantly. Here's the link: https://youtu.be/Tts0U9HL7BI?si=VUApbJedrejM8qlc As you can see in the video, syncing between an iPad and a Windows 10 PC works immediately and seamlessly. I've tried some of the solutions you mentioned, but I haven't gotten an instant sync. Currently, I have to manually update by pressing Shift + F9 on my PC, and swiping down to force sync on my Samsung phone. Only then will the changes be reflected; otherwise, they won't update automatically.

Hello Serkan,

Thanks for posting in the Microsoft community.

I understand that you're experiencing a critical synchronization issue with OneNote on your Android device, where changes made in the Android OneNote app are not syncing automatically with the cloud or other devices (Windows and iOS). You mentioned that sync works perfectly between your iOS and Windows devices, so the issue appears isolated to the Android app's ability to sync. You've already tried several troubleshooting steps, including ensuring the same Microsoft account is used across devices, disabling battery optimization, and reinstalling the app without resolving the issue.

To better assist you, I would like to ask the following:

1. Have you tried signing out and then signing back into OneNote on your Android device?
2. Can you confirm whether the Android device is connected to a stable Wi-Fi or mobile data network when syncing?
3. Have you checked whether there are any specific restrictions or VPN settings on your Android device that might be affecting the app's connection to the sync service?
4. Could you please test syncing on a different Android device (if available) to see if the issue persists, or test on a different network to rule out network-related issues?

Based on the troubleshooting you've already completed, here are a few additional steps to try:

1. Reset OneNote Sync: Open OneNote on your Android device, go to Settings > Sync, and toggle the sync option off and back on to reset the sync process.
2. Clear Sync Cache on Android: Sometimes, clearing sync-specific data can resolve issues. Go to Settings > Apps > OneNote > Storage, and clear the cache (without clearing the data).
3. Ensure Background Data Sync: Verify that Background Data for OneNote is enabled in the Android Data Usage settings. This will allow OneNote to sync even when the app is not actively in use.
4. Test Syncing on a New Notebook: Create a new notebook on your Android device and try syncing to see if the issue is specific to certain notebooks or pages.

If the problem persists after following these additional steps, please let me know so we can explore further solutions.

Best wishes,
Born-Blessed | Microsoft Community Support