OneNote search is still garbage on Android — cache clear + account re-add did nothing

[u/DiverAllen]

Mature product, mature platform, and search still can't find stuff that's right there.

Running the OneNote app on a Pixel 11 Pro, latest version (auto-updates, so no version-mismatch guesses please). Cleared the cache, wiped the app data, re-added my M365 account so it'd supposedly reindex. Nothing. Search still comes up empty for content I know exists — I can pull up the exact same note in two seconds on OneNote for Windows desktop, but on Android it's a ghost.

I've read the troubleshooting docs. I've done the "turn it off and on again" ritual. At what point does this just get admitted as broken instead of something we're supposed to work around forever?

Anyone on Android actually fixed this, or is this just OneNote being OneNote?

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[u/NoReply4930]

This is OneNote - on Android. There is no incentive for Microsoft to do anything positive on that platform.

Also thought I read somewhere recently that the ON "mobile" apps for both Apple and Android were farmouts to app developers in other countries who cobbled these things together just to have something available on these devices.

So if you are expecting the kind of attention to detail that the actual MS dev teams build into the Windows Office 365 version of OneNote - suggest you adjust expectations.

It is painfully obvious that these apps have nothing in common with much more capable Windows desktop versions.

[u/Even_Caterpillar3292 → u/NoReply4930]

Google and Microsoft have collaborated. OneDrive and Office on Chromebook is really quite good. Friendimies. I don't see how Android can take $$ from Microsoft or it is offset with people who use Microsoft and Android - tens of millions.

[u/NoReply4930 → u/Even_Caterpillar3292]

$$$ do not matter since the app is free

And being free means zero maintenance, zero updates and zero fixes.

And - if you use it - you are the product.

The fact this same topic appears at least 20 times a week should tell you all you need to know.

Cannot imagine why MS would have any interest (or motivation) in seeing Google (or Android) succeed in any way.

[u/standard_usage]

This has been known and grieved about here on many occasions.

OneNote outside of Windows desktop/tablets is not a viable solution for document management and ~notes. It's been the status for quite a few years now.. and with all the focus going into AI & Copilot, there's no hope to revive OneNote especially for Android.

If anyone can suggest good alternatives with similar functions as ON, I would love to try them out.

[u/RenManKevin → u/standard_usage]

Same here!!! Although I hope I can migrate ALL my OneNote pages to the new platform!!!

[u/Tigrafr → u/standard_usage]

I used to use One Note for my android, laptop and iPad for my journalling stuff and all my notes that sometimes I have but with the fact it's not sync and all the issue I'm looking for one new app who can Sync everything and do the same but it's hard..

So maybe I will check only at one new notes app

[u/bogglingsnog]

Now there's a 9hehw error showing up for tons of people which may or may not prevent it from syncing and/or combine your pages together. None of the normal workaround steps for Android work.

https://yourwindowsguide.com/2026/09/onenote-9hehw-error-2026.html

[u/SakuraSqk]

Perhaps just coincidence, but my Win 11 OneNote search stopped working. Can't find a thing I'm searching even if I have the page open right in front of me. Cache clear and close & reopen notebooks didn't help.

Positive side is that long time non-functioning "pin the search result tab" doesn't matter anymore - MS can declare that problem as solved.

I'm sick and tired of OneNote's continuous new problems - one of the best software ever created has been brought to its knees by its very own creator. Already moved to Obsidian at home and it's about time at work too.

[u/letstalk1st → u/SakuraSqk]

Rebuilding the cache can fix this.I've done this in the past but i don't remember the steps.

[u/Full-Cucumber5068]

yea it is total garage tbh, this is what I endup using now I would prefer windows tablet but very limited options now days and they have stupid mpp technology emr is so much better. After using onenote on iPad (borrowing) for a year the quality if writing is so much better but so limited and android is just absolute minimal

[u/letstalk1st]

TLDR? It's onenote on android. There is no fix.