Fix: Sticky Notes Stuck on ‘Loading’

Your Sticky Notes might not load if the installation of the Sticky Notes application is corrupt. Moreover, conflicting applications (like OneNote) may also cause error under discussion.

The user encounters (usually, after an OS or application update) the issue when he tries to launch the Sticky Notes application but the application is stuck on loading (or grey/dim screen) and has to be closed through the Task Manager.

Before moving on with the solutions to fix Sticky Notes in Windows 10, make sure to end the Sticky Notes application through the Task Manager and create a backup (so that your notes are safe) of the Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes_8wekyb3d8bbwe folder, located at:

\Users\%Username%\AppData\Local\Packages\

Solution 1: Update Windows and Sticky Notes

The Sticky Notes application may be stuck on loading if it is not updated to the latest build or the Windows of your system is outdated as it can create incompatibility between different OS/application modules. In this context, updating the Windows and Sticky Notes application to the latest releases may solve the problem.

1. Update the Windows of your PC to the latest build. Make sure, no optional update is pending for install.

   

2. Then, hit the Windows key and type Sticky Notes. Then, in the results shown, right-click on Sticky Notes and choose Share.

   

3. Now, the Microsoft Store will open with the Sticky Notes page. Then, check if an update for the Sticky Notes application is available, if so, then update the application.

   

4. Then, reboot your PC and check if the Sticky Notes application is working fine.

Solution 2: Delete the Notes on the OneNote Portal

You may encounter the issue at hand if any note of the Sticky Notes application is corrupt. In this case, deleting the notes on the OneNote portal (if you are syncing your notes) may solve the problem.

1. Launch the Quick Access menu (by Right-clicking on the Windows button) and select Task Manager.

   

2. Then, right-click on Sticky Notes and select End Task.

   

3. Now launch a web browser and navigate to the OneNote portal of Sticky Notes (you may have to sign-in using your Microsoft Credentials).
4. Then create a backup of the notes into a text editing application (or you can export the notes through the Outlook website, but that can be a tedious process).
5. Now, in the portal, open a note and then click on three horizontal ellipses (near the top right of the note) and select ‘Delete Note’.

   

6. Then repeat the same to delete all the notes.
7. Now close the browser and reboot your PC.
8. Upon reboot, launch the Sticky Notes (make sure your system is connected to the Internet) to check if the loading issue is resolved.

Solution 3: Replace the Corrupt Sticky Notes Folder

The Sticky Notes application might not work if any of the files/folders essential for its operation are corrupt. In this context, replacing the Sticky Notes files/folders on the affected system/user from a working computer/user may solve the problem. But keep in mind that this will also copy the notes of that PC/user (but will be replaced by your notes).

1. Make sure no process related to the Sticky Notes is operating in the Task Manager of your system.
2. Then launch the File Explorer on the affected system and navigate to the following path:

   \Users\%Username%\AppData\Local\Packages\

   (copy this address and paste into the address bar of the File Explorer)

3. Now backup the Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes_8wekyb3d8bbwe folder to a safe location.

   

4. Then, on the PC where Sticky Notes are working fine (or another user on the affected PC if the Sticky Notes are working fine in that account), copy the Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes_8wekyb3d8bbwe folder (path in step 1) and replace it on the affected computer (path in step 1).
5. Now check if the Sticky Notes are working fine on the affected computer (do not worry, if it is showing the notes of the other PC).
6. If so, then exit the Sticky Notes application and make sure no process related to it is operating in the Task Manager.
7. Now, open the File Explorer and navigate to the folder backed up at step 3.
8. Then, copy the following folders from that folder:

   Settings
   
   Local State

   

9. Now, navigate to the following path:

   \Users\%Username%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes_8wekyb3d8bbwe

10. Then paste the folders copied at step 7 (if you get a prompt to replace the folders/files, click Yes).
11. Now reboot your PC and check if the Sticky Notes issue is resolved.

Solution 4: Uninstall Conflicting Applications

The Sticky Notes may not load if another application conflicts with the Sticky Notes application. In this scenario, uninstalling the conflicting application may solve the problem.

1. Clean boot your system and check if the Sticky Notes application is working fine.
2. If so, then enable the applications/processes one by one till you find the conflicting application. Then uninstall the conflicting application.

Many users reported that OneNote caused the issue for them. For elucidation, we will discuss the process for OneNote.

1. Hit the Windows key and type OneNote. Then, in the results shown, right-click on OneNote and then choose App Settings.

   

2. Now click on the Uninstall button (you may have to scroll a bit) and then confirm to Uninstall the OneNote.

   

3. Then reboot your PC and check if the Sticky Notes issue is resolved.
4. If not, then uninstall the MS Office and Sticky Notes.
5. Then reinstall the Sticky Notes and check if the loading issue is resolved. If so, then reinstall Office (without OneNote) and check if the Sticky Notes application is clear of the loading error.

Solution 5: Reset the Sticky Notes Application to the Defaults

The Sticky Notes application might be stuck on the loading screen if its installation is corrupt. In this case, repairing the application installation or resetting it may solve the problem.

1. Launch the Power User menu (by pressing Windows + X keys) and choose File Explorer.

   

2. Now, navigate to the following path:

   \Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes_8wekyb3d8bbwe\

3. Now copy the LocalState folder to a safe location.

   

4. Then, hit the Windows key and type Sticky Notes. Then right-click on the Sticky Notes and choose App Settings.
5. Now click on the Terminate button and then click on the Reset button.

   

6. Then confirm to Reset the application and reboot your PC to check if the Sticky Notes are working fine.
7. If so, then launch the File Explorer (step 1) and navigate to the folder that you backed-up at step 3.
8. Now copy the plum.sqlite file from the backed-up folder and paste into the following path:

   \Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState

   (if you get the prompt to replace the file, click Yes).

   

9. Then reboot your system and check if the Sticky Notes issue is resolved.
10. If not, then check if replacing the LocalState folder (step 8) with the backed-up folder (at step 3) resolves the loading issue.

If the issue persists, then check if reinstalling Sticky Notes resolves the issue.

Solution 6: Use a Different User Account

Sticky Notes might not work if the system’s user account is corrupt. In this case, using another user account may solve the problem.

1. Create another user account (preferably administrator) on your system and log out of the current user.
2. Then log-in using the newly created account and check if the Sticky Notes application is clear of the loading error. If so, then you may try copying the Sticky Notes folder to the affected user (as discussed in solution 3).

If the issue is still there, then keep using the Sticky Notes page of the OneNote portal till the issue is resolved. You may try another notes application or use an older version of the Sticky Notes application (be very careful, as the applications acquired through 3^rd party sources may harm your system/data).