The classic Sticky Notes app is broken on Windows due to login bug

If you’re still using the old Sticky Notes app on Windows, you may have run into an issue recently where you can’t log into the app anymore. The problem is affecting many users at the moment, both on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

The issue was first raised on Microsoft’s forums (spotted by Windows Latest), with a user saying they couldn’t log into the Sticky Notes app due to an error message: “We couldn’t verify your sign-in info. Your account doesn’t have a mailbox, so we can’t save your notes in the cloud.”

Dozens of others users have chimed in on the thread, with many discussing their attempts to get around the problem. Resetting the app, reinstalling the app, and switching Microsoft accounts didn’t help. Notably, though, work and school Microsoft accounts aren’t affected. Only personal accounts seem to be running into this bug.

Since this is a server-side issue, the only real solution is to wait for Microsoft to issue a fix. Fortunately, you can still access your existing notes via Outlook or OneNote in their respective notes sections.

Alternatively, you can switch from the classic Sticky Notes app to the new Sticky Notes app. Though it’s pared down and missing some features, the new Sticky Notes app is the future — and this login bug might just be the kick you need to finally switch over.

Microsoft hasn’t yet acknowledged this bug or whether they’re investigating and working on a solution.

Further reading: The best note-taking apps