In May 2024, Microsoft made a significant stride by integrating Loop components into its OneNote app across multiple platforms. These innovative components empower users to create shareable and editable content—ranging from lists and tables to tasks—that can seamlessly be inserted into various Microsoft 365 applications while maintaining synchronization. However, recent communications from Microsoft indicate a shift in this offering.
Changes to Loop Component Support
According to a Message Center post, identified as MC1454385, Microsoft has announced that support for Loop components in OneNote for the web will be discontinued by mid-September. This means that users will no longer have the ability to insert new Loop components into OneNote for the web after this date. However, any Loop components that were inserted prior to the cutoff will not vanish; instead, they will be converted into links directing users to their corresponding Loop pages.
Interestingly, OneNote for Windows will not undergo this deprecation. Microsoft has confirmed that the complete Loop component experience will remain intact on this platform. This decision raises questions, as it suggests that the Loop components in OneNote for the web may not have garnered sufficient traction to warrant ongoing engineering and maintenance. While Microsoft refrains from explicitly stating this, they do mention that the change aims to “streamline the OneNote for the web experience while preserving access to existing Loop content.”
For IT administrators, the process surrounding this retirement is straightforward but limited. They are tasked with informing users within their organization, updating internal documentation, and encouraging those who wish to utilize Loop components to switch to the Windows version of OneNote. While this decision may not sit well with OneNote for the web users, it appears that they represent a smaller segment of the overall user base.
