Issue
A week ago I started getting Synchronization Failed error messages in Evernote Sticky Notes for Windows, which meant my Sticky Notes stopped being synced to Evernote server and consequently across all of my devices. The Error code was: AUTH_EXPIRED, Parameter: authenticationToken.
I have tried removing my Evernote user account in the settings menu of the Evernote Sticky Notes application in order to fix the issue. When trying to activate my user account again by clicking on the Request activation link button, the dreaded “The remote server returned an error: (411) Length Required” error message came up. I have tried uninstalling the Sticky Notes, cleaning the register, re-installing an older version of the software but nothing solved the mentioned problem. Sticky Notes would only synchronize with Dropbox or Google Drive but not with Evernote.
I use Evernote Sticky Notes on a daily basis and since developers at Edo-Soft no longer actively maintain it, I have decided to repair it myself and offer an updated authentication library (DLL) file for download on this blog.
If you would like, you can skip technical writing and go straight to the solution.
As a safety feature, Evernote incorporates an authorization / authentication process, through which, applications such as Evernote Sticky Notes need to go, in order to allow them access to Evernote accounts on users behalf. The mentioned process is called an OAuth flow and it uses OAuth authorization framework to enable applications a limited access to a HTTP service such as Evernote Cloud API.
A correct authorization process should work like this – When user clicks on the “Request activation link” button, Evernote Sticky Notes application requests a temporary token from the Evernote server, using a GET request method. After it receives the temporary token from the Evernote server, it creates a unique activation link to the Evernote authorization page, using the mentioned token. User clicks on the link and is redirected to Evernote authorization page where he grants the Sticky Notes application, access to his account for the limited time period (1 year maximum). After granting access, user receives another token in the form of a verification code, displayed on the Evernote authorization page. User then copies the received code into the verification code window in the Evernote Sticky Notes application. Application uses this token (valid for 1 year) every time it connects to the Evernote server in order to gain access and synchronize notes to the cloud.
The issue with the Evernote Sticky Notes application is that it uses an outdated OAuth library (DLL) file which prevents it to communicate with the Evernote server correctly and thus cannot request a temporary token from it. User sees this only as a “https://” text where an activation link should be, since the application is unable to create an activation link without the temporary token.
Solution
I was able to fix an outdated OAuth authentication library file by decompiling it, updating the source code and recompiling it. Evernote Sticky Notes now communicates with the Evernote server correctly. It is once again able to request a temporary token and thus complete an activation process successfully.
Below are instructions for replacing an outdated authentication library (DLL) file with an updated version, available on this blog. Updated DLL file is compatible with Evernote Sticky Notes v1.5.9, which is the latest available version of Sticky Notes. If Evernote Sticky Notes v1.5.9 application is not already installed on your computer, download and install it before following instructions below.
*If you would prefer to synchronize your Evernote Sticky Notes with Chinese version of Evernote – Yinxiang Biji (印象笔记), please follow this instructions instead.
1. Download and unzip the updated authentication library file
An updated authentication library (.dll file) is compressed inside a .zip file. Click on the link below to download StickyNotesOAuthDLL.zip file to your computer. After the file is downloaded, you will need to unzip it in order to extract the .dll file. If you are using Windows, right click on the downloaded StickyNotesOAuthDLL.zip and select “Extract All…”. A new folder will appear, with the StickyNotes.OAuth.dll inside it. Do not change the filename, the name of the file should be “StickyNotes.OAuth.dll”.
- StickyNotesOAuthDLL.zip (Downloaded 6415 times)
*File is hosted on Dropbox. If link doesn’t work, please contact me at info@getgui.com.
2. Close the Evernote Sticky Notes application
Evernote Sticky Notes application needs to be closed before following the next step. Make sure it is not running, by going to the taskbar and searching for the Evernote Sticky Notes icon. If the icon is present in the taskbar, right-click on it and click on “Exit”. Click “Yes” on the Exit application confirmation dialog.
3. Replace an outdated StickyNotes.OAuth.dll file
Go to the folder where you have saved the new StickyNotes.OAuth.dll file, right-click on it and choose “Copy”. Now go to the folder where your Evernote Sticky Notes is installed, by default that’s in “C:\Program Files\Evernote Sticky Notes\” or “C:\Program Files (x86)\Evernote Sticky Notes\” on 64 bit operating systems.
Right-click on the empty space inside the installation folder and choose “Paste”. The “file replacement” or “file overwrite” confirmation dialog should open, asking if you would like to replace the file in the destination. Choose to replace an outdated StickyNotes.OAuth.dll file for an updated one. Restart your computer.
4. Activate your user account in Evernote Sticky Notes application
Open Evernote Sticky Notes application. Go to “Settings” and make sure that under the “Please select the account type you want to synchronize your notes with” Evernote is selected. Click on the “Request activation link” button. A working activation link should now be displayed. Click on it and follow directions on the Evernote website to Re-authorize Sticky Notes to access your account for a period of 1 year. Copy the received verification code and paste it inside the verification code window in the Evernote Sticky Notes application. Click on the “Complete activation” button.
You have now successfully linked Evernote Sticky Notes application to your Evernote user account and enabled the synchronization of your local notes to the Evernote server. Activation or authorization is valid for the period of 1 year and will need to be repeated after that.
Update (02 May 2018): On 23 April 2018, the Evernote Sticky Notes authorization script was taken down from the server at Edo-Soft.com, which resulted in new authorizations no longer working. I have examined the authorization process again and wrote a script that parses and displays the authorization token provided by the Evernote server. The mentioned script was uploaded to the getgui.com server, which means Evernote Sticky Notes no longer depends on the Edo-Soft.com server to finalize the authorization process.
If you have found this blog post useful and would like to buy me a cup of coffee, please click here :)
I have struggled to solve this problem for nearly half a year – googling once a week for six months!!!- and finally found your post. Halleluiah!! Your post makes me dance in the office. Thx soooooooooooooooooooo much. I’ve sent you a small donation and hope it would be enough for a cup of coffee for you. – from South Korea, Claire.
Claire thank you for your feedback, I am really glad this post helped you! I also find Sticky Notes irreplaceable and don’t understand why original developers decided to abandon it.
Thank you for your donation, it will be enough for more than a cup of coffee here in Slovenia:)
I wish you lots of dancing in the office:)
Thank you SO MUCH -One more from South Korea : )
You are welcome, greetings to South Korea.
ahhhh finally i can use this again. thnk u sooooooooooo much. greeting from Korea
You are welcome.
Thanks seems legit, Fingers crossed if I dont come back and comment than it went well.
You are welcome
THX!! This was a life saver…. I actually scrapped Evernote and switched to OneNote due to better tablet / handwriting support – but missed the StickyNotes part badly.
So – activated Evernote again for StickyNotes use only – syncing to 2 pc’s – ove worked (key still there) – other failed!!
Solved with your .dll file…. 🙂
Thx for sharing this!!!
You are welcome
Thanks a ton – much appreciated
You are welcome.
Thank you so much for this! Just installed Sticky notes on my new work laptop and had a panic when I saw it was no longer supported lol
You are welcome
Great work!!! Thanks a lot! Searched for a solution for months now. Works perfect!!
You are welcome
Many thanks ! Searched a solution for weeks. Works perfectly now !
I made a donation for a “cup of tea”. Good luck.
Hi Simon, I have a little question.
I want to made a shortcut as to get a new note directly with a shortcut key (ctrl + …).
So, in the shortcut’s properties, I must have in the target line something as : “C:\Program Files (x86)\Evernote Sticky Notes\StickyNotes.Wpf.exe” / …… ?? , but what may I have just after / for adding a new note with Sticky Note ?
For example with Outlook note I may have this target for a new note : “C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12\OUTLOOK.EXE” /c ipm.stickynote
By advance, many thanks
Hi Richard, I would first like to thank you for your donation.
I believe the command line argument you are looking for is /addnote
“C:\Program Files (x86)\Evernote Sticky Notes\StickyNotes.Wpf.exe” /addnote
There is no possibility to choose the colour of the new note, it will be yellow by default.
If you would like to force the synchronisation, the command line argument is /syncnow
“C:\Program Files (x86)\Evernote Sticky Notes\StickyNotes.Wpf.exe” /syncnow
I hope this has helped you.
Thank you Simon! Much appreciated.
Emmanuel you are welcome.
Hi Simon,
Searched for days!!!!
Tried the solution and worked with international version of Evernote.
BUT I am currently using a localized verion of Evernote (for China only, called “印象笔记“), I cannot login with my localized account.
As far as I know, they are basically same app with different host severs. Checked with official website, I noticed the Oauth requrest url is https://www.evernote.com/oauth for internation version while https://app.yingxiang.com/oauth for Chinese version.
Possible to repack a Chinese verions of DLL for me?
Thanks in advance.
Hello Fan LU,
thank you for your donation.
I will modify the dll for you in the next 48 hours and send the modified version to your email.
Many many thanks!
I have been using Evernote Sticky Notes for three years now and got used to it pretty much, so when I encountered this problem I was pretty upset.
I am not a rather skilled computer user, to say the least, but the way you explained it seems perfect.
And it works!
Thanks a lot!
A cup of coffe has been included. 🙂
Hello Dennis,
I’m glad this is working for you, thank you very much for your donation and your feedback.
I looked a whole night for a solution and you finally offered it!!
Thank you very much that’s great and so easy to do, just to change the old .dll with your new file.
Again thanks a lot
PL,CH-Basel
Pierre you are welcome.
Avesome!! Appreciate, many thanks for your solution, my small donation is on the way 🙂 Cheers, Wladimir, Germany
Hello Wladimir,
thank you for your donation:)
Thank you very much!
You are welcome.
Thank you so much for your solution, at one point I thought I had messed up somewhere. Again thank you
You are welcome.
Oh no, help me PLAEEEEEESE.
i just still couldn’t get the authentification
“An error occurred – please try again. ”
I don’t understand at all
i do it all step by step
what should i do?
Oh I get it finally
i restart my launcher and do it again
then i get it
THX ALOT OAQ
You are welcome.
Can’t thank you enough. This was easy and fixed the issue. Life saver!
Janet you are welcome, thank you for your feedback.
Thank you from the deepest of Sweden!
You are welcome.
Regards from Slovenia.
DANKE!!!!
Sie sind herzlich willkommen und vielen Dank für die Spende
Not working for me unfortunately, although getting a different message:
“Could not load file or assembly ‘StickyNotes.OAuth, Version-1.5.9.0, Culture=nautral, PlublicKeyToken=null’ or one of its dependencies. The module was expected to contain an assembly manifest.
Can you maybe help me with this?
Hello, please try re-installing the Sticky Notes software (make sure you have version 1.5.9 installed) and then follow instructions on how to replace the dll file. Restart your computer afterwards.
Thanks for your reply.
I have tried all possible scenarios without any luck unfortunately.
Using Win 8.1
You are a star. Thank you!
You are welcome
Simon.
You Sir, are amazing!
I was so bummed when my Evernote StickNotes stopped syncing, and even more so when I read that the original devs had just let it pass.
I kept it on my PC in hopes that somebody would take up the gauntlet and fix it.
That someone is/was you.
From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!
(I am flat broke at the moment, but when I have a couple extra dollars to spare, I will gift a few your way.).
😀 Happy Day!!! 🙂
Jason you are welcome and thank you for the wonderful comment, it really brightened my day.
Thank you so much. You deserve a cup of coffee!
You are welcome. Thank you for the donation:)
I can’t say anything new that people before me didn’t say. Anyhow, thank you for great work.