Notepad
Component of Microsoft Windows | |
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![]() Refreshed Notepad in Windows 11 2022 Update | |
Type | Text editing program |
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Included in | Windows 1.0 and later |
Notepad is the default text editor of Microsoft Windows. Since the app's debut appearance in Windows 1.0, it became a part of the Windows Accessories.
An app with a nearly identical name is included in early versions of macOS. However, it is more similar to Sticky Notes.
History[edit | edit source]
Windows 10[edit | edit source]
The Windows 10 October 2018 Update included the first updates to Notepad, which added Bing search integration, zoom functionality, and the Ctrl+← Backspace keyboard shortcut (which deletes the previous word).
May 2019 Update build 18298 added an asterisk (*) to title bar to show whether changes to the document had been saved or not:
- When an asterisk is shown, the changes have not been saved yet.
- When it has been gone, the changes have been saved.
Cobalt build 21337 and later would come with the Microsoft Store version of Notepad pre-installed, which moved it out of the "Windows Accessories" folder and into the main app list in Start.
Windows 11[edit | edit source]
Around the time Windows 11 was officially released, Microsoft had teased a visual refresh for Notepad. It would later be released to Windows Insiders on the Dev Channel on 7 December 2021, followed by a public release on 16 February 2022. Notable change to new version of Notepad include:
- An XAML-based user interface, which aligns with the Fluent design language of Windows 11
- Support for dark mode
- Redesigned find and replace interface
- New Settings page for changing themes and fonts
- Support for files up to 1 GB in size.
On 19 January 2023, Microsoft began rolling out an update to Windows Insiders which added tab support to the application. It would officially be released on 28 February 2023, alongside the Moment 2 update of Windows 11 2022 Update.
Gallery[edit | edit source]
Notepad in Windows 1.0 Development Release 5
Notepad in Windows NT 3.51
Notepad in Windows XP
Notepad in Windows 10
Refreshed Notepad in Windows 11