Microsoft introduced right now that the Home windows 11 Notepad utility is getting a textual content formatting function supporting Markdown-style enter.
The function is being launched one yr after Microsoft eliminated the WordPad primary phrase processing app that had textual content formatting capabilities, with the rollout of Home windows 11 24H2 to Insiders within the Launch Preview Channel.
“With this replace, we’re introducing light-weight formatting in Notepad, offering further flexibility in the way you construction content material throughout your recordsdata,” stated Dave Grochocki, a Principal Product Supervisor Lead at Microsoft.
“The expertise helps Markdown model enter and recordsdata for customers preferring to work instantly with the light-weight markup language. To get began, use the brand new formatting toolbar to use formatting as you kind or to chose textual content, together with daring and italic styling, hyperlinks, and assist for easy lists and headings.”
To modify to plain textual content within the at present opened doc, you may shortly take away formatting utilizing the toolbar or the edit menu. It’s also possible to toggle between formatted Markdown and Markdown syntax views from the view menu or the standing bar.
Moreover, those that do not want textual content formatting assist when enhancing or viewing their paperwork in Notepad can disable it within the app settings.
This new Notepad functionality is rolling out to all Home windows Insiders within the Canary and Dev Channels who’ve up to date the app to model 11.2504.50.0.
Stream of recent Notepad options
Nonetheless, the replace can also be half of a bigger effort to modernize the Notepad app, which started in December 2021 with the launch of a completely redesigned Notepad app for Home windows 11, 38 years after Microsoft launched the unique program in 1983.
Two years later, Redmond began testing assist for a number of tabs and added a built-in character counter (this lacking function pressured many Notepad customers to make use of third-party options comparable to Notepad++ or Notepad2).
In July 2024, the corporate additionally added spell test and autocorrect options in Notepad for all Home windows 11 customers that may repair spelling errors robotically as you kind them.
Extra not too long ago, for the reason that begin of 2025, Microsoft has additionally rolled out AI-powered textual content summarization and textual content eraoptions for Home windows 11 Insiders within the Canary and Dev Channels, which require Microsoft 365 Private, Household, and Copilot Professional subscriptions.
Nonetheless, those that don’t desire the brand new AI choices can disable them from the app’s settings or uninstall the Home windows Notepad app to make use of the Home windows built-in notepad.exe program.