There has been since the beginning, Windows Notepad, a small text editor intended to help demonstrate the mouse-friendly capabilities of Microsoft’s first graphical user interface (or GUI).
Early uses, especially with the introduction of Windows 3.1, and later, the globally dominant Windows 95, included editing system files such as AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS. Doing this in Notepad meant you could edit the system and startup boot files without accidentally introducing any additional code. Editing them in Word, for example, could add a hidden format, thus corrupting files and making it impossible to start your Windows computer.
I think people forget how important and useful text editors or “.txt” applications are for systems and programming. It’s clean, simple, lightweight and reliably responsible for the content.
Although it has been nearly forty years since its introduction, Notepad remains an important part of the Windows experience and daily routine.
Sure, I no longer edit my AUTOEXEC.BAT file in it – because it was a DOS loader that doesn’t exist in Windows today. However, I find Notepad important for taking notes quickly. If for some reason I haven’t launched Microsoft Word but would like to jot down some ideas or meeting notes, I like to check out Notepad, which still launches more quickly than any other app on my Windows 11. Even if I have five or more Notepad windows open, the load on Windows 11 is minimal. This may not be the case with Word or another word processor application.
If I have a system file or piece of programming and I want to see the code, Notepad has the best chance of opening it and letting me see what’s inside.
Notepad also serves its long function of formatting purification. When I cut and paste links, actually text from any other platform or website, I often drop it into Notepad – basically stripped of all links and formatting – and then copy and paste from there to put it in another platform. I know there are other ways to do this but scrub notepad is still the quickest way.
This strong resemblance to laptops has led to some abuse, such as opening a Notepad file, taking notes, and then forgetting them. My desk is full of these outcasts. Or what about people who put all their passwords in a notepad desktop file? They can also write their passwords down on a piece of paper and leave it on the front porch. However, I think the good far outweighs the bad for this native Windows app.
Notepad is a very convenient Windows 11 app because it hasn’t changed much since Windows 95 was released.
The menu is a little bit. Where we previously had File, Edit, Find and Help, now we have File, Edit, and View
Key features persist like Text Wrapping (without it text continues to the right), as do its limitations, such as no autosave, and almost any type of formatting. I, however, consider the latter a plus. I don’t need formatting in a text editor. The other advantage of this clean approach is that text files can be incredibly small (light in bytes).
Notepad in Windows 11 has changed quite a bit but not in any way that makes the app any less useful. Under a new settings icon (it looks like a gear), you’ll find the option to adjust your font. The default is Lucida Console (of course the “Console”) but you can choose from dozens of different system fonts. If you choose something other than the default, you can set the style to something other than the default. I consider this a bad choice. Who needs everything? wide or Diagonal Notepad files? I think the volume control is great for those who struggle to read their text files on their high-resolution desktop computers.
There’s also a dark theme setting, which feels like a throwback to the original DOS interface and CRT monitor programming platforms. I would still prefer the lighting mode, which I think better reflects the notepad theme. I mean, look at the app icon, it’s a Notepad Not a computer screen.
Notepad is a simpler app from a simpler time, and that’s probably why I’m glad it’s still part of the ever-changing Windows platform. Microsoft did a lot in Windows 11 to update the old operating system, including shifting the Start menu and taskbar to the middle. It fixed all windows, app icons and even file manager.
Notepad has a slightly different look and is cleaner now, but it’s still just as recognizable as the app I know and love — a simple piece of programming that will load instantly, track my notes, live in folders or the desktop, and basically ask nothing of me. Well nothing. Open a new Notepad window and you’ll notice that the cursor is blinking, asking you to type something, anything. Just don’t ask him to format it for you.