Microsoft’s Plain Text Editor Gets Fancy As Notepad Gains Formatting Options

Microsoft is updating Notepad again. The latest indignity for the veteran Windows text wrangler? Text formatting.

I do not understand why Microsoft cannot leave well enough alone and just let Notepad be a very lightweight and streamlined note taking app

Windows used to have an editor with formatting functionality, an application called “WordPad” that was ejected from the operating system in 2024. It had a predecessor called “Write,” which could also do some rudimentary formatting, but Notepad has always been about editing plain text. Until it wasn’t.

The update that landed at the end of last month adds some toolbar options to Notepad and supports bold and italic styling, hyperlinks, and support for simple lists and headings.

The changes are currently rolling out to Windows Insiders in the Dev and Canary channels, so there is a chance Microsoft might have a change of heart before inflicting it on ordinary users. However, we won’t be holding our breath.

According to Microsoft, “The experience supports Markdown style input and files for users who prefer to work directly with the lightweight markup language.

“You can switch between formatted Markdown and Markdown syntax views in the view menu or by selecting the toggle button in the status bar at the bottom of the window.

“If you prefer, you can disable support for formatting entirely in app settings.”

Users can get the plain text experience by clearing all formatting from the formatting toolbar or from the edit menu.

Microsoft pulls the plug on WordPad, the world’s least favorite text editor

FROM THE ARCHIVES

The update is another nail in the coffin for users with a workflow that included pasting text into Notepad to strip formatting. Now, an extra click could well be required.

We asked Microsoft for an indication of how many users were crying out for this update, and if it is possible to permanently disable the company’s changes to get back the original Notepad experience. Microsoft has yet to reply.

The reaction on social media is mixed. Notepad was a fixed point in a changing world. It dates back to the very early days of Windows, and the recent updates are seen by some as unnecessary.

Longtime Notepad devotee and Directions on Microsoft Editor in Chief Mary Jo Foley, told El Reg: “I do not understand why Microsoft cannot leave well enough alone and just let Notepad be a very lightweight and streamlined note taking app. My guess is they are adding some of these new features, like formatting, to make up for killing off Wordpad. But in doing this, they are taking away the core value proposition of Notepad.”

Pondering what the future might hold, Foley said, “I’m scared to guess because maybe they’ll take it as a suggestion and muck up a good thing even further. The best thing about some of the new features – like the ridiculous addition of Copilot – is they can be turned off.”

Microsoft has not replied to a request for comment.

There are various workarounds to resurrect the Notepad experience, and there are plenty of alternative text editors available if all a user wants is something with which to bash out text without adornment. Microsoft recently announced an open-source Edit application for users who need to scratch the plain text itch.

It’s unclear why Microsoft decided against updating WordPad and leaving Notepad to do what it did best. Instead, it killed off the former and has loaded the latter up with AI and formatting.

WordPad is dead. Long live WordPad? ®

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