Windows 11 users get a treat. Notepad’s latest update, version 11.2504.50.0, is rolling out to Insider members in the Canary and Dev channels via Windows Update. To check if you’ve got the new version, open Notepad, head to Help > About, and look for the version number.
This update adds basic text formatting features without slowing down Notepad. When you open the new version, you’ll see a formatting toolbar above the text area. The toolbar includes buttons for:
- bold and italic text
- adding links
- creating headings
- making lists
You can also type Markdown syntax directly, like bold text or # heading 1, and see the formatted result immediately. This feature works with both .txt and .md files. Files under 1 MB will show formatting right away, while larger files will load formatting gradually to prevent lag. If you highlight text and click the toolbar icon, Notepad will automatically add the correct Markdown tag.
If you don’t like the formatting, you can turn it off. Click the "Clear Formatting" button on the toolbar or go to Edit > Clear All Formatting to remove all Markdown tags. To view or edit the original Markdown code, go to View > Show Markdown Source or click the toggle button on the status bar.
You can also disable formatting entirely by going to Settings > Preferences > Formatting and turning off the option. This will hide the toolbar and stop Markdown rendering, reverting Notepad to a classic plain-text editor.
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