All articles tagged with #notepad
Microsoft is pulling back Copilot from Windows 11’s core apps, removing the Copilot icon from Notepad and Snipping Tool and rebranding AI features as “Writing tools,” after strong backlash from enthusiasts. The company has paused forced Copilot prompts across apps while continuing other Windows 11 improvements, and it still maintains a sizeable Copilot ecosystem (around 80 apps/services).
Microsoft rolled out a Notepad update for Windows Insiders that removes Copilot branding and icon, replaces the Copilot menu with 'writing tools' (still AI-powered), and moves the option to disable AI features into Advanced features, as part of a broader effort to reduce Copilot presence across Windows after criticisms.
Microsoft is removing “unnecessary” Copilot buttons from Windows 11 apps like Notepad and Snipping Tool (with similar changes planned for Photos and Widgets), replacing Copilot with a writing-tools menu in Notepad, while the AI features themselves remain available as part of a broader Windows 11 fix.
Microsoft is rolling out a Windows 11 Insider Notepad update that removes the Copilot branding and renames the AI features to a generic “writing tools,” while preserving the same functionality. References to AI in Notepad’s Settings have been moved under Advanced features. This rebranding is part of a broader effort to reduce Copilot branding across Windows 11, with other apps like Paint and File Explorer expected to follow.
Microsoft is facing consumer backlash over its aggressive Copilot AI integration across Windows 11, prompting a pledge to trim Copilot entry points in apps like Notepad, Snipping Tool, Photos, and Widgets and to focus on more useful, well-crafted features; critics warn of AI bloat and security risks, while users consider Linux or Apple’s MacBook Neo as alternatives amid Windows 12 rumors and ongoing update issues.
Microsoft says Copilot will be scaled back across Windows 11 apps (notably Notepad, Snipping Tool, Photos, and Widgets) with no plan to remove AI entirely; the company aims to keep AI where it adds real value, focusing on performance, reliability, and well-crafted experiences, and may drop Copilot branding from some features, while Notepad will still receive updates but with more selective AI entry points.
Microsoft is adding image support to Notepad on Windows 11 as part of its Markdown features. The enhancement reportedly has minimal impact on performance, will be enabled by default, and can be disabled in Settings. It’s being tested in Windows Insider builds and is planned for a wider rollout in the coming months.
Microsoft is dialing back its 'AI everywhere' plan in Windows 11, prioritizing bug fixes and core features to improve stability for over a billion users. Copilot integrations in basic apps like Notepad and Paint are under review and may be removed, while the forced AI button in every app has been paused due to low user interest and security concerns, as Microsoft redirects resources to address frequent BSODs and other issues after updates.
Notepad++’s updater was compromised in mid-2025, with attackers redirecting update traffic to malicious servers and exploiting weak verification in older versions. The campaign appeared targeted and persisted for months, with access lasting until December 2025. Official hashes/signatures were later published to help users verify installs. Users are urged to verify binaries against SHA-256 hashes, upgrade to patched releases (8.8.7+), and consider disabling auto-updates if unsure.
Microsoft confirmed a Windows Store server-side outage briefly prevented opening several Windows 11 inbox apps—Notepad, Snipping Tool, Paint, and even Windows Security—producing error 0x803F8001. The issue affected Store-based activation across apps, but Microsoft says a full fix has been rolled out and activation is now restored. The report also notes other Windows 11 problems tied to January 2026 updates, but the Store-related outage is considered resolved.
In Windows 11 Insider builds, Paint adds a 'Coloring book' AI tool that generates four templates from a text prompt via Copilot (with a new fill-tolerance slider), while Notepad gains streaming AI results for Write/Rewrite/Summarize and enhanced Markdown support, with a new welcome screen; both features appear on Canary/Dev channels and target Copilot-enabled PCs.
Microsoft rolled out AI features to Notepad and Paint in Windows 11 Insider builds (Canary/Dev). Notepad 11.2512.10.0 streams AI results for Write, Rewrite, and Summarize with faster previews and requires a Microsoft account; it also adds expanded Markdown support and a welcome screen. Paint 11.2512.191.0 adds an AI-generated Coloring Book (Copilot+ PCs, Microsoft account required) and a left-side Fill tool tolerance slider. Users can disable AI in settings or uninstall Notepad to revert to the classic apps, and Microsoft encourages feedback via the Windows Feedback Hub.
Microsoft has updated Notepad to include formatting options like bold, italics, hyperlinks, and Markdown support, sparking mixed reactions as it moves away from its traditional plain text simplicity. The update is currently in testing and can be disabled, but it raises concerns among users who valued Notepad's lightweight nature. The change follows the discontinuation of WordPad, leaving some questioning Microsoft's direction for basic text editing tools.
Microsoft is enhancing Notepad in Windows 11 with new lightweight formatting features, effectively replacing WordPad, which has been discontinued. The update includes markdown support, bold and italic fonts, and hyperlinks, aiming to provide a more versatile yet lightweight text editing experience, alongside the introduction of the open-source Edit app for command-line editing.
Microsoft has released a major update to Notepad for Windows 11, adding text formatting features such as bold, italic, hyperlinks, and Markdown support, along with a new formatting toolbar. The update also introduces an AI-powered writing feature, making Notepad more versatile and similar to Word. The new features are available for testing in the Canary and Dev Channels.