Let’s be honest—Notepad has always been the quiet workhorse of Windows. It opens instantly, saves fast, and never gets in your way. But guess what? It’s getting a glow-up.
Microsoft is testing new formatting features for Notepad in Windows 11. We’re talking bold text, bullet points, hyperlinks, and headings—all powered by markdown. That’s a simple way to structure plain text using symbols like asterisks and hashtags.
Why should you care? Because this update makes Notepad a lot more useful for quick notes, meeting minutes, and team checklists. It’s still lightweight, but now it’s smarter.
Think of it like upgrading from a pencil to a fine-tip pen. You’re still jotting things down, but now they’re easier to read, organize, and share.
And if formatting isn’t your thing? No worries—it’s optional. You can turn it off and keep using Notepad the old-school way.
This update is especially handy for small businesses that don’t need a full-blown word processor but still want clarity and structure in their notes. With WordPad officially retired, Notepad is stepping into a new role—and it’s doing it well.
So next time you’re scribbling a to-do list or prepping for a meeting, give those bold headings a try. You might be surprised how much easier it is to stay organized.
Need help rolling out Windows 11 or exploring productivity tools? We’re here to help.
