Then came Windows 11, and with it, the Great Redesign.
The default Windows 11 Notepad is great for quick, basic tasks. However, if you are a developer, power user, or system administrator, you likely need something more robust. offers advanced features like syntax highlighting, a multi-tab interface, regular expression search, and powerful plugin support.
Press the , type cmd , right-click on Command Prompt , and select Run as administrator .
If Windows 11 stubbornly refuses to respect your new default app settings even after you've gone through the steps, especially if it's the default for all txt files, you might need to force the change via the Registry Editor. replace notepad with notepad windows 11
If you like the modern design language of Windows 11 but want a more polished text editing experience than the default Notepad provides, (available from the Microsoft Store) is worth a look. It features a clean, fluent-design interface with tabs, Markdown preview support, multi-line editing, and built-in spell checking. It feels like what Notepad might have become if Microsoft had focused on thoughtful design rather than AI integration.
Open (search for regedit in the Start menu).
He needed the old one back.
Open the and click on Settings (or press Windows Key + I). Navigate to Apps in the left sidebar. Click on Installed apps . Use the search bar to look for Notepad .
If typing notepad still tries to open the Store, or if it does nothing, you may need to map the command to the system executable. Open as an Administrator: Press the Windows Key , type cmd .
For the best experience, open Notepad++, go to > Preferences > File Association , and ensure that .txt is associated with Notepad++. You can also download high-quality themes to match the modern look of Windows 11. Then came Windows 11, and with it, the Great Redesign
AkelPad strikes an excellent balance between simplicity and additional features. It is ideal for users who want more than classic Notepad offers but find Notepad++ overwhelming.
Now, when you type "Notepad" in the start menu or run command, it will launch Notepad++. Alternative: Keep Both Apps
Changing the default text editor in Windows 11 requires a few specific steps. This article provides the complete technical walkthrough to permanently replace the stock Windows 11 Notepad with Notepad++. Why Replace Windows 11 Notepad? If you like the modern design language of
Let’s dive deep into the state of Notepad on Windows 11, and whether you should finally lay the old gray text editor to rest.
