Microsoft adds powerful formatting, Markdown, and AI writing support to its classic Notepad app

Notepad, a classic Microsoft program known for its simplicity, is finally getting a much-awaited modern update.Microsoft has announced additional formatting features for Notepad, including support for bold, italics, hyperlinks, and even Markdown.This brings the lightweight editor one step closer to full-fledged word processors like Microsoft Word and Google Docs. 

The update has been made available to Windows 11 testers in the Canary and Dev Channels, according to a blog post by Dave Grochocki, Principal Group Product Manager at Microsoft.There is no official indication on when these functions will become available to all Windows users. 

Microsoft has introduced a new “Format” tab in the top menu of Notepad, placed alongside the traditional File, Edit, and View options. This new tab brings several formatting features, allowing users to apply bold and italic styles, insert hyperlinks, and create headings and lists in various sizes.

These capabilities are intended to help users write more clearly and structure content better, elevating Notepad beyond its status as a simple text editor. 

For those who like the original Notepad experience, Microsoft has in a option to clear all formatting, and users may even turn off all of the new capabilities from the Notepad settings. This ensures that long-time users are not pushed to adopt a new process that they do not like. 

Interestingly, this formatting upgrade comes just a week after Microsoft announced the integration of AI features in Notepad.Users will soon be able to write content or improve their writing skills using generative AI—right within the app. 

With all of these additions, Notepad is beginning to resemble a lightweight word processor rather than the basic text editor it was previously.This shift demonstrates Microsoft's commitment to keeping even its most basic tools current in the AI-powered future of productivity. 

For users who have relied on Notepad for decades, these enhancements provide a new twist without sacrificing the simplicity they have always valued.

Information referenced in this article is from the Mint