How to Find and Use Notepad in Windows 11
Notepad in Windows 11 is a built-in text editor for opening, creating, and changing plain text files. It adds no hidden formatting or styles. It has shipped with Windows since the first version, runs on almost every PC, and opens almost instantly, so it suits quick notes and small code or config edits.
You can launch Notepad by typing its name into the Windows search bar . Unlike Microsoft Word, Notepad handles only raw text. Fonts, bold, and colors from a web page are stripped when you paste, so you never carry unwanted formatting into your file. That makes it a handy “scratch pad” for cleaning up copied text before you paste it somewhere else.
Find Notepad in Windows 11 by clicking the Start button and typing “Notepad” in the search bar. Click the Notepad app from the search results to open the text editor. You can also use the Run command by pressing Win+R and typing “notepad”.
How to open Notepad on 🪟 Windows 11
There are three ways to open Notepad in Windows 11: the Start menu search, the Run command, and File Explorer . The first two take a few seconds each and work on both Home and Pro editions. Notepad is already installed, so you don’t need to download anything. If you are in a hurry, use the Start menu .
Method 1: The Start Menu
- Click the Start button, or press the Win. The Start menu opens with the search box at the top.
- Type “Notepad” into the search box. Notepad should appear as the top result.
- Click the Notepad app in the results. You can also press Enter if it is already highlighted.
The Notepad window will then appear on your screen, with a blank page ready for typing. If you used Notepad before, it may reopen with your earlier tabs and unsaved text, because current versions restore your last session.
Method 2: The Run Command
- Press the Win+R on your keyboard. A small Run box appears in the lower-left corner of the screen.
- Type ‘notepad’ in the box.
- Press Enter, or click OK. A blank Notepad window opens.
This method is quick if you prefer the keyboard and don’t want to use the mouse.
Method 3: File Explorer
- Open File Explorer . You can press Win+E to do it.
- Click the address bar at the top, type 📁C:\
Program Files\ , and press Enter. The folder’s contents are listed.Windows NT\ Accessories - Find the Notepad executable file in that folder and double-click it to launch the program.
Be aware that on current Windows 11 builds, Notepad is delivered as an app, so the file may not be in this folder. If you can’t find it there, use Method 1 or Method 2 instead.
C:\Windows\notepad.exe
For example, editing a protected file may fail with a "Permission denied" message when you try to save. To avoid this, search for Notepad in the Start menu, right-click it, and choose Run as administrator. Approve the User Account Control prompt. You need an administrator account on the PC to do this. Close Notepad again when you finish, and be careful with system files.
Managing your files
Use this list to handle your documents. Each action is in the File menu at the top left of the window, and there is a keyboard shortcut for each one:
- Create a new file: Click File, then select New. In recent versions this may read New tab and opens a blank page in a new tab. Shortcut: Ctrl+N.
- Open a file: Click File, then select Open. Browse to the file and click Open in the dialog. Shortcut: Ctrl+O.
- Save a file: Click File, then select Save. The first time you save, a dialog asks for a name and location. Shortcut: Ctrl+S.
- Save with a new name: Click File, then select Save as. Use it to make a copy under a different name or in a different folder. Shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+S.
Notepad saves files as .txt by default. If you want a different extension, such as .html or .cfg, set Save as type to All files and type the full name yourself.
Summary
Notepad in Windows 11 offers quick text editing, and you can open it from the Start menu, the Run command, or File Explorer. It has no complex formatting, and its extra features are limited compared with a full word processor, so it is best for quick tasks. For more demanding needs, consider WordPad, if it is still on your PC, or Notepad++. WordPad is no longer included in the newest Windows 11 versions, and Notepad++ is a free download.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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