Microsoft has added formatting options to Notepad in Windows 11, which has caused quite a stir among users. Opinions appear to be equally divided, with some users saying they’d prefer the simple, basic Notepad while others are happy with the new formatting options.
Frankly, I don’t get what all the fuss is about. You see, Notepad in Windows 11 also includes an option to easily turn formatting off altogether… go figure!
Microsoft appears to be compensating for canning WordPad, which was not a popular decision among users. There is little doubt that Notepad is slowly transitioning into more of a WordPad-type editor and, surely with the included ability to disable formatting, is heading toward representing the best of both worlds.
Notepad In Windows 11
Formatting options in the menu across the top of the interface, from left to right:
- Headings: Including Title, Subtitle, Heading, Subheading, Section, and Subsection
- Lists: Bulleted and numbered
- Bolt Text
- Italic
- Insert Link
- Clear Formatting
The Copilot dropdown menu at far right expands to reveal several options, although I have no idea how useful those might be:
At the bottom of the interface, you can also see that Microsoft has added a word (character) count feature, which is also handy for when Notepad is being used as a lightweight word processor.
Notepad’s settings menu includes options to:
- Change the theme between Light, Dark, or Use System Settings
- Change the Font, Style, and Size
- Turn Formatting On or Off
- Turn Automatic Spell Check On or Off
- Turn Copilot options On or Off
BOTTOM LINE:
As I mentioned earlier, I fail to see the problem, and in my opinion, Notepad is fast becoming a dual-purpose editor.
What about you, are you pro-formatting in Notepad or anti-formatting?
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