Microsoft rolls out Notepad with darkish mode for Windows 11 Insiders

Microsoft is testing a redesign of its venerable Notepad app, including some welcomed fashionable options like a darkish mode, a greater search / discover and substitute interface, higher undoing, and extra.

While the visible updates just like the addition of darkish mode, up to date right-click menu, and Windows’ new theme-adopting material are good, the purposeful updates will in all probability be the most important improve to anybody who really writes in Notepad. In the present model of the app that ships with Windows 11, the textual content search software and the discover and substitute software are two completely different pop-up home windows, accessed by two completely different keyboard shortcuts. The redesign combines them into one floating bar as a substitute of one thing that appears prefer it’s from the XP period.

Microsoft additionally says it’s including multi-step undo, which replaces the outdated model’s undo system that solely enables you to return one step. It nonetheless doesn’t work such as you would possibly count on a contemporary app to, letting you hit Ctrl-Z to delete one phrase at a time, however it clearly has extra reminiscence than the outdated model of Notepad.

Another unlucky factor concerning the preview is that Word Wrap remains to be off by default. It’s obtained a brand new residence within the View menu, although — and with the Font button going to the Edit dropdown, the outdated Notepad’s “Format” menu isn’t any extra.

It looks as if Microsoft is concentrated on smaller updates to make Notepad really feel much less like a relic, fairly than stuffing it full of latest options and turning it into a wholly completely different app. That looks as if the precise transfer to me, given the existence of Notepads’ maybe lesser-known sibling WordPad, which is nearer to Microsoft Word than a plaintext editor. (WordPad additionally enables you to view and edit .docx information, in contrast to even the brand new model of NotePad.)

The Notepad redesign ought to be obtainable for Windows 11 Insiders utilizing the Dev channel. If you’re working the check model of the OS and don’t see it, chances are you’ll need to examine for an replace within the Microsoft Store. Everyone else will probably have to attend slightly bit to get it, however it’s good to see Microsoft proceed the development of updating a few of its built-in apps like Notepad, Photos, and Paint alongside its larger merchandise like Office and, in fact, Windows.