A few days after Microsoft started rolling out a generative AI-powered writing feature for Notepad users, the tech giant seems to be bringing the app a step closer to the now-deprecated WordPad by introducing text formatting options.
Available for Windows 11 Insiders testers who are on the Canary and Dev Channel, Microsoft says Notepad users can now style text in bold, italics, add hyperlinks and is even adding Markdown support. In a blog post, the tech giant says the new lightweight text formatting options in the app offer “additional flexibility in how you structure content across your files.”
In case you are wondering, these text formatting options are conveniently placed in a new toolbar that is located at the top of the app window. These new features may be useful for some, but if you are one of the few users who want to use the app as a plain text editor, Microsoft says you can do so either by clearing all formatting from the toolbar or by heading over to the edit menu.
Notepad’s new features might finally make it a WordPad replacement. (Image Source; Microsoft)
Moreover, users will also be able to switch between formatted Markdown and Markdown syntax views by using the toggle button in the status bar at the bottom of the window. To get the new Notepad text formatting features, make sure that your app is updated to version 11.2504.50.0.
In the last few months, Microsoft has been steadily adding new functionalities to Notepad. These changes are part of the company’s effort to modernise the decades-old app. Back in 2021, the Redmond-based tech giant fully redesigned the Notepad app for Windows 11, and since then, Microsoft has added features like multiple tab support, a baked in character counter and other basic functionalities like autocorrect and spell check. Since the new formatting options are only available on the latest Windows Insider builds, it may take some time before Microsoft starts rolling them out on the stable channel.
© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
