The Windows Notepad download is free from the Microsoft Store, and on most PCs the app is already installed. Press Windows, type Notepad and press Enter to open it.
If Notepad is missing, you can put it back in about a minute from the Store listing, with winget, or as the classic Notepad through Optional features.
This guide covers which Notepad you need on Windows 11 and Windows 10, the official Microsoft sources, reinstall steps, offline options for admins, what Mac users open instead, and fixes when Notepad will not open or install.
Which Notepad download do you need?
Match your PC to a row. On a working Windows install, the answer is usually that Notepad is already there.
| Your situation | What to get | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 11, Notepad opens | Nothing. Update it from the Store Library | 0 |
| Windows 11, Notepad is missing | Windows Notepad on the Microsoft Store | 19.2 MB bundle |
| Windows 11, you want the old plain editor | Notepad (system) Feature on Demand | 717 KB installed |
| Windows 10 | Classic Notepad, built in or added from Optional features | 722 KB installed |
| Mac | TextEdit, built into macOS | 0 |
The current Store package lists a minimum of Windows 11 build 22000, so a Windows 10 PC stays on the classic Notepad. That version still opens, edits and saves .txt files.
Download Windows Notepad from the official Microsoft source
Microsoft ships Notepad through the Microsoft Store and through Windows itself. There is no separate setup file on microsoft.com.
- Windows Notepad on the Microsoft Store, product 9MSMLRH6LZF3 — publisher Microsoft Corporation, free
- Notepad Feature on Demand capability names — classic Notepad for Windows 11 and Windows 10
- Notepad release notes for the Windows Insider Program — what each new version changes
The US listing shows a rating of 4.1 out of 5 from 18,318 ratings. Check that the publisher line reads Microsoft Corporation before you select Get, because several unrelated editors use the word Notepad in their names.
Install Notepad from the Microsoft Store or with winget
Use this route on Windows 11. The Store installs the app and then keeps it updated.
- Open Microsoft Store from the Start menu.
- Search for Windows Notepad, or open the listing for product 9MSMLRH6LZF3 directly.
- Confirm the publisher reads Microsoft Corporation.
- Select Get, or Install if the app was on this PC before.
- Wait for the button to change to Open, then select it.
- For a command line instead, open Terminal and run winget install 9MSMLRH6LZF3 –source msstore .
The Store download for the current version is a 19.2 MB bundle that covers x64 and ARM64. It unpacks to about 25 MB on disk.
How to install classic Notepad on Windows 11 and 10
Classic Notepad is a Windows optional feature. On Windows 11 it appears as Notepad (system), and on Windows 10 as Notepad.
- Select Start, then Settings.
- On Windows 11, select Apps, then Optional features.
- On Windows 10, select Apps, then Apps & features, then Optional features.
- Select Add a feature.
- Type Notepad in the search box.
- Tick Notepad (system) on Windows 11, or Notepad on Windows 10, and select Install.
- Select Start, type Notepad and open it.
If the PC has no internet connection, use the DISM route below with a local Features on Demand source.
Install Notepad with DISM on offline or managed PCs
Microsoft publishes no Notepad MSI or offline setup. For managed or offline machines, add the Feature on Demand with DISM instead. Microsoft marks both packages as satellite-dependent, so add them only with DISM /add-capability .
| Windows version | Capability name | Installed size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 11 | Microsoft.Windows.Notepad.System~~~~0.0.1.0 | 716.79 KB | Microsoft Learn FOD list |
| Windows 10, version 2004 | Microsoft.Windows.Notepad~~~~0.0.1.0 | 722.38 KB | Microsoft Learn FOD list |
From an elevated terminal on Windows 11, run DISM /Online /Add-Capability /CapabilityName:Microsoft.Windows.Notepad.System~~~~0.0.1.0 . Add /Source:
Run DISM /Online /Get-Capabilities first to confirm the exact name on your build. Test on one machine before you push it to a fleet.
Check the Windows Notepad system requirements
Notepad asks for nothing beyond the Windows version it runs on.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Software | Windows Notepad |
| Developer | Microsoft Corporation |
| Latest version | 11.2607.14.0 |
| Store product ID | 9MSMLRH6LZF3 |
| Package family name | Microsoft.WindowsNotepad_8wekyb3d8bbwe |
| Price | Free, included with Windows |
| Supported OS | Windows 11 build 22000 or later; Windows 10 keeps classic Notepad |
| Architecture | x64 and ARM64 |
| Download size | 19.2 MB bundle, about 25 MB installed |
| Offline installer | No, DISM Feature on Demand for classic Notepad only |
| Mac version | None |
| Last verified | 2026-09-19 |
Is Windows Notepad free?
Yes. Notepad costs nothing and has no paid tier. The Microsoft Store lists Windows Notepad at $0 with no purchase required, and Windows includes it out of the box. The optional Write, Rewrite and Summarize tools need a Microsoft account sign-in, but the editor itself works without one. Any site charging for Notepad is selling something Microsoft gives away.
Which Notepad download do you need for your Mac?
Microsoft publishes Windows Notepad for Windows only. On a Mac, TextEdit does the same plain-text job and is already installed.
| What you want on a Mac | Do this in TextEdit | Result |
|---|---|---|
| A new plain text file | TextEdit > Settings > New Document > Plain text | Every new document opens as plain text |
| Strip formatting from an open file | Format > Make Plain Text | Saves as a .txt file |
| Open a .txt file from a Windows PC | File > Open | Opens with no conversion |
Converting a rich text document removes all styles, so keep a copy first if the formatting matters.
How to check your Notepad version and update it
Notepad on Windows 11 updates through the Microsoft Store, not through Windows Update.
- Open Notepad.
- Select the Settings gear at the top right.
- Scroll to About this app and read the version number.
- Open Microsoft Store and select Library.
- Select Get updates and let the Notepad update finish.
- Close and reopen Notepad to load the new version.
Recent releases fixed Markdown formatting in .md and .markdown files, improved launch speed and fixed printing across several tabs, per Microsoft’s Notepad release notes.
What the Windows 11 Notepad can do
The Store version of Notepad on Windows 11 does more than the classic editor. The classic Notepad keeps plain text and nothing else.
| Feature | How to use it | Classic Notepad |
|---|---|---|
| Tabs | Select the add tab button or press Ctrl + N | No |
| Spell check | Misspelled words get an underline | No |
| Bold, italic, links, lists, headings | Formatting toolbar or Markdown syntax | No |
| Tables | Formatting toolbar, edit with a right-click | No |
| Markdown view toggle | View menu or the status bar button | No |
| Write, Rewrite, Summarize | Sign in with a Microsoft account | No |
| Time-stamped log file | Type .LOG on the first line and save | Yes |
Microsoft has since replaced the Copilot icon in Notepad with a Writing Tools label, as part of cutting back Copilot entry points across inbox apps.
How to keep Notepad plain text by turning off formatting
Formatting is on by default in the Windows 11 Notepad. Turn it off if you only want raw text, code or config files.
- Open Notepad.
- To clean one document, open the Edit menu and select Clear all formatting.
- To turn it off everywhere, open the Notepad settings page.
- Switch off the formatting option in the settings list.
- Reopen your document to confirm it shows plain text only.
For a .md file, switch between formatted Markdown and raw syntax from the View menu or the toggle in the status bar instead.
Fix Notepad not opening, missing or not installing
Notepad will not open
The app package is damaged. Windows can repair it without touching your files.
- Select Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Select the three dots beside Notepad, then Advanced options.
- Select Repair.
- If that does not help, select Reset.
- Reopen Notepad.
Notepad is missing from the Start menu
The app was uninstalled or removed from the Windows image.
- Open Microsoft Store and select Library.
- Find Windows Notepad and select Install.
- If the Store is unavailable, add Notepad (system) from Optional features as shown above.
The Store says Notepad is not compatible
The current package needs Windows 11 build 22000 or later, so Windows 10 cannot install it.
- Open Settings > Apps > Apps & features > Optional features.
- Select Add a feature and install Notepad.
- Open it from the Start menu.
The Store download stalls or fails
The Store cache or a pending restart is blocking the install.
- Restart the PC if updates installed recently.
- Press Windows + R, type wsreset.exe and select OK.
- Wait for the Store to reopen on its own.
- Check that the date, time and region on the PC are correct.
- Select Install again.
How to uninstall Notepad
Removing Notepad breaks the default handler for .txt files until you install it again or choose another editor.
- Select Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Search for Notepad and select the three dots beside it.
- Select Uninstall, then Uninstall again to confirm.
- To remove classic Notepad too, run DISM /Online /Remove-Capability /CapabilityName:Microsoft.Windows.Notepad.System~~~~0.0.1.0 from an elevated terminal.
- Reinstall at any time from the Store listing linked above.
Which Notepad alternative should you use for code or a Mac?
Stay with Notepad for quick notes and .txt files. Move to something else only when the job outgrows it.
| Editor | Where it comes from | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Notepad (system) | Windows Optional features | Plain text with no formatting, tabs or AI tools |
| Visual Studio Code | Microsoft, open source, Windows, Mac and Linux | Code, large files and extensions |
| TextEdit | macOS, built in | Plain text and rich text on a Mac |
Notepad++ is a different, third-party editor. It shares part of the name, but Microsoft does not make it.
Frequently asked questions
Is Windows Notepad free to download?
Yes. The Microsoft Store lists Windows Notepad at no cost, and Windows 11 and Windows 10 include it out of the box. There is no paid tier or licence key to buy.
What is the official Notepad download page?
The Microsoft Store listing for product 9MSMLRH6LZF3, published by Microsoft Corporation. Classic Notepad comes from Windows Optional features rather than from a web page.
Does Notepad work on Windows 11?
Yes. Windows 11 ships with the Store version of Notepad preinstalled, and the current package requires Windows 11 build 22000 or later. It updates through the Microsoft Store.
Can I get the new Notepad on Windows 10?
No. The current Store package needs Windows 11 build 22000 or later. Windows 10 keeps the classic Notepad, which you can add from Optional features if it is missing.
How big is the Notepad download?
The Microsoft Store download is a 19.2 MB bundle that covers x64 and ARM64, and it takes about 25 MB once installed. Classic Notepad is under 1 MB.
Is there a Notepad offline installer?
No. Microsoft publishes no standalone Notepad setup. Administrators can add classic Notepad offline with DISM and a Features on Demand source, using the capability name for their Windows version.
Is there a Windows Notepad for Mac?
No. Microsoft makes Windows Notepad for Windows only. On a Mac, use TextEdit and choose Format, then Make Plain Text, to work with plain .txt files.
Does Notepad support 64-bit and ARM64 PCs?
Yes. The current Store package is built for x64 and ARM64, so it runs natively on Intel, AMD and Snapdragon Windows 11 PCs from the same listing.
Is it safe to download Notepad from other sites?
Use the Microsoft Store listing or Optional features instead. Third-party pages often serve a different editor with a similar name, and a copy from them gets no Store updates.
What is the latest version of Windows Notepad?
The Microsoft Store catalog listed version 11.2607.14.0 in September 2026. Check yours by opening Notepad, selecting the Settings gear and reading About this app.
Why won’t Notepad install from the Microsoft Store?
The two usual causes are Windows 10, which the current package does not support, and a stuck Store cache. Run wsreset.exe, or install classic Notepad from Optional features.
Is Notepad the same as Notepad++?
No. Notepad is Microsoft’s editor included with Windows. Notepad++ is a separate, third-party code editor that Microsoft does not make or distribute through Windows.
