spell check Archives

Winsage

August 15, 2025

Newest version of Windows 11 Notepad gets improved context menus

Microsoft is retiring WordPad in 2024, prompting Notepad to evolve with new features such as spell check, AI-generated text, and Markdown formatting. The upcoming Notepad version 11.2507.26.0, available to Windows Insiders, includes a redesigned context menu with quick actions like copy, cut, paste, select all, and delete, as well as new functionalities like Write, Rewrite, Summarize, and Define with Bing. A broader rollout of the enhanced Notepad experience is expected by September or October.

Winsage

June 24, 2025

Bring the “Windows 10 look” back to Windows 11 — Everything I changed to restore the desktop UI experience

Many users transitioning from Windows 10 to Windows 11 find the new design and interface changes challenging. Windows 11 features a centered Taskbar, a simplified Start menu, and an updated File Explorer and Settings app. Users can customize their Windows 11 experience to resemble Windows 10 by making several adjustments. To align the Taskbar and Start menu to the left, users can go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors and select "Left" for Taskbar alignment. To show app labels in the Taskbar, users need to select "Never" for the "Combine taskbar buttons and hide labels" setting in the same menu. For those preferring the classic File Explorer, they can access it by searching for Windows Tools in the Start menu and selecting Home or This PC. Users can also change the color scheme by going to Settings > Personalization > Colors and selecting "Custom" mode, choosing a dark theme, and enabling accent colors for the Start and taskbar. To display classic desktop icons, users can go to Settings > Personalization > Themes > Desktop icon settings and check the desired icons. In Notepad, users can disable new features by adjusting settings in the app to revert to a more classic experience. For further customization, third-party tools like ExplorerPatcher and Windhawk can be used. ExplorerPatcher allows users to restore various interface elements from earlier Windows versions, while Windhawk provides a framework for modifying Windows 11 with community-created mods. Both tools can be installed via the Windows Package Manager and offer options to revert to classic aesthetics.

Winsage

May 30, 2025

Microsoft now testing Notepad text formatting in Windows 11

Microsoft has introduced text formatting capabilities in the Windows 11 Notepad application, allowing users to utilize Markdown-style input. This feature is part of the Windows 11 24H2 update for Insiders in the Release Preview Channel. Users can apply formatting options such as bold, italic, hyperlinks, lists, and headings, while also having the option to revert to plain text easily. The update is being rolled out to Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels with version 11.2504.50.0 of the app. This enhancement is part of a broader initiative to modernize Notepad, which has included features like multiple tabs, a built-in character counter, spell check, autocorrect, and AI-powered text summarization and generation. Users can disable new AI functionalities or uninstall the app to revert to the classic notepad.exe program.

Winsage

March 13, 2025

Windows Notepad to get AI text summarization in Windows 11

Microsoft is piloting an AI-driven text summarization feature called "Summarize" in Notepad for Windows 11 Insiders using version 11.2501.29.0. Users can summarize selected text by right-clicking or using the shortcut Ctrl + M, with the option to adjust summary length. Access to this feature requires signing in with a Microsoft personal account linked to Microsoft 365 subscriptions. Additionally, Notepad has introduced a "Recent Files" option for reopening recently closed documents. The Snipping Tool has been updated with a "Draw & Hold" feature in version 11.2502.18.0, allowing for precise drawing. Microsoft is also integrating AI functionalities into Notepad, having previously introduced a text rewriting tool called "Rewrite" and other enhancements like a character counter and spell check.

Winsage

February 19, 2025

7 ancient apps you can still use in Windows 11

Disk Cleanup, introduced in Windows 98, helps users reclaim disk space by removing system restore points, temporary files, and remnants from outdated Windows Updates. Windows Media Player, which debuted with Windows 3.0, remains available in Windows 11 and is used for playing DVDs and organizing music collections. The Control Panel has been part of Windows since 1985 and provides access to legacy tools, although Microsoft encourages users to use the modern Settings app. Character Map, introduced in Windows 3.1 in 1992, allows users to access every glyph in installed fonts and is useful for inserting specialized characters. Notepad, a staple since 1983, has received updates including spell check and rich formatting options in Windows 11. The Snipping Tool, first introduced in Windows Vista in 2007, has evolved to include features like screen recording and OCR-powered text extraction. WinZip, a third-party compression tool that debuted in 1991, remains popular for managing ZIP files and continues to function on Windows 11.

Winsage

November 7, 2024

Microsoft Notepad to get AI-powered rewriting tool on Windows 11

Microsoft is introducing AI-enhanced functionalities to its applications Notepad and Paint, which were originally launched in the 1980s. These updates are currently being tested by Windows 11 Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels. In Paint version 11.2410.28.0, new features include generative fill and generative erase, allowing users to manipulate images by replacing elements with AI-generated content. The generative fill feature enables edits and additions with simple text prompts while maintaining the existing art style. The generative erase tool helps remove unwanted objects from images while preserving the artwork's integrity. Additionally, a new background remover tool is being added to enhance user experience. Notepad is introducing the "Rewrite" feature, which allows users to automatically rephrase content, adjust tone, and modify length. This feature is available in preview for users in select countries, including the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, and Germany, and requires a Microsoft account for access. Since 2018, Notepad has been updated with various features such as a built-in character counter, spell check, autocorrect, wrap-around find and replace, improved compatibility with Unix and Mac systems, tabbed browsing, text zoom, UTF-8 support, autosaving, and line number displays.

Winsage

November 6, 2024

Soon you can let Microsoft’s Notepad rewrite text for you

Microsoft is integrating AI-powered text editing capabilities into Notepad, introducing a feature called Rewrite, which is currently available for testing by Windows Insiders. Rewrite allows users to rephrase sentences, adjust tone, and modify content length. To use it, users highlight text, right-click, and select Rewrite, after which they can specify how to alter the text and receive three rewritten options. Accessing Rewrite requires signing in to a Microsoft account, and it is being rolled out in preview on Windows 11 in several countries, including the US, France, UK, Canada, Italy, and Germany. This update follows the introduction of spell check and autocorrect functionalities in July. Additionally, Microsoft is previewing new AI image editing tools in Paint, including the Generative Fill feature for adding elements to images and the Generative Erase tool for removing parts of images. The Generative Fill feature will initially be available to testers using Copilot Plus PCs, while the Generative Erase tool will be accessible to all Insiders on Windows 11.

Winsage

September 5, 2024

How to configure spell checker and autocorrect features on Windows 11

Windows 11 includes grammar features that enhance writing across applications. Users need to manually configure these tools in specific applications like Notepad, Outlook, and Microsoft 365. To enable grammar tools, users can go to Settings, then Time & language, and select the Typing page to activate autocorrect and spellcheck features. Users can also monitor typing statistics and manage a custom dictionary through the Privacy & security settings. For specific applications, users can enable spelling features in Notepad by accessing settings and toggling spell check, in Microsoft Edge by enabling grammar assistance in the settings menu, in Outlook by adjusting editor settings, and in Microsoft 365 apps by checking proofing options in the app settings.

Winsage

August 27, 2024

10 features you probably didn’t know about Notepad for Windows 11

Windows 11 has updated Notepad with new features, including: 1. Spell check and autocorrect: Highlights errors and fixes common typos, applicable only to text files. 2. Change font size and style: Users can customize font settings through the Settings menu. 3. Find and replace: Allows quick text modifications, though it doesn't support advanced regular expressions. 4. Enable word wrap: Automatically moves text to the next line when it reaches the edge of the window. 5. Change startup behavior: Users can choose to start a new session or resume the last session. 6. Change text alignment: Supports right-to-left text alignment for specific languages. 7. Switch color mode: Users can select dark mode or follow system settings for the interface. 8. Insert time shortcut: Typing .LOG on the first line automatically inserts a timestamp. 9. Disable status bar: Users can hide the status bar through the View menu.

Winsage

July 10, 2024

The latest Windows update means Notepad might now be my favourite word processor

Notepad in Windows 11 has been transformed into a reliable offline word processor with features like tabbed browsing, word wrapping, and spell check. Users prefer its simplicity and familiarity for everyday tasks, and hope for future enhancements like seamless device integration and the ability to paste screenshots directly into Notepad.