spellchecking Archives

Winsage

July 16, 2025

Notepad’s best feature is its simplicity — and I’m worried Microsoft is slowly taking it away

Microsoft's Notepad has evolved from a simple, fast application into a more cluttered tool with unnecessary features, raising concerns about software bloat. Initially, updates like unsaved changes indicators and improved search functionality were well-received, but the introduction of spellchecking and AI features like Copilot has frustrated users who valued its straightforward nature. In response to these concerns, Microsoft announced a new tool called Edit, aimed at providing a more basic text editing experience, though its accessibility and usability remain uncertain.

Winsage

June 27, 2025

Microsoft is just turning Notepad into WordPad at this point, and I’m not sure I like it

Microsoft has phased out WordPad from Windows 11 as of 2024. Notepad has undergone updates that introduced a modern user interface, tab support, and autosave features, but concerns have arisen about it losing its simplicity due to new features like spellchecking and AI capabilities. Microsoft plans to release Edit, a command line-based text editor, to provide a straightforward alternative for users. Alternatives to Notepad include Notepad++ and CherryTree, which offer more advanced features.

Winsage

February 18, 2025

Seen those complaints online about having to sign in to your Microsoft account to use Windows 11’s Notepad app? It’s all a load of hot air

Recent updates to the Notepad application in Windows 11 have led to confusion among users regarding the need for a Microsoft account. The new AI feature called Rewrite requires a sign-in to access, but this is not necessary for general use of the app. Users can choose to close the sign-in prompt if they do not wish to log in, but they will be unable to use the AI functionality. There is growing frustration among users about the increasing prompts for Microsoft account registration across platforms. Additionally, enhancements to Notepad, such as dark mode and multi-step undo, have raised concerns about the app becoming bloated and less responsive, prompting some users to consider alternatives like Notepad++ or Sublime Text for a more streamlined experience.

Winsage

July 9, 2024

Microsoft silently incorporates these features into Windows Notepad after 41 years

Microsoft introduced an upgraded Notepad application with integrated spellchecking in March of this year.

Winsage

July 9, 2024

Microsoft finally adds spellchecking and autocorrect to Windows Notepad

Microsoft has updated its Notepad app with new features including spell checking and autocorrect.

Winsage

July 8, 2024

Notepad finally gets spellcheck and autocorrect on Windows 11

Microsoft has made significant improvements to Notepad in recent years, adding features like tab support, character and word count, spellcheck, and autocorrect. Users on Windows 11 can now benefit from spellcheck and autocorrect features, with the autocorrect function dependent on spellcheck being active. Users can selectively turn off spellcheck for certain file formats. Notepad now highlights misspelled words and offers suggestions, with the option accessible through right-click or keyboard shortcut. In early 2024, Copilot integration was observed in Windows 11 Insider builds and native apps, including a feature in Notepad called "Explain with Copilot." However, recent builds have seen this feature disappear, possibly indicating a shift towards Copilot being a standalone app. Microsoft may consider integrating an AI explanation feature directly into Notepad for a more streamlined user experience.

Winsage

July 7, 2024

After 41 years Microsoft quietly adds spellchecking and autocorrect to Windows Notepad | Tom’s Hardware

An enhanced version of the Notepad app with integrated spellchecking has quietly rolled out to mainstream Windows 11 users.