Windows Notepad Archives

Winsage

March 25, 2025

5 Windows tools and apps you can’t find on other operating systems

Certain features remain exclusive to the Windows operating system, offering unique functionalities not available on Mac or Linux. Microsoft has developed tools like PowerToys, which includes nearly 20 utilities enhancing Windows functionality, and Windows Sandbox, providing a secure environment for testing applications. Windows Notepad serves as a basic note-taking and coding app with features like spellcheck and autocorrect. The Snipping Tool allows users to capture screenshots and extract text from images, while the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) enables seamless access to both Windows and Linux environments. These tools are designed to enhance productivity and provide significant advantages for Windows users.

Winsage

March 18, 2025

Windows Notepad is Getting AI Summaries

Microsoft is testing AI-powered summaries in Windows Notepad, currently being rolled out to Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev channels. The 'Summarize' feature allows users to generate concise summaries by highlighting text and selecting 'Summarize' or using the Ctrl + M shortcut. A Microsoft account is required, and Microsoft 365 subscribers will use AI credits for this feature. Users can disable AI features if they prefer the classic Notepad experience. Additionally, Notepad will include a 'recently closed files' feature for quick access to previously closed documents.

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

March 4, 2025

I told Windows Notepad’s new AI to turn Nvidia’s fail into poetry

Microsoft has introduced AI-powered rewrite capabilities in Notepad, now available to all users after testing. This feature, accessible via a "magic pen" icon for Microsoft 365 subscribers, allows users to refine and transform existing text rather than generate new content. Users can copy and paste text into Notepad, highlight it, and request rewrites in various styles, including simplification, length alteration, and tone changes. The feature also offers formatting options such as lists, business memos, academic pieces, marketing content, or poems. A settings menu allows users to disable the Rewrite function, and using it consumes AI credits from Microsoft 365 subscriptions. Performance may vary, with some builds providing only cosmetic edits, while stable versions have received positive feedback for effectively simplifying complex articles.

Winsage

February 21, 2025

Windows Notepad and Paint are still free – but the AI will cost you. Here’s how much

Users have enjoyed free access to Windows applications like Notepad and Paint, but new AI features now require a subscription. Notepad can now perform text rewrites based on user preferences, while Paint includes an AI-powered Image Creator. Microsoft is encouraging subscriptions to Microsoft 365 to support AI development, leading to a freemium model for desktop software. Users can access non-AI features for free, but AI functionalities require a subscription, with pricing options including a Microsoft 365 Personal plan and a Family plan. Each plan offers up to 60 AI credits per month, with additional options for unlimited usage through the Copilot Pro plan. The only free feature in Paint is background removal.

Winsage

February 21, 2025

You have to pay for Windows Notepad if you want to use AI

Microsoft has introduced AI features to Notepad, prompting users to subscribe to Microsoft 365 to access functionalities like Rewrite. While the basic functions of Notepad remain free, AI-powered features require a subscription. Users have expressed confusion over subscription prompts that disrupt the user experience. Notepad continues to operate without a Microsoft account, but accessing Rewrite requires "AI credits," which necessitate a subscription. Initially, Microsoft provided 50 credits for users to try Rewrite, but these credits have since expired for many. Microsoft describes Rewrite and other AI features as "bonus features," but the subscription prompts have raised concerns about user experience, especially following a price increase for Microsoft 365.

Winsage

February 18, 2025

Is Notepad Forcing A Microsoft Login On Copilot+ PC? Yes And No

Windows Notepad has introduced a new AI-powered "Rewrite" feature, requiring users to log into their Microsoft accounts to access it. While signing in is optional for those who prefer the traditional Notepad experience, some users are exploring alternatives like Notepad++ and expressing a desire to revert to the classic Windows 7 calculator app. The introduction of the new feature has sparked concerns among users about Notepad's shift away from its original simplicity.

Winsage

February 17, 2025

7 alternatives to built-in Windows tools that will blow you away

- Process Lasso is a powerful alternative to Task Manager, offering features like dynamic CPU adjustments and SmartTrim memory management. - Notepad++ is a text editor that supports multiple programming languages, syntax highlighting, and includes macros and plugins. - 7-Zip is a file compression tool that handles various formats and allows users to split, merge, and encrypt files. - Everything is a search tool that quickly finds files and folders, scanning both names and document contents. - Audacity is a multitrack digital audio workstation for recording audio, supporting various formats and real-time effects. - Flow Launcher allows users to launch files, folders, applications, and websites without using the Start menu. - VLC Media Player plays a wide range of audio and video file formats and offers features like file conversion and live stream recording.

Winsage

December 19, 2024

Microsoft’s AI “Recall” Feature Caught Screenshotting Your Social Security Number

Microsoft's AI-powered "Recall" tool captures sensitive information, including credit card numbers and social security numbers, despite a new "filter sensitive information" feature intended to prevent this. Tests by Avram Piltch revealed that the filter fails to recognize sensitive data in various contexts, such as when entering information in Windows Notepad or filling out loan applications in Microsoft Edge. Initially launched as part of Microsoft's "Copilot+ PCs," Recall faced backlash over privacy risks and was temporarily withdrawn. It has since returned for select Insiders with encrypted screenshots, but concerns about its effectiveness in protecting sensitive information remain.

Winsage

December 13, 2024

Windows Recall AI may sometimes capture intricate credit card details, even when Microsoft’s sensitive information filter is enabled in Windows 11

Windows Recall is a feature introduced in the Windows 11, version 24H2 update, exclusive to Copilot+ PCs, which captures snapshots of the user's screen at regular intervals and uses on-device AI to analyze the content. Microsoft has implemented a setting to filter out sensitive information from these snapshots, aiming to prevent the capture of data from applications or websites that handle sensitive information. However, a report indicated that Windows Recall still captured sensitive financial information, including credit card numbers, despite the filtering setting being enabled. Testing showed inconsistent results, as sensitive fields were captured in some contexts but not in others. Windows Recall is currently in beta and available through Microsoft's Windows 11 preview program, with Microsoft actively seeking user feedback to improve the feature before its official launch.