Notepad has embraced a new era of text formatting with the introduction of markdown capabilities in Windows 11, allowing users to craft documents with a flair reminiscent of WordPad. This enhancement is designed to maintain the application’s simplicity while offering more functionality.
Enhanced Formatting Features
The markdown formatting feature is enabled by default, making it easy for users to dive right in. With a simple selection from the newly introduced formatting toolbar, users can instantly apply various styles to their text. Highlighting a line and choosing a heading option, for instance, transforms the selected text seamlessly.
Users can opt for different formatting styles, including:
- Headings
- Subheadings
- Body text
- Bullet points
- Numbered lists
As you type, the formatting remains accessible, or you can switch to a syntax-based approach, utilizing symbols like “###” to designate headings. This flexibility caters to a range of writing preferences.
In addition to structural formatting, Notepad now supports bold and italic text, along with hyperlinks, enhancing the overall presentation of your documents. Despite these new features, Notepad maintains its lightweight nature, ensuring that CPU and memory usage remain minimal during formatting tasks.
For those who prefer the classic simplicity of Notepad, the option to disable formatting is readily available in the Settings menu, allowing users to tailor their experience according to their needs.
Markdown support in Windows 11’s Notepad app! pic.twitter.com/8gnKgRSTqo
— Mayank Parmar (@mayank_jee) July 6, 2025
This introduction of markdown in Notepad exemplifies Microsoft’s commitment to enhancing user experience without alienating its loyal customer base, who cherish the app’s straightforwardness. The balance between new features and simplicity is a testament to thoughtful design in software development.
