Hello Windows Insiders. Today marks the beginning of an exciting rollout for updates to both the Snipping Tool and Notepad, specifically for users in the Canary and Dev Channels of Windows 11.
Snipping Tool (version 11.2502.18.0)
Draw & Hold
This latest update enhances the inking markup experience with the introduction of the draw & hold feature. This tool allows users to create clean lines and shapes effortlessly. To utilize this feature, simply open the Snipping Tool and capture a screenshot of your desired content. If the image does not open automatically, click on the toast notification that prompts you to “Mark up and share” your image. Select the pen tool to draw a line, arrow, rectangle, or oval. By holding your cursor or pen still for a moment before releasing, your stroke will transform into a neatly formed shape. You can then resize, move, or adjust your creation as needed before finalizing your markup.
Protocol Launch
For developers, the Snipping Tool now introduces a new and improved protocol launch experience. This allows app callers to customize which Snipping Tool capture features are displayed when invoked from their applications. Designed for enhanced flexibility, security, and user-friendliness, this protocol aligns closely with familiar HTTP-based interactions, making it more intuitive for developers and expanding support for better integration with web technologies. For further details and to get started, visit the Launch Snipping Tool developer documentation page.
FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Apps > Snipping Tool.
Notepad (version 11.2501.29.0)
This update introduces a remarkable feature that enables users to summarize content in Notepad using generative AI. Additionally, a highly requested feature—recent files—has been added to the File menu, allowing for quick access to recently closed documents.
Summarize
To utilize the summarization feature, select the text you wish to condense, right-click, and choose Summarize, or select it from the Copilot menu, or simply use the Ctrl + M keyboard shortcut. Notepad will generate a summary of the selected text, providing a swift way to distill content. Users can experiment with various summary lengths to refine the output to their satisfaction.
Recent Files
The addition of recent files allows users to reopen previously closed documents directly within Notepad. To access this feature, open Notepad and navigate to the File menu, where a list of recently used documents will be available. A simple click on any file will allow you to instantly reopen and continue editing.
Users also have the option to clear the Recent list at any time or disable the Recent Files feature in app settings if they prefer not to maintain a history of recently closed files.
FEEDBACK: Please share your feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Apps > Notepad.
[These features in Snipping Tool and Notepad are beginning to roll out, so availability may vary among Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels as we monitor feedback and assess their reception before a broader release.]
As always, we appreciate the community’s feedback and look forward to hearing your thoughts and suggestions regarding these updates!
Thanks,
Dave Grochocki, Principal Group Product Manager – Windows Inbox Apps
