Getting the old version of Notepad on Windows 11

Anonymous
2022-03-22T11:56:12+00:00

Hello,

I am a blind user who frequently uses the Notepad application. On my Windows 11 laptop, I’m having difficulty to read the content and Braille. I can hear it with my screen reader, but I can’t read it properly. So, when I want to write code properly, I use my Windows 10 PC. Is there a way to have the old version of Notepad? If not, is there any alternative?

Regards,

Olivier

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Microsoft Store

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_AW_ 69,496 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2022-10-14T13:11:34+00:00

This is tested and working, no uninstallation necessary.

Open Settings > Apps

In the center pane select Advanced app settings > App execution aliases

Toggle off Notepad

Then go to the old Notepad at C:\Windows\Notepad.exe and right click > Pin to the taskbar/Pin to start/Send to Desktop

Launch the old Notepad from the shortcut you just created

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Ramesh 181.9K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2022-10-14T13:07:32+00:00

not working for me and I find no other wait to have the old windows 10 notepad.

Not sure what you tried. But check out this article.

How to Restore Old Classic Notepad in Windows 11

https://www.winhelponline.com/blog/restore-old-classic-notepad-windows/

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-03-18T15:13:47+00:00

    Very easy, do exactly these two steps and classic notepad will work like before W11:

    Step one, right click on start and go to Settings -> Apps -> Advanced app settings -> App executing aliases -> Toggle off notepad

    Now goto start, once the start menu is opened type in notepad, rightclick the notepad and delete it

    .txt files should now open with classic notepad als win+r notepad should now open the classic notepad

    not sure why microsoft always need to "inovate", bring out the old version and the new version next to each other and let people easily choose which one to use, or bring a dialog in the classic version which say, if you are interested in trying out our new notepad, click here or else do not bother me again with this dialog. If people want to use an extended version of notepad, they will download notepad++ anways.

    Or make it so that you can disable all the new features like tabs and resume where left when closed (ask when closing which files to save, but start always fresh when opening it), such features really needs to be able to be disabled using settings imo. Basicly notepad has not changed very much since windows 3.11 (or even before, do not know that).

    Also it is or was (not sure, I do not use it anymore) quite full of bugs as you might have noticed more then once.

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-12-17T14:07:20+00:00

    Oh man, this worked soooo easily, and well. I think I'd tried everything else but it just didn't work. I was desperate to get back my old faithful plain text editor. I hate the new one -- it's way way too much hassle to use. In any case, thank you so much for posting this solution!

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-10-14T13:47:15+00:00

    So... is there a way to just download the old Notepad.exe?

    Is there a safe microsolf link somewhere? I wasted over 2 hours trying to find a legit download.

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