Sunday, March 30th 2025

Windows Notepad Gets Microsoft Copilot Integration

by
btarunr
 Discuss (75 Comments)
Everybody's favorite plaintext editor, Notepad, has been gathering features in the last couple of years. For over three decades, the Windows accessory could do little more than just input and save plaintext files, but Microsoft has been adding features to it. It began with the 2022 addition of tabs—the ability to have multiple text files open as tabs. This was roughly when Microsoft changed Notepad from a Win32 application to a UWP app. Then in 2024, as part of a larger care package to all Windows accessories, Microsoft added spelling and grammar checks; and now the company brought Copilot integration directly into Notepad. A dedicated Copilot button in the Notepad toolbar now shows up. It spawns a menu that lets you use Copilot to proof the text, such as rewriting it, making it longer/shorter, changing the tone of the text, or even formatting it.

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75 Comments on Windows Notepad Gets Microsoft Copilot Integration

#26
R0H1T
Chrispy_Changing notepad isn't about whether the tool can be modified or changes reversed, it's about changing a default that people use because it's a default.
MS has to justify the billions they spent on "AI" & maybe a tenth(?) of that on their Windows development. Eventually you have to show something for it, even if it's (much) worse!

How do you stop this ~ probably stop using/paying for their products and services? Same goes for JHH & his eye popping 4k gaming cards, yes four grands not resolution.

It's akin to "violence begets violence" except substitute violence for money/power/influence :shadedshu:
Posted on Reply
#28
Darmok N Jalad
Can you save notepad.exe from Windows 10 (or an older version of 11) as a different name and use it instead, or will this not work anymore? I recall doing something like this many years ago, where I would extract certain Windows exe's from the installer cabinet files to use on other OSes that didn't have them.
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#29
SoM6
Picardfacepalm.jpg
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#31
Redkaliber
God, I hope someone makes a new OS so we can all get off this dumpster fire Windows. The only way it can be done is if Microsoft and Apple have no knowledge of it. Otherwise they will keep litigating and bombarded the maker with bad press and attempted take overs. And it cant be on the stock market either so its a really challenging ordeal.
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#32
Chrispy_
RenteBecause the article does not mention it: You can deactivate Copilot in the options of Notepad and the button for Copilot disappears from the GUI.
For now you can, yes.
I've been using Microsoft products for a long long time and those little toggles that let you disable new features have a nasty habit of disappearing eventually.
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#33
Eternit
Nadela killed Windows Phone, now he wants to kill Windows and Office.
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#34
evernessince
ShihabAt any rate, the way things are going, I think Microsoft just wasted dev hours with this. Eventually, they will have it access every text field in any UWP/.Net application to offer its "help" through the contextual menu or a flaoting button that clutters the UI, at the cost of using what's written to "improve the service." But of course, you can "opt out" if you're not comfortable with it. Your not-so-1337-hax0rz grandma and grandpa will have to get used their private interactions regurgigated to some randos killing their own braincells chatting with this crap. </hyperbole>
This is precisely why it makes no sense to me, seems counterproductive to individually implement some basic AI text editing into a program when that could easily be handled by a system-wide AI agent. It'd be one thing if it required a specific AI model but this is just generic run of the fill AI assistant stuff. I'd expect that if future AI Assistants are to be of any use that they would at the least be able to reword text in any program you have open.
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#35
SSGBryan
WhateverAnotherFreakingID... meanwhile on Linux ...
Downloading Linux Mint right now.
Posted on Reply
#36
Tsukiyomi91
fuck Notepad. Use Notepad++ instead. It's way more powerful and it's free of charge, no ads whatsoever included.
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#37
R-T-B
RedkaliberGod, I hope someone makes a new OS so we can all get off this dumpster fire Windows. The only way it can be done is if Microsoft and Apple have no knowledge of it. Otherwise they will keep litigating and bombarded the maker with bad press and attempted take overs. And it cant be on the stock market either so its a really challenging ordeal.
It's called Linux. Just sayin'. No it ain't perfect but it exists.
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#38
DJ_Cas
Perfect. Glad I've uninstalled in and using Notepad++
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#39
A Computer Guy
Well I guess I won't be storing my passwords in notepad anymore.
Posted on Reply
#40
Dr. Dro
A Computer GuyWell I guess I won't be storing my passwords in notepad anymore.
That's a terrible idea anyway. Use Bitwarden.

bitwarden.com
Posted on Reply
#41
Clawedge
RejZoRAll I ever wanted from Notepad was to just be the fastest, most basic text editor. And now it's full of stupid functions no one asked for. Like, why? Why Microsoft? Are you stupid? Even tabs in default configuration are stupid because they keep retaining text in it even though I don't need or want it to so I need to disable that BS every time I install Windows now.

Instead of making these dumb changes, how about you finally give users ability to disable idiotic recommendations in the Start menu that is taking up 12 slots for icons that I could use otherwise? And even when Recommendations are disabled, it's just eating that space for no god damn reason by showing me a message about enabling Recommended files there to see them. WHY?!

I guess I'll check out Notepad++ or Notepad2 and replace Windows one with it. Or some other text editor that isn't crammed with crap I don't need...

EDIT:
Heh, I realized legacy Notepad is still present in Windows folder. I just eradicated the new one and returned to the old one.
Why? Cos F#$% you, that's why!

Microsofts words, not mine.
Posted on Reply
#42
theouto
I can somewhat understand if they want to add it to word, but notepad? What's the point? Either way, it's still worse than Notepad++ or Sublime, and this update just makes it worse than it already was.
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#43
ir_cow
Good thing you can disable it :)
Posted on Reply
#44
sethmatrix7
AquilinoMicrosoft will do anything but fix the UI / UX of Windows 11.
Other than the right click menu what do you dislike about it?
I actually think the look and feel is sleek in a way. Explorer having tabs is really nice.
Posted on Reply
#45
A Computer Guy
Dr. DroThat's a terrible idea anyway. Use Bitwarden.

bitwarden.com
Sorry I forgot the /s at the end of my comment. :slap:
Posted on Reply
#46
Dr. Dro
A Computer GuySorry I forgot the /s at the end of my comment. :slap:
Oh, lol. I was guilty of that myself though! :laugh:
Posted on Reply
#47
L0stS0ul
The law should enforce separation of functions of this pretending to be AI from the rest in these times. Prohibition of full integration and offering it only as an option.
Posted on Reply
#48
Tartaros
Calmmolmao, even notepad became bloatware.
Indeed it has become bloatware, and a buggy one even. I use it extensively since it's the most lightweight thing to take notes on and since its big revamp usually crashes after coming back from sleep mode if I leave a txt opened. Never in decades of using it has given me a problem until now.
Posted on Reply
#49
1freedude
ir_cowGood thing you can disable it :)
Shouldn't have to disable. Enable if you want, not the other way.
Posted on Reply
#50
Event Horizon
Urgently need a new CEO for Microsoft before it's too late.
Posted on Reply
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Aug 2nd, 2025 05:46 CDT change timezone

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