How to Use Notepad

Learning how to use Notepad is one of the simplest yet most powerful skills for anyone using a Windows computer. Notepad may look basic, but it can be used for writing notes, editing code, creating HTML files, troubleshooting system issues, and much more.

In this complete guide, you’ll learn how to use Notepad from scratch, explore its features, shortcuts, and advanced uses—all explained in a clear, human-friendly way.

What Is Notepad?

Notepad is a basic text editor included with Microsoft Windows. It allows you to create and edit plain text files without formatting.

Key Features of Notepad

  • Lightweight and fast

  • No formatting (plain text only)

  • Ideal for coding and notes

  • Pre-installed on all Windows versions

  • Free and easy to use

Notepad is perfect when you need clean text without distractions.

Why Should You Use Notepad?

Understanding how to use Notepad helps in many everyday tasks.

Benefits of Using Notepad

  • Opens instantly

  • Uses very little memory

  • Great for coding and scripts

  • Ideal for writing quick notes

  • Useful for troubleshooting

Many developers and IT professionals still rely on Notepad for quick edits.

How to Open Notepad in Windows

There are several easy ways to open Notepad.

Open Notepad Using the Start Menu

Steps

  1. Click Start

  2. Type Notepad

  3. Press Enter

Notepad will open instantly.

Open Notepad Using the Run Command

Steps

  1. Press Windows + R

  2. Type:

notepad

  1. Press Enter

This is one of the fastest methods.

Open Notepad Using Right-Click Menu

  1. Right-click on the desktop or inside a folder

  2. Select New

  3. Click Text Document

  4. Double-click the file

This creates and opens a Notepad file.

Understanding the Notepad Interface

When you open Notepad, you’ll see a very simple interface.

Menu Bar in Notepad

The menu bar includes:

  • File

  • Edit

  • Format

  • View

  • Help

Each menu contains useful tools.

Text Area in Notepad

The large white area is where you type and edit text.
Notepad supports only plain text—no bold, colors, or fonts.

How to Create a New File in Notepad

Creating a new file is very easy.

Create a New Notepad File

Steps

  1. Open Notepad

  2. Click File → New

  3. Start typing

You can also use the shortcut:

Ctrl + N

How to Save a File in Notepad

Saving correctly is important, especially for scripts and code.

Save a File in Notepad

Steps

  1. Click File → Save

  2. Choose location

  3. Enter file name

  4. Click Save

Shortcut:

Ctrl + S

How to Save a File with Different Extensions

By default, Notepad saves files as .txt.

Save Notepad File as HTML, CSS, or BAT

Steps

  1. Click File → Save As

  2. Choose All Files

  3. Type file name (example: index.html)

  4. Select encoding (UTF-8 recommended)

  5. Click Save

This is useful for web development and scripts.

How to Edit Text in Notepad

Notepad includes basic editing tools.

Cut, Copy, and Paste in Notepad

Shortcuts

  • Cut: Ctrl + X

  • Copy: Ctrl + C

  • Paste: Ctrl + V

These work the same as other apps.

Undo and Redo in Notepad

  • Undo: Ctrl + Z

  • Redo: Ctrl + Y

Very useful while editing text or code.

How to Find and Replace Text in Notepad

This is one of the most powerful features.

Find Text in Notepad

Steps

  1. Press Ctrl + F

  2. Enter the word

  3. Click Find Next

Replace Text in Notepad

Steps

  1. Press Ctrl + H

  2. Enter a word to find

  3. Enter replacement text

  4. Click Replace All

Perfect for editing large files quickly.

How to Change Font in Notepad

Notepad allows basic font customization.

Change Font Style and Size

Steps

  1. Click Format → Font

  2. Choose font, style, and size

  3. Click OK

This affects display only, not file content.

How to Enable Word Wrap in Notepad

Word Wrap makes long lines easier to read.

Turn On Word Wrap

Steps

  1. Click Format

  2. Enable Word Wrap

With Word Wrap ON, text fits the screen width.

How to Use Notepad for Coding

Notepad is widely used for basic coding tasks.

Write HTML Code Using Notepad

Example:

<html>
<body>
<h1>Hello World</h1>
</body>
</html>

Save as index.html and open in a browser.

Use Notepad for CSS and JavaScript

You can create:

  • .css files

  • .js files

Notepad is ideal for learning beginner coding concepts.

How to Use Notepad for System Tasks

Notepad is useful for troubleshooting.

Edit Hosts File Using Notepad

  1. Open Notepad as Administrator

  2. Open:

C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts

  1. Make changes

  2. Save file

This is useful for blocking websites or testing domains.

Create Batch Files Using Notepad

Batch files automate tasks in Windows.

Example:

@echo off
echo Hello World
pause

Save as example.bat.

Common Problems When Using Notepad

Notepad Won’t save the file

Fixes

  • Run Notepad as administrator

  • Save in a different folder

  • Check file extension

Notepad Opens Files in One Line

Fix

  • Enable Word Wrap

  • Change encoding to UTF-8

File Extension Keeps Changing to .txt

Fix

  • Select All Files while saving

  • Use quotes: "file.html"

Useful Notepad Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut Action
Ctrl + N New file
Ctrl + O Open file
Ctrl + S Save
Ctrl + F Find
Ctrl + H Replace
Ctrl + A Select all
Ctrl + Z Undo

Learning shortcuts boosts productivity.

Notepad vs WordPad vs Word

Feature Notepad WordPad Word
Formatting No Limited Full
Speed Very fast Medium Slower
Best for Text & code Simple docs Professional docs

Notepad is best for clean text and coding.

FAQs About How to Use Notepad

Is Notepad free?

Yes, Notepad is completely free and built into Windows.

Can I write code in Notepad?

Yes, Notepad is commonly used for HTML, CSS, and scripts.

Does Notepad support formatting?

No, it supports plain text only.

Can Notepad open large files?

Yes, but very large files may open slowly.

Is Notepad safe to use?

Yes, it’s a trusted Windows application.

Conclusion

Learning how to use Notepad may seem simple, but it’s an essential skill that can save time, improve productivity, and help with tasks ranging from note-taking to coding and system troubleshooting. Its simplicity is its biggest strength.

Whether you’re a beginner, blogger, student, or tech enthusiast, mastering Notepad gives you a solid foundation for working with text and code on Windows.

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