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Notepad is still available on most Windows 10 PCs, but it may not be where you expect it. You can open it from Start, Windows Search, the Run dialog, Command Prompt, or directly from a text file. This guide also covers saving files with the correct extension, finding and replacing text, printing, the legacy .LOG feature, and reinstalling Notepad if it is missing.
Note: Windows 10 22H2 reached general end of support on October 14, 2025. LTSC editions follow separate support schedules.
What is Notepad used for?
Notepad is Windows 10’s basic plain-text editor. It is useful for creating or editing:
.txtnotes and lists- configuration files such as
.inifiles - scripts and batch files
- HTML, CSS, and other source-code files
- application logs
- text copied from another program without rich formatting
Notepad does not work like Microsoft Word. It does not provide Word-style headings, tables, embedded images, styles, or rich-text formatting. Changing the font in Notepad changes how text is displayed or printed; it does not turn the file into a formatted document.
#1 Best Overall
- Reliable Plug and Play: The USB receiver provides a reliable wireless connection up to 33 ft (1), so you can forget about drop-outs and delays and you can take it wherever you use your computer
- Type in Comfort: The design of this keyboard creates a comfortable typing experience thanks to the low-profile, quiet keys and standard layout with full-size F-keys, number pad, and arrow keys
- Durable and Resilient: This full-size wireless keyboard features a spill-resistant design (2), durable keys and sturdy tilt legs with adjustable height
- Long Battery Life: MK270 combo features a 36-month keyboard and 12-month mouse battery life (3), along with on/off switches allowing you to go months without the hassle of changing batteries
- Easy to Use: This wireless keyboard and mouse combo features 8 multimedia hotkeys for instant access to the Internet, email, play/pause, and volume so you can easily check out your favorite sites
How to find and open Notepad on Windows 10
Method 1: Use Start menu search
- Select the Start button.
- Type
Notepad. - Select Notepad from the search results.
You do not normally need to open the search box first. Pressing the Windows key and typing Notepad also searches for the program.
Method 2: Use the taskbar Search box
- Select the Search box or magnifying-glass icon on the taskbar. You can also press the Windows key.
- Type
Notepad. - Select the Notepad application in the results.
If Notepad is installed but does not appear in Search, try one of the other launch methods below. A Search problem does not necessarily mean that the application is missing.
Method 3: Find it in the All apps list
- Select Start.
- Scroll through the alphabetical application list to Notepad.
- Select Notepad.
If your Start menu is using a full-screen layout, select All apps first. On some layouts, you may need to hover over the icons at the left side of Start to reveal the All apps option.
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- Press Windows key + R.
- Type
notepad. - Press Enter or select OK.
This command launches Notepad directly and is useful when the Start menu or Search interface is not working.
Method 5: Launch it from Command Prompt
Open Command Prompt, type the following command, and press Enter:
notepadYou can also open a particular text file by supplying its path. For example:
notepad "C:UsersYourNameDocumentsnotes.txt"Replace the example path with the actual file location. Quotation marks are important when a path contains spaces.
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Method 6: Open a file with Notepad
- Open File Explorer.
- Right-click a text file.
- Select Open with > Choose another app.
- Select Notepad.
- Enable the option to always use Notepad for that file type if you want to change the default association.
- Select OK.
This changes which program opens that file type. It does not change the file’s contents.
How to create and save a text file
- Open Notepad.
- Type or paste your text.
- Select File > Save As.
- Choose a folder in the Save As window.
- Enter a name in the File name box.
- Choose the appropriate value in Save as type.
- Select Save.
For an ordinary text document, use a name such as shopping-list.txt. Notepad’s classic Windows 10 interface requires you to save manually; it does not automatically back up every unsaved document.
Rank #2
- 【Ergonomic Wireless Keyboard Mouse 】: Wireless ergonomic keyboard is equipped with adjustable height tilt legs to increase comfort and prevent your wrists injury when typing for a long time. The full size wireless keyboard with numeric keypad and 12 multimedia shortcut keys, such as play/ pause, volume increase and decrease, and email, to help you improve work efficiency
- 【Stable & Reliable Wireless Connection】: This wireless keyboard and mouse combo share the same USB receiver(stored in the mouse), and they can also be used separately. Plug & play, no need to download any software, 2.4 GHz wireless provides a powerful and reliable connection up to 33 feet(10m) without any delays.You can enjoy the convenience and freedom of wireless connection at home or at work
- 【Comfortable Optical Mouse】: This compact lightweight wireless mouse features a hand-friendly contoured shape for all-day comfort, and smooth, precise tracking.1600 DPI to meet your daily needs. Perfect for home & office work and entertainment
- 【Long Battery Life】: Up to 365 Days of battery life for keyboard and mouse wireless, say goodbye to the hassle of charging cables and replacing batteries. After 10 minutes of inactivity, the wireless keyboard mouse combo will automatically go into sleep mode to save energy. The wireless keyboard requires one AAA battery, and the wireless mouse requires one AA battery.
- 【Less Noise, More Quiet Keys】: Soft membrane keys provide a quiet and comfortable typing experience, So you can type with confidence on a wireless keyboard crafted for comfort, precision and fluidity. The wireless mouse adopts silent micro-motion technology, which is almost completely silent when clicked. No more concerns about disturbing others.
Avoid accidental double extensions
When Save as type is set to Text Documents (*.txt), entering a filename that already ends in .txt can result in an unwanted name such as:
notes.txt.txtIf you need to create a file with another extension, select All Files in Save as type and enter the complete filename. For example:
config.iniTo create a batch file, use:
backup.batFile Explorer may hide known file extensions. To check the real filename, open File Explorer and select View > File name extensions. This makes extensions such as .txt, .ini, and .bat visible.
Renaming a binary file from image.dat to image.txt does not convert it into text. The extension identifies how Windows treats a file; it does not change the underlying data.
Open and edit an existing file
- Open Notepad.
- Select File > Open.
- Browse to the file’s folder.
- Select the file and choose Open.
After making changes, select File > Save to update the existing file. Use File > Save As when you want to keep the original and create a separate copy.
Notepad can open plain-text files and many source-code or configuration files. Be cautious when editing system or application configuration files: an incorrect character, missing quotation mark, or changed line can prevent software from working correctly. Make a backup before modifying an important file.
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For a search, open the Edit menu and select Find. Enter the text you want to locate, then use Find Next to move through subsequent matches.
To change repeated text:
- Select Edit > Replace.
- Enter the existing text in the first field.
- Enter the replacement text in the second field.
- Choose Replace for individual matches or Replace All when every match should change.
Classic Windows 10 Notepad searches the document’s text. It does not provide regular-expression searches, wildcard filters, or formatting-based searches. For those features, use a more advanced editor such as Notepad++ or a code editor.
Turn word wrapping on or off
Select Format > Word Wrap to toggle visual wrapping.
Rank #3
- Dependable wireless connection: Enjoy the reliability and convenience of 2.4 GHz connectivity with your logitech wireless keyboard and mouse combo, wireless range up to 10 meters away at home, or work.
- Full-Size Wireless Keyboard: Comfortable, quiet typing on a familiar keyboard layout with palm rest, spill-resistant design, and media keys. This wireless keyboard and mouse logitech has easy-access to media keys
- Plug and Play: MK345 works seamlessly with Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS. Experience hassle-free setup with the logitech mk345 wireless combo and wireless keyboard mouse combo for various operating systems.
- Long-lasting Battery: The MK345 combo offers a full size keyboard battery life of up to 3 years and a mouse battery life of 18 months (1); batteries included
- Comfortable Right-handed Mouse: This wireless USB mouse with dongle works well for this wireless mouse and keyboard combo, featuring a contoured shape for all-day comfort and smooth, precise tracking and scrolling for easier navigation.
Word Wrap makes long lines fit within the window. It does not necessarily insert line-break characters into the file. A line may appear on several screen rows while remaining one long physical line in the saved document. Turn Word Wrap off when you need to inspect the actual line structure of a configuration file or script.
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Change the Notepad font
- Select Format > Font.
- Choose a font, style, and size.
- Select OK.
This changes the appearance used by Notepad. It does not add rich formatting to the document or convert a plain-text file into a Word document.
Print from Notepad
Before printing, select File > Page Setup. You can configure page orientation, paper size, margins, and the header and footer.
Classic Notepad uses these default values:
| Setting | Default | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Header | &f |
Prints the document name |
| Footer | Page &p |
Prints the page number |
Notepad supports these header and footer codes:
| Code | Function |
|---|---|
&l |
Left-aligns the characters that follow |
&c |
Centers the characters that follow |
&r |
Right-aligns the characters that follow |
&d |
Prints the current date |
&t |
Prints the current time |
&f |
Prints the document name |
&p |
Prints the page number |
For example, enter &lInternal notes &d in the Header box to left-align the words “Internal notes” and print the current date. The alignment code must be the first item for the alignment to work as expected. A value such as Internal notes&l may result in centered output.
Notepad’s header and footer settings are not saved permanently for future print jobs. Enter them again when necessary.
The Tool Desk
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Notepad has a small legacy feature for manually maintained log files.
- Open Notepad.
- Type
.LOGas the first line. - Press Enter.
- Select File > Save As.
- Save the file with a suitable name, such as
worklog.txt. - Close and reopen the file when you want to add another entry.
When the file is reopened, Notepad adds the current date and time at the point where new text can be entered. The .LOG text must be on the first line.
This is not an automatic or scheduled logging system. The timestamp is added when the file is opened, not every time it is saved, and Notepad will not collect events in the background.
What to do if Notepad is missing
On newer Windows 10 servicing layouts, Notepad is provided as a Feature on Demand. It may therefore appear in Optional features rather than behaving like an unremovable traditional system component.
Rank #4
- Reliable Plug and Play: The USB receiver provides a reliable wireless connection up to 33 ft (1), so you can forget about drop-outs and delays and you can take it wherever you use your computer
- Type in Comfort: The design of this keyboard creates a comfortable typing experience thanks to the low-profile, quiet keys and standard layout with full-size F-keys, number pad, and arrow keys
- Durable and Resilient: This full-size wireless keyboard features a spill-resistant design (2), durable keys and sturdy tilt legs with adjustable height
- Long Battery Life: MK270 combo features a 36-month keyboard and 12-month mouse battery life (3), along with on/off switches allowing you to go months without the hassle of changing batteries
- Easy to Use: This wireless keyboard and mouse combo features 8 multimedia hotkeys for instant access to the Internet, email, play/pause, and volume so you can easily check out your favorite sites
Try these locations:
- Start > Settings > Apps > Optional features
- On some Windows 10 builds: Start > Settings > Apps > Apps & features > Optional features
Microsoft has used different Settings paths and labels across Windows 10 updates. If one path is not present, look for Optional features in the Settings search box.
Install Notepad from Optional features
- Open the Optional features page.
- Select Add a feature, View features, or the + button, depending on your build.
- Search for Notepad.
- Select the checkbox beside Notepad.
- Select Install or Add.
Windows may need to download the component through Windows Update. A blocked Windows Update connection, limited permissions, or an organization’s device-management policy can prevent installation.
Remove and reinstall Notepad
- Open Optional features.
- Under Installed features, search for Notepad.
- Expand the Notepad entry and select Remove.
- Restart Windows if prompted.
- Return to Optional features and add Notepad again.
The exact buttons may be named Remove, Add a feature, View features, Next, or Add on different Windows 10 releases.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Fix common Notepad problems
Notepad does not appear in Search
Press Windows key + R, enter notepad, and press Enter. If it opens, the application is installed and the issue is probably related to Search or the Start menu. If it does not open, check Optional features and reinstall Notepad.
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The Optional features page is somewhere else
This is usually a Windows 10 version or build difference. Check both Settings > Apps > Optional features and Settings > Apps > Apps & features > Optional features. You can also search for Optional features from Settings.
A text file opens in another program
This is normally a file-association issue. Right-click the file, select Open with > Choose another app, select Notepad, and enable the option to always use it for that file type.
The text looks like nonsense
The file may not be plain text. Images, executable files, compressed archives, and other binary files can display as meaningless characters in Notepad. An unexpected encoding can also cause corrupted-looking text.
Do not try to fix a binary file by changing its extension. If the file is supposed to be readable text, identify the program that created it and open it with that program or an editor that supports its encoding.
Best Value
- 【Lag-free & Efficient】Stable and reliable connection of wireless keyboard and mouse is up to 10m(33ft). This combo share a nano USB receiver, no need to take up additional USB ports (Also the wireless keyboard and mouse can also be used separately). Plug and play, no software needed,convenient and efficient.
- 【Quiet & Type in Comfort】Wireless keyboard come with adjustable height tilt legs to increase comfort and prevent your wrists injury when typing for a long time.Our wireless keyboard adopts a silent structure. Soft membrane keys provide a quiet and comfortable typing experience.The wireless mouse is quiet without any clicking sound also.So whether at home or in the office, you can use this combo as you please without worrying about disturbing others.
- 【Full Size Keyboard】This keyboard saves desktop space while retaining its full size.The full size wireless keyboard with numeric keypad and 12 multimedia shortcut keys, such as play/ pause, volume increase and decrease, and search, to help you improve work efficiency.
- 【Auto Power Saving Function】Wireless keyboard and mouse have a smart auto-sleep mode to save power for long battery life. They will enter sleep mode after stop using a while(Refer to the instructions for details). Unplug the receiver or after the PC shutdown, they will enter sleep mode too.You can press any keys to wake. (battery life may vary based on user and computing conditions)
- 【Comfortable Optical Mouse】This silent wireless mice provides 3 adjustable DPI (800/1200/1600) to meet your different needs in terms of sensitivity.The compact lightweight design of wireless mouse and a hand-friendly contoured shape for all-day comfort, and smooth, precise tracking. Very suitable for office and daily use.
Windows 10 Notepad versus newer Notepad versions
The standard Notepad included with Windows 10 22H2 should be treated as the classic plain-text editor. Do not expect the Windows 11-style Notepad interface or features such as tabs, session restoration, Markdown formatting, dark mode, or AI writing tools. Those features belong to newer Notepad releases and are not a reliable description of the normal Windows 10 version.
FAQ
Where is Notepad located in Windows 10?
Open Start and type Notepad, or press Windows key + R, type notepad, and press Enter. You can also find it in Start’s All apps list or open a text file with Open with > Choose another app.
Why is Notepad missing from Windows 10?
On current Windows 10 servicing layouts, Notepad is a Feature on Demand and may have been removed. Open Optional features in Settings and add Notepad again. Device-management policies or unavailable Windows Update downloads can also prevent installation.
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How do I create an .ini or .bat file in Notepad?
Use File > Save As, select All Files in Save as type, and enter the complete name, such as config.ini or backup.bat. Turn on View > File name extensions in File Explorer to verify the actual extension.
Does Notepad automatically save files?
No. The classic Windows 10 Notepad requires File > Save or File > Save As. Its .LOG feature adds a timestamp when a log file is reopened, but it is not automatic document backup.
How do I make Notepad wrap long lines?
Select Format > Word Wrap. This changes how long lines appear on screen; it does not necessarily insert line breaks into the saved file.
Can Notepad open Word documents?
Notepad is designed for plain text, not Word documents. Opening a rich-text or binary document may show unreadable characters and will not preserve its formatting.
The Bottom Line
The fastest way to open Notepad is Windows key + R, followed by notepad. For everyday work, use it for plain-text notes, code, configuration files, and logs; save manually and check file extensions when creating files such as .ini or .bat. If Notepad is absent, restore it through Windows 10’s Optional features page rather than assuming it must be downloaded from the Microsoft Store.
Quick Recap
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