Windows Notepad

Windows Notepad
Original authorRichard Brodie
DeveloperMicrosoft
Initial release1983 (1983)
(as Multi-Tool Notepad)
Stable release(s) [±]
Windows 11December 2025 Update (11.2512.26.0) / 11 March 2026 (2026-03-11)
Windows 1010.0 (Build 19041.5794) / 14 April 2025 (2025-04-14)
Operating systemWindows 10, 11
PlatformIA-32, x86-64, and ARM (historically Itanium, DEC Alpha, MIPS, and PowerPC)
PredecessorMS-DOS Editor
TypeText editor
LicenseFreeware
Websiteapps.microsoft.com/detail/9msmlrh6lzf3

Windows Notepad (commonly known simply as Notepad) is a simple text editor for Windows; it creates and edits plain text documents. It was first released in 1983 to commercialize the computer mouse in MS-DOS.