Apps Open and Use Old Notepad app in Windows 11

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    notepad

Notepad_old_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to open and use the old Notepad.exe app in Windows 11.

The old Notepad.exe app has been replaced by a new modern Notepad app from the Microsoft Store in Windows 11. This new Notepad app includes many new features, such as tabs, spellcheck, themes, character count, save session state, explain with Copilot, and more coming.

If you just wanted to use the old plain text editor Notepad app at times and still have the new Notepad app available, you still can for now in Windows 11 after using a workaround below.

EXAMPLE: Old Notepad app

old_Notepad.png



Here's How:

1 Install (add) the Notepad (system) option feature if not already installed. (see screenshot below)

www.elevenforum.com

Add or Remove Optional Features in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to add and remove optional features for all users in Windows 11. You can add optional features in Windows 11 for extra functionality for your device. Reference...
www.elevenforum.com www.elevenforum.com

Notepad_system.webp

2 Turn off app execution aliases for Notepad. (see screenshot below)

www.elevenforum.com

Turn On or Off App Execution Aliases in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off app execution aliases for your account in Windows 11. Apps can declare a name (alias) used to run the app like an executable file from command prompt or Run (Win+R). If multiple apps use the same name, you can choose which one to use by turning...
www.elevenforum.com www.elevenforum.com

app_execution_aliases.png

3 Perform the steps below to remove the A new version of Notepad is available banner in Notepad.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.​

Remove_new_version_of_Notepad_available_banner.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Notepad]
"ShowStoreBanner"=dword:00000000

B) Save the .reg file to your desktop.​

C) Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.​

D) When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.​

E) You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.​

4 Open notepad.exe from either Run (Win+R) or Windows Terminal (PowerShell or command prompt). (see screenshots below)

notepad_RUN.png

Notepad_command.png

5 You can now Pin to taskbar and/or Pin to Start the old Notepad.exe app from its taskbar icon to open it from for easier usage. (see screenshot below)

Pin_Notepad.jpg


That's it,
Shawn Brink
 

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Last edited:
Click to expand...
thanks brink

love your background ;)
 

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I've done this on this new machine I'm configuring, but I still get only the modern app as a selection when I right-click a .txt file and select "Open With > Choose another app". I have other machines that suggest both apps when I do this, but does anyone know what the difference could be?

EDIT (answering my own question): The relevant difference is here:

Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\txtfilelegacy\shell\open]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\txtfilelegacy\shell\open\command]
@="C:\\\\Windows\\\\System32\\\\notepad.exe \\\"%1\\\""
When I imported that to the new machine, both started to show up. (I'd like to know what I did on the old machine, because I know I didn't import a .reg file, but I'll live with doing it this way for now.)
 
Last edited:

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Hello

The post is a bit old, but I integrated the old version of Notepad (without the tabs) instead of the new one and it's perfect.
Possible to install it manually too

Capture.PNG
 

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TBugReporter said:
I've done this on this new machine I'm configuring, but I still get only the modern app as a selection when I right-click a .txt file and select "Open With > Choose another app". I have other machines that suggest both apps when I do this, but does anyone know what the difference could be?

EDIT (answering my own question): The relevant difference is here:

Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\txtfilelegacy\shell\open]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\txtfilelegacy\shell\open\command]
@="C:\\\\Windows\\\\System32\\\\notepad.exe \\\"%1\\\""
When I imported that to the new machine, both started to show up. (I'd like to know what I did on the old machine, because I know I didn't import a .reg file, but I'll live with doing it this way for now.)
Click to expand...
Nice to be able to use the old notepad. I tried to create a .reg file with those lines above to be able to start notepad via a .txt file, but it's only partially working for me. It opens the old notepad, but it's not opening the .txt file. Instead I get a message saying something about filename, directory or volume having wrong syntax. I'm far from an expert on .reg files, so I just wonder if anyone has any idea on why this is happening or if it can be fixed?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
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    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer
edgar234 said:
Nice to be able to use the old notepad. I tried to create a .reg file with those lines above to be able to start notepad via a .txt file, but it's only partially working for me. It opens the old notepad, but it's not opening the .txt file. Instead I get a message saying something about filename, directory or volume having wrong syntax. I'm far from an expert on .reg files, so I just wonder if anyone has any idea on why this is happening or if it can be fixed?
Click to expand...
Hello Edgar, and welcome. :alien:

That's ok.

Once you do what's in the tutorial, you'll have an old Notepad shortcut to use to open whenever you like.
 

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Brink said:
Hello Edgar, and welcome. :alien:

That's ok.

Once you do what's in the tutorial, you'll have an old Notepad shortcut to use to open whenever you like.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I think maybe you misunderstood me though. I did everything in the tutorial, and I'm now able to start the old notepad. But, since I would also like to be able to start it by double clicking on a txt file I tried to follow the advice from TBugReporter (about changes in the registry). But like I wrote, for me those registry changes are only partially working. If I double click a txt file then the old notepad opens, which is good, but it doesn't open with the .txt file I clicked. It opens without any file and instead there's a message about wrong filename/directory syntax?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer
O/T, this reg file disables the "A new version of Notepad is available." banner. That thing annoys me every time I do a Windows install.
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Notepad]
"ShowStoreBanner"=dword:00000000
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
edgar234 said:
Nice to be able to use the old notepad. I tried to create a .reg file with those lines above to be able to start notepad via a .txt file, but it's only partially working for me. It opens the old notepad, but it's not opening the .txt file. Instead I get a message saying something about filename, directory or volume having wrong syntax. I'm far from an expert on .reg files, so I just wonder if anyone has any idea on why this is happening or if it can be fixed?
Click to expand...
I found the solution myself. In the .reg file lines that TBugReporter showed, there shouldn't be quotation marks surrounding the %1. When I removed them it worked! :party:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
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    Acer
I don't have application execution aliases in my version. 23H2.
Scared to update to 24. See below...
My issue is that it's not opening a clean page, which I thought happened when you clicked on the notepad itself, not the many other note options
Should I just uninstall and revert to the earlier version?
Also, don't want to lose the few notes I managed to partially reconstruct after an MS update bricked my computer Monday.
Can I save them or do they transfer?

Thank you.
 

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Joshua888 said:
I don't have application execution aliases in my version. 23H2.
Scared to update to 24. See below...
My issue is that it's not opening a clean page, which I thought happened when you clicked on the notepad itself, not the many other note options
Should I just uninstall and revert to the earlier version?
Also, don't want to lose the few notes I managed to partially reconstruct after an MS update bricked my computer Monday.
Can I save them or do they transfer?

Thank you.
Click to expand...
Hello, :alien:

It sounds like you need to select Start new session and discard unsaved changes in Notepad settings like in the tutorial below so it'll open blank again.

www.elevenforum.com

Turn On or Off Automatically Save Session State for Notepad in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off Notepad automatically saving the session state to open and continue where you left off for your account in Windows 11. Notepad is a fast and simple text editor that can be used to view, edit, and search through plain text documents instantly...
www.elevenforum.com www.elevenforum.com
 

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    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
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    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
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    Corsair Hydro H115i
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    Logitech wireless K800
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    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
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    Google Chrome
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    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
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garlin said:
O/T, this reg file disables the "A new version of Notepad is available." banner. That thing annoys me every time I do a Windows install.
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Notepad]
"ShowStoreBanner"=dword:00000000
Click to expand...

Nice!

I've spent days trawling google for this. Thanks a lot!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Joshua888 said:
I don't have application execution aliases in my version. 23H2.
Scared to update to 24. See below...
My issue is that it's not opening a clean page, which I thought happened when you clicked on the notepad itself, not the many other note options
Should I just uninstall and revert to the earlier version?
Also, don't want to lose the few notes I managed to partially reconstruct after an MS update bricked my computer Monday.
Can I save them or do they transfer?

Thank you.
Click to expand...
just checked on 23H2 22631.4317 pc and it is there. if not you may have some windows corruption. check:

Settings > System > Optional Features > Notepad (System) > Install

Settings > Apps > Advanced App Settings > App Execution Aliases > Notepad Radio Button > OFF

Disable "A new version of Notepad is available." Banner
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Notepad]
"ShowStoreBanner"=dword:00000000


Can use WindHawk to give it Dark Mode too:
1742181041091.webp
 

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