Replace Notepad With Notepad Windows 11 May 2026

If you find the new Windows 11 Notepad—complete with its tabs, AI features, and "modern" interface—a bit too much for your workflow, you aren't alone. Whether you want to return to the lightweight "Classic" Notepad or fully upgrade to a powerhouse like , here is how to replace Notepad on Windows 11. 1. The Simple Way: Change Default File Associations

Select your preferred app (like Notepad++ ) from the list. If it's not there, click "More apps" or "Look for another app on this PC" to find the .exe file. Click and then Apply . 2. The "True" Replacement: Using Registry Redirection replace notepad with notepad windows 11

Find "Notepad" in your Installed Apps list and click Uninstall . Windows will often automatically fall back to the legacy notepad.exe located in C:\Windows\System32 . If you find the new Windows 11 Notepad—complete

This method ensures that whenever any program tries to launch notepad.exe , it actually launches your chosen alternative instead. This is often called a "debugger" hack. The Simple Way: Change Default File Associations Select

Double-click Debugger and set its value to the path of your new editor, followed by the -notepadStyleCmdline -z flag.

Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options

Right-click the folder, select , and name it notepad.exe .