Windows 11 update finally gives Notepad some long-due features

Notepad has been one of those staple Windows features that has been with us for years. Whether it is taking quick notes, or copy pasting entire extracts without the hassle of source formatting, Notepad is a key tool for both students and working professionals using laptops and desktops. However, that never meant Notepad was perfect. The tiny text editor has never been about fancy features, but it also has been missing out on some very basic text editor features. A new Windows 11 update is set to finally change that.

As of the latest Windows 11 update in the Canary channel (a separate channel of pre-release updates for developers), Notepad will be able to show users a character count, a basic feature that has never been a part of the tool. Character counts will allow users to check the length of everything from a small sentence to a page full of text.

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The feature will show a character count on the status bar on the bottom of the Notepad window. When users select some text, both the character counts for the selected and the total text will be displayed.

Other upcoming features

The character count is not the only new addition coming to Notepad. Windows 11 is also adding a dark mode and tab support, allowing you to work on multiple Notepad documents from a single window, similar to how the new Windows File Explorer works.

Notepad will also now be better integrated within Windows, and users will be able to right-click on supported files to choose a new ‘Edit with Notepad’ option. A new autosave feature will also save system crashes from deleting your entire unsaved file, while a new virtual fidget-spinner is also set to make the tool more fun when you’re not jotting down pointers.

When your Notepad will get the new features

As the new Windows 11 update is still available only for beta users, it might still be some time before regular, stable users get the features. The update must first go through a few rounds of testing to iron out any bugs before all users can access the same.

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Until then, you can always switch to Microsoft Word to get a count of characters and words, or reply on any of the several websites that can do this for you for free.