To open Notepad in Windows 11, select Start, type Notepad, and select Notepad in the search results. If you would rather use the keyboard, press Windows key + R, type notepad and press Enter.
Applies to: Windows 11. Checked against Microsoft Support on October 7, 2026.
Before you start
Notepad is the plain text editor that comes with Windows 11, so in most cases there is nothing to download or set up. Plain text means the file holds only characters, with no fonts, colors or pictures saved inside it. That makes Notepad a good fit for quick notes, lists, and settings files that end in .txt.
You do not need an administrator account to open Notepad. The steps below were checked against Microsoft’s documentation rather than on a test PC, so small details such as icon positions can look slightly different on your screen.
This is the method Microsoft describes in its own Notepad help page, and it works whether or not Notepad is pinned anywhere.
- Select Start on the taskbar, or press the Windows key on your keyboard. The Start menu opens.
- Type Notepad. You do not have to click anywhere first; Windows starts searching as soon as you type, and Notepad appears in the search results.
- Select Notepad in the search results. A Notepad window opens, ready for you to type.
You can start from the taskbar search instead. Select Search on the taskbar, or press Windows key + S, then type Notepad and select the app. The result is the same.
Open Notepad with the Run dialog box
The Run dialog box is a small window where you type the name of a program to start it. It is the quickest route when your hands are already on the keyboard.
- Press Windows key + R. The Run dialog box opens.
- Type notepad in the box.
- Press Enter. The Run dialog box closes and Notepad opens.
You do not need to type a folder path. When you give Windows a program name on its own, it looks in the Windows folders and other registered locations, which is why the single word is enough.
Find Notepad in the All apps list
Use this method if you prefer to browse rather than type, or if search is not returning what you expect.
- Select Start.
- Select All apps. Windows shows a list of the apps installed on your PC, arranged alphabetically.
- Scroll down to the letter N and select Notepad. Notepad opens.
Pin Notepad to the taskbar for one-click access
If you open Notepad often, pinning it puts its icon on the taskbar permanently so you can skip the search.
- In the Search box on the taskbar, type Notepad.
- Right-click Notepad in the results.
- Select Pin to taskbar. The Notepad icon appears on the taskbar and stays there after you close the app.
If Notepad is already open, there is a shorter route: right-click its icon on the taskbar and select Pin to taskbar.
A pinned app also gets a keyboard shortcut automatically. Press Windows key + a number to open the app pinned in that position on the taskbar. For example, if Notepad is the third pinned icon, Windows key + 3 opens it, or switches to it if it is already running. To remove the pin later, right-click the icon and select Unpin from taskbar. You can pin other things in a similar way, as described in our guide on how to pin a website to the taskbar in Windows 11.
Open Notepad from PowerShell or Windows Terminal
If you already work in a command-line window, you can start Notepad without leaving it. Windows Terminal opens with PowerShell as its default profile, so the same command works in both.
- Select Start, type PowerShell or Terminal, and select the app. A command-line window opens.
- Type Start-Process -FilePath “notepad” and press Enter. Notepad opens in its own window, and the command-line window stays available.
Task Manager offers one more route. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, use its command for running a new task, and enter notepad. This is mostly useful when the Start menu or taskbar is not responding.
Open a text file in Notepad
You do not always need to open Notepad first. Double-clicking a .txt file opens it in whichever app Windows has set as the default for that file type, and on most PCs that app is Notepad.
If a different app opens instead, change the default:
- Open Settings and go to Apps > Default apps.
- In the search bar, type .txt.
- Select the matching result from the list.
- Choose Notepad from the apps offered. From now on, .txt files open in Notepad when you double-click them.
To open a file with a different ending in Notepad just once, right-click the file and use the option to open it with another app, then pick Notepad. If the file you want has the wrong ending altogether, see how to change a file extension in Windows 11.
Open Notepad as an administrator
Some files, including system files such as the hosts file, can only be saved by an app that is running with administrator rights. Opening Notepad the normal way and then trying to save over one of these files usually ends in a permission error.
Windows calls the elevated mode Run as administrator. Microsoft documents two quick ways to use it:
- From the taskbar: if Notepad is pinned, hold Ctrl + Shift and select its icon on the taskbar. Windows opens the app as an administrator.
- From PowerShell: type Start-Process -FilePath “notepad” -Verb RunAs and press Enter.
Either way, Windows asks you to approve the change before Notepad opens. On a standard account you will need an administrator’s password at that point. Only use this mode when a task needs it, because an elevated app can change files that Windows normally protects. For a full walkthrough of the most common reason to do this, see how to edit the hosts file in Windows 11.
How to confirm it worked, and what to do next
You will know Notepad is open when you see a mostly empty window with a blinking cursor and a File menu at the top. Type a few words to check that it responds.
To keep what you typed, select File > Save As, choose a folder, give the file a name and confirm. If you want a dedicated place for your notes first, here is how to create a new folder in Windows 11. To close Notepad, select the X in the top-right corner of its window. Opening Notepad changes nothing on your PC, so there is nothing to undo.
One built-in trick is worth knowing if you keep a running journal. Type .LOG on the first line of a new file, press Enter, and save the file. Each time you open that file afterward, Notepad adds the current date and time at the end, just above the spot where you start typing.
Troubleshooting
Notepad does not appear in search or in All apps
Notepad is delivered as an app, and it can be removed from a PC like other apps. If it is missing, open the Microsoft Store and install Windows Notepad, which is published by Microsoft and is free. After it installs, search for it from Start again.
Notepad opens but behaves strangely or closes right away
Restart your PC first, since that clears most one-off glitches. If the problem continues, you can remove Notepad and install it again. Select Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find Notepad, and select More > Uninstall. Then reinstall it from the Microsoft Store using the link above. Files you already saved are not affected, because they live in your folders and not inside the app.
Typing notepad in Run does nothing or opens something else
Check the spelling, and make sure there is nothing else in the box. If Run still fails, use the Start menu method, which finds the app by name rather than by its program file.
A text file opens in the wrong app
Another program has been set as the default for that file type. Follow the steps under “Open a text file in Notepad” to switch .txt files back.
You cannot save a file
If the file sits in a protected Windows folder, Notepad needs to be opened as an administrator before it can save there. For ordinary documents, save to a folder you own, such as Documents or Desktop.
The option to pin, install or run as administrator is missing
On a work or school PC, your organization can limit which apps you can install, pin or run with administrator rights. Those limits cannot be changed from your own account, so contact your IT support team if you need access.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way to open Notepad in Windows 11?
For most people it is pressing the Windows key, typing Notepad and pressing Enter. If you use Notepad every day, pin it to the taskbar and use Windows key + its position number instead.
Is there a keyboard shortcut for Notepad?
Windows 11 does not ship with a dedicated Notepad shortcut. The closest built-in options are Windows key + R followed by notepad, or the Windows key + number shortcut that every pinned taskbar app receives.
Can I open more than one Notepad window?
Yes. For a pinned app, Windows key + Shift + number starts a new instance of the app in that taskbar position, so you can keep two notes side by side.
Is Notepad free?
Yes. It is included with Windows 11, and the Microsoft Store listing for Windows Notepad is free as well.
Can I paste text I copied earlier?
Yes. Press Windows key + V to open the clipboard history and pick an earlier item. Our guide on how to use the clipboard in Windows 11 explains how to turn the feature on and manage it.
Is Notepad the same as Sticky Notes?
No. Notepad saves text files that you name and store in folders, while Sticky Notes keeps short reminders on your screen. If that is closer to what you need, see how to put sticky notes on the desktop in Windows 11.
Can I add a page number or date when I print from Notepad?
Yes. Select File > Page Setup and edit the header and footer boxes. Microsoft lists the codes, such as &p for the page number and &d for the date, in its Help in Notepad article. These settings are not saved, so you enter them again each time you print.
Once Notepad is open and pinned where you can reach it, the next useful step is saving your first file to a folder you will remember. Microsoft’s full list of keyboard shortcuts in Windows is worth a look if you want to open and switch between apps faster, and more tutorials are on our Windows Help & Guides page.
Related: How to recover deleted Sticky Notes in Windows 11.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.