Microsoft adds spellcheck and autocorrect to Notepad on Windows 11

Wait, this wasn't already a thing?
 By 
Cecily Mauran
 on 
screenshot on Windows 11 of spellcheck being used in the Notepad app
Spellcheck and autocorrect is pretty standard for text editors these days. Credit: Microsoft

Microsoft is adding spellcheck and autocorrect to its Notepad app on Windows 11, and it only took 40 years.

On Thursday, the Microsoft blog announced this as a preview release for testers, also known as Windows Insiders. Notepad, the notes-writing app has been around since 1983, but hasn't received a lot of attention in recent years thanks to the release of more advanced PC text editors like Notepad2 and Notepad++.

But it's better late than never for Notepad, which is finally getting some meaningful upgrades as of late. That includes a character count, and AI-powered explanations via Copilot. Per the announcement, Notepad will now highlight misspelled words and offer suggested corrections when you click or tap on the word. Notepad's autocorrect feature will automatically correct commonly misspelled words.


You May Also Like

Spellcheck and autocorrect will be enabled as the default setting for most files, but default off for coding-related files. They can be toggled on or off in the Notepad settings page.

In addition to an overdue upgrade to Notepad, Microsoft had some new hardware to share on Thursday. The tech giant announced the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6, which come with a built-in Copilot key on the keyboard as well as other Copilot AI software features.

Mashable Image
Cecily Mauran
Tech Reporter

Cecily is a tech reporter at Mashable who covers AI, Apple, and emerging tech trends. Before getting her master's degree at Columbia Journalism School, she spent several years working with startups and social impact businesses for Unreasonable Group and B Lab. Before that, she co-founded a startup consulting business for emerging entrepreneurial hubs in South America, Europe, and Asia. You can find her on X at @cecily_mauran.

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You


The 11 best Windows laptops for 2026
the microsoft surface laptop 7

The 12 best Windows laptops for 2026
the microsoft surface laptop 7

This Microsoft Office 2021 and Windows 11 Pro bundle drops to under $50
The Ultimate Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License + Windows 11 Pro Bundle

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone

Google launches Gemma 4, a new open-source model: How to try it
Google Gemma

NYT Strands hints, answers for April 3, 2026
A game being played on a smartphone.

The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!