Microsoft is preparing another change to the humble Notepad app. According to Windows Latest, internal tests on Windows 11 show that the classic text editor receives full image support.
Notepad was once just a simple tool for entering plain text, but that simplicity has continued to evolve over the course of several updates. Microsoft has modernized Notepad with autosave, undo history, and Markdown formatting. You can now apply basic styles like bold, italics, and links.
WordPad, the older rich text editor that could handle images, has been removed from Windows and Notepad is filling the gap. With WordPad gone, Microsoft appears to be expanding Notepad’s capabilities to cover more use cases.
The new image support will be part of Notepad’s advanced formatting features. Microsoft sources told Windows Latest that image support is being tested in internal versions of Notepad. You can disable the feature in Settings if you prefer the classic text-only experience.
How Notepad has quietly changed
Image support in Notepad can be seen as a natural step towards a more powerful note-taking tool, similar to Apple’s Notes or other built-in apps that support text formatting and images.
Microsoft has also added key features to Notepad, including artificial intelligence for automatically summarizing notes and built-in support for spell checking and autocorrect.
However, adding too many features could affect Notepad’s appeal to users. Adding visual elements risks blurring the line between Notepad and more complex apps like OneNote.
Notepad’s evolution reflects broader changes in the way people use built-in apps. As image support is rolled out widely, the basic editor could become a more flexible place to jot down ideas, links, and images in one place.
