How to Open Notepad

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Notepad is an incredibly easy-to-use text editor bundled with the Microsoft Windows operating system. You can find and open Notepad from within the Microsoft Windows Start menu, or you can create a new text file right on your desktop.

Quick Steps

  1. Press the Win key on your keyboard.
  2. Type "Notepad" into the search bar and press Enter .
  3. Click on Notepad to open the Notepad application.
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Searching for Notepad

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d2\/Open-Notepad-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-Notepad-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d2\/Open-Notepad-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid4755135-v4-728px-Open-Notepad-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/0a\/Open-Notepad-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-Notepad-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0a\/Open-Notepad-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/aid4755135-v4-728px-Open-Notepad-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
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  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/23\/Open-Notepad-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-Notepad-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/23\/Open-Notepad-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/aid4755135-v4-728px-Open-Notepad-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This should be the top app in your search.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/12\/Open-Notepad-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-Notepad-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/12\/Open-Notepad-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/aid4755135-v4-728px-Open-Notepad-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You are now ready to begin using Notepad!
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Using the Windows Menu

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/0d\/Open-Notepad-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-Notepad-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0d\/Open-Notepad-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/aid4755135-v4-728px-Open-Notepad-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/87\/Open-Notepad-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-Notepad-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/87\/Open-Notepad-Step-6.jpg\/aid4755135-v4-728px-Open-Notepad-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    [1]
    • On Windows 10, you won't be able to find Notepad using this method. You can, however, refer to method one to find it.
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/95\/Open-Notepad-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-Notepad-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/95\/Open-Notepad-Step-7.jpg\/aid4755135-v4-728px-Open-Notepad-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/53\/Open-Notepad-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-Notepad-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/53\/Open-Notepad-Step-8.jpg\/aid4755135-v4-728px-Open-Notepad-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This will open Notepad!
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Creating a New Text Document

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/9a\/Open-Notepad-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-Notepad-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/9a\/Open-Notepad-Step-9.jpg\/aid4755135-v4-728px-Open-Notepad-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f7\/Open-Notepad-Step-10.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-Notepad-Step-10.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f7\/Open-Notepad-Step-10.jpg\/aid4755135-v4-728px-Open-Notepad-Step-10.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c1\/Open-Notepad-Step-11.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-Notepad-Step-11.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c1\/Open-Notepad-Step-11.jpg\/aid4755135-v4-728px-Open-Notepad-Step-11.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d7\/Open-Notepad-Step-12.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-Notepad-Step-12.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d7\/Open-Notepad-Step-12.jpg\/aid4755135-v4-728px-Open-Notepad-Step-12.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/cf\/Open-Notepad-Step-13.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-Notepad-Step-13.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/cf\/Open-Notepad-Step-13.jpg\/aid4755135-v4-728px-Open-Notepad-Step-13.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This will open your text file in Notepad!
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Community Q&A

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Add New Question
  • Question
    How do I save a Notepad file to my desktop?
    Community Answer
    Click File and then Save As in the top left corner. You'll be able to save your Notepad file anywhere on your computer.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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    Yes No
    Not Helpful 11 Helpful 11
  • Question
    I do not understand yet now how to open the notepad from start menu. What do I do?
    Community Answer
    From your desktop, click on a free space with your right mouse button. A menu should appear. Just select, "New," and click, "Text Document." This should create a file at your desktop you can rename. Open the file to open Notepad and edit the created file with it.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 6 Helpful 7
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      Tips

      • You can pin Notepad the taskbar or Start menu by right-clicking it and clicking Pin to Start or Pin to taskbar .
        Thanks
      • You can also type notepad in a Windows Run Dialog window ( ⊞ Win + R ).
        Thanks
      • Windows 10 users can also download an app called "Notepad Next"; this app retains most of the base functionality of Notepad, but it adds modern touches such as autosaves and further customization.
        Thanks
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
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      Warnings

      • Unlike Microsoft Word, Notepad does not save your work periodically; to save your work, make sure you click Save in the File menu (or hold down Ctrl + S ).
        Thanks
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGBnPyj1RZE

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