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Notepad is one of the Windows programs that people use the most. This text editor has been around for almost 30 years on Windows computers, but hundreds of thousands of people still use it as their first choice for writing projects. Notepad has bugs just like most other programs and freeware, and one of the most common problems users Notepad Not Opening on Windows 11/10.
The problem shows up (mostly after a Windows update) when the user can’t open Notepad. (either through the Windows search, File Explorer, or shortcut). Some users also said that they couldn’t open text files directly with the Notepad.
When the Notepad came up in the search, sometimes clicking on it did nothing. (sometimes no error message is shown). In some cases, the Notepad.exe file wasn’t even in the directory where it was installed.
(Fixed) Notepad Not Opening on Windows 11/10
Create Another User Account
- Use one of the many ways to open the Settings app.
- Navigate to Accounts > Other users.
- Click the Add account button.
- In the Microsoft account window, click I don’t have this person’s sign-in information
Perform a Clean Boot
Third-party apps and background services can sometimes cause problems like the one we’re talking about here. One way to check if this is possible is to start your computer in a state called “clean boot,” in which it only runs the most important apps and services.
If you do a clean boot and Notepad opens normally, the problem was caused by something that got turned off. If you want to learn more about how to do a clean boot on Windows, check out our guide and follow the steps there.
Reinstall Notepad Windows 11
- Find Microsoft Store on your PC and open it.
- Search for Windows Notepad.
- Click Get and then Install.
- Wait for the installation to complete.
Run DISM Command
- Press Windows + S.
- Type Command Prompt.
- Right click on it and select Run as administrator.
- Copy & paste this command: DISM /Online /Remove-Capability /CapabilityName:Microsoft.Windows.Notepad 0.0.1.0. Then, press Enter.
- Copy & paste this command: DISM /Online /add-Capability /CapabilityName:Microsoft.Windows.Notepad 0.0.1.0. Then, press Enter.
Enable Background Apps
- Press Windows + I.
- Select Apps.
- Click Apps & features.
- Find Notepad and click on the three-dots button.
- Select Advanced options.
- Go to the Background apps permissions section.
- Select Always from the drop-down menu of Let this app run in background.
Set Notepad as the Default Text Editor
- Open Settings.
- Select Apps.
- Click Default apps.
- Search for Notepad.
- Browse the file types and select the type you want to open with Notepad.
- Select Notepad when it asks you “How do you want to open * files from now on”.
- Click OK.
Why is Notepad not opening on Windows 11?
- Corrupt or missing files – If a crucial system file connected to Notepad is damaged or missing, the application may not function as expected.
- Using an outdated version of Notepad – Another possible reason for this error is if the Notepad app is outdated. This means the version of the app is not compatible with Windows 11.
- Interference with third-party programs – Notepad and another program may have a software clash, which may cause the app to malfunction due to some programs interfering with it.
- Sudden system shutdown – Some users also claim they experience this error when the system’s power supply is interrupted suddenly while Notepad is opening.
FAQ
How do I repair a Notepad file?
Type cmd in the search bar. Right-click on Command Prompt option and select Run as Administrator. In the command prompt, enter chkdsk C: /f and hit enter. Wait for the Check Tool to complete the scan and repair any bad section in the hard drive.
What is the command to open Notepad in Windows?
Press the search tool’s Win + S keyboard shortcut, or click the magnifying glass taskbar icon. Type the keyword Notepad within the search tool. Then click the Notepad search result to open the text editor. You can also pin Notepad to the taskbar or Start menu via the search tool.
Does Notepad have settings?
The Preferences dialog manages most other user-settings. While there are various aspects in Notepad++ that are not configurable, you may not even notice them. For settings not covered by the three main dialogs, there are other toggles and settings which can be found in various dialogs, menus, and configuration files.
How do I enable Notepad in Windows 11?
However, if you don’t have the time to read them all, you should know that one of the fastest ways to open Notepad is to use Windows 11’s Search. Click or tap the search button next to Start on your taskbar, type notepad, and select the Notepad app from the search results.