Why Does Your Simple Notepad Keep Getting More Complicated? (And How to Fix It)

Are Microsoft’s Notepad Updates Actually Making Your Work Harder?

If you’re tired of Microsoft’s constant additions to your simple Notepad app, you’re not alone. Many users feel frustrated when their favorite lightweight text editor gets cluttered with features they never asked for. The good news? You can easily strip away these additions and return to the clean, minimal Notepad experience you love.

Why Remove These Features?

Notepad became popular because it offered something valuable: simplicity. When you needed to jot down quick notes, write code, or work with plain text, Notepad delivered without distractions. Now Microsoft has added several features that change this experience:

• Text formatting toolbar – Creates visual clutter in the interface
• Spell check and autocorrect – Can interfere with code or technical writing
• Copilot AI assistant – Adds unnecessary complexity for basic text editing
• Microsoft Account integration – Forces cloud connectivity for local tasks

These additions might help some users, but they can slow down your workflow if you prefer the classic approach.

Step-by-Step Removal Process

Access Notepad Settings

Start by opening Notepad on your Windows 11 computer. Look for the small gear icon (Settings) located on the right side of the toolbar. Click this icon to open the settings panel where you can control all the new features.

Disable Text Formatting

The formatting toolbar appears as an extra bar between your menu and text area. This toolbar includes options for bold text, italics, hyperlinks, bullets, and headings. While these tools work well for rich text editing, they don’t belong in a simple text editor.

Find the “Formatting” toggle switch in your settings panel. Switch this option to the OFF position. The formatting toolbar will disappear immediately, giving you back the clean interface you remember.

Turn Off Spell Check Features

Spell check might seem helpful, but it can cause problems when you’re writing code, working with technical terms, or using non-standard language. The red underlines and automatic corrections can distract from your actual work.

Look for two separate toggle switches: “Spell check” and “Autocorrect.” Turn both of these switches to the OFF position. If you only want to disable spell checking for specific file types (like .txt or .html files), click the small arrow next to the spell check toggle. This opens a dropdown menu where you can choose which file types should skip spell checking.

Remove AI and Account Integration

The Copilot AI feature and Microsoft Account sign-in represent the biggest departures from Notepad’s original purpose. These features connect your simple text editor to cloud services and artificial intelligence systems you might not want or need.

Find the “Copilot” toggle switch in your settings. Turn this switch to OFF. This single action removes both the AI assistant and the account sign-in prompts, since they work together as part of Microsoft’s connected experience.

What You Gain Back

After completing these steps, your Notepad will look and feel like the classic version. You’ll notice:

• Faster startup times – No cloud connections or AI loading
• Cleaner interface – Just your text and basic menus
• Better focus – No distracting suggestions or formatting options
• Reliable performance – Simple text editing without extra processing

When You Might Want These Features

Some users actually benefit from Notepad’s new capabilities. Consider keeping some features enabled if you:

• Write documents that need basic formatting
• Frequently make spelling mistakes in your notes
• Want AI help with writing tasks
• Use multiple devices and need cloud sync

The beauty of Microsoft’s approach is that you get to choose. Every feature can be toggled on or off based on your specific needs.

Keeping Your Preferences

Your settings will stay in place until you change them again. Windows updates might add new features to Notepad, but they shouldn’t reset your existing preferences. If you notice new additions after an update, simply return to the settings panel and disable any unwanted features.

This approach lets you maintain the simple, focused text editing experience that made Notepad useful in the first place, while still having access to modern features if you ever need them.