Microsoft has announced a long-awaited update to its Notepad app for Windows 11, introducing spellcheck and autocorrect functionalities more than 40 years after the application’s initial launch in 1983. The addition of these features comes after Microsoft began testing them in March, with a recent rollout to all Windows 11 users.
The spellcheck feature in Notepad resembles the functionality found in Word and Edge, highlighting misspelled words with a red underline for easy identification. However, unlike in Word, the submenu for spelling suggestions in Notepad does not automatically expand upon right-clicking a misspelled word, requiring an additional click to view correction options.
Despite showcasing the ability to instantly select corrections during beta testing, Microsoft has not fully integrated the Word-like spellcheck mechanism into Notepad. Notepad, originally introduced as a simplified version of Word in 1983, now offers users the option to enable or disable spellcheck and autocorrect on a file type basis, allowing customization based on individual preferences.
While spellcheck is disabled by default in certain file types related to coding, autocorrect functionality automatically corrects typos when spellcheck is active. Notepad for Windows 11 has seen significant feature enhancements recently, including the addition of a character count, dark mode, tabs, Copilot integration, and even a virtual fidget spinner.
