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Installing Notepad++ on Windows

Installing Notepad++ takes about two minutes on a normal Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC. Here is the whole process, from the download to a usable editor.

1. Download the installer

Open the download page and choose the current release. On a 64-bit system take Installer (exe) x64; on 32-bit Windows take the x86 build; on a Windows on ARM device take the ARM64 installer. Administrators deploying to many machines can use the MSI package instead.

2. Run the installer

Double-click the downloaded file and approve the User Account Control prompt. If Microsoft Defender SmartScreen warns that the file is not commonly downloaded — normal for a release published days ago — open More info, confirm the publisher, and continue. Then pick your interface language and accept the GNU GPL license.

3. Choose the install folder and components

The default location, C:\Program Files\Notepad++, is right for most people. On the components screen the options worth knowing are:

  • Context Menu Entry — adds Edit with Notepad++ to the File Explorer right-click menu.
  • Auto-Updater — checks for new releases and offers to install them.
  • Localization — extra interface languages; safe to uncheck if you only use English.
  • Don't use %APPDATA% — keeps configuration next to the program, useful on shared machines.

4. First launch and basic setup

Start Notepad++ from the Start menu, then spend a minute on these settings:

  • Settings > Preferences > Backup — turn on session snapshots and periodic backup.
  • Settings > Preferences > New Document — set the default encoding to UTF-8 and the format to Windows (CRLF).
  • Settings > Style Configurator — pick a theme and a comfortable font size.
  • Plugins > Plugins Admin — install the extras you need, such as Compare or XML Tools.

Uninstalling or moving

Remove Notepad++ from Settings > Apps > Installed apps. To keep your configuration when moving to another PC, copy the config.xml, session.xml and shortcuts.xml files from %APPDATA%\Notepad++.

Platform-specific notes: Windows 10 · Windows 11 · portable version without installing. New features to explore are listed on the features page.

Notepad++ is free software created by Don Ho and released under the GNU GPL v2. notepad-plus-plus.app is an independent information and download reference for Windows users and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the Notepad++ project. Source code and releases are published at notepad-plus-plus.org.