Microsoft is bringing artificial intelligence to one of its oldest and most basic applications - Notepad. The Windows text editor, which has been a staple since 1983, is getting a significant upgrade with AI-powered text rewriting capabilities, marking another step in Microsoft's aggressive AI integration across its product lineup.
The new feature, simply called "Rewrite," is now rolling out to Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev channels. It allows users to leverage GPT technology to refine their writing directly within the familiar Notepad interface.
While the classic text editor has traditionally been a bare-bones tool, this update transforms it into a more sophisticated writing assistant.
"Microsoft's online service does not store the text or generated content after processing, ensuring that your data remains private and secure," Microsoft officials stated, addressing potential privacy concerns about the AI integration.
The Rewrite feature isn't just a simple text predictor. Users can select text and modify it in various ways - from adjusting the length to changing the tone completely.
Want to make your email draft more professional? There's a formal tone option. Need to lighten up your message? Switch to a casual or humorous style.
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| Format length in Notepad | image- windowslatest |
The system even offers options to convert your text into different formats, including business-style writing, academic prose, or even poetry.
Important: To use Rewrite, you need to sign in with your Microsoft account. Rewrite is powered by a cloud-based service that requires authentication and authorization. Signing in with your Microsoft account also allows you to access your AI credits, which are required for generating content with GPT.
Getting started with the AI features requires a Microsoft account. The company has implemented a credit-based system to manage usage, with users in supported regions starting with 50 credits.
Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscribers get a monthly allowance of 60 credits, while Copilot Pro subscribers enjoy unlimited usage. These credits reset at the beginning of each month, and users receive notifications when they're running low.
However, there are some geographical limitations to consider. The feature is currently available in preview to all Windows 11 users in six countries: the United States, France, UK, Canada, Italy, and Germany. Users in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand can access the feature if they have a Microsoft 365 Personal/Family subscription or Copilot Pro.
In the United States, France, UK, Canada, Italy, and Germany, Rewrite in
Notepad is available in preview to all Windows 11 users. Users in these
regions start with 50 credits.
Microsoft 365 Personal and Family Subscribers get 60 AI credits per month, while Copilot Pro Subscribers receive extensive usage of AI features.
The implementation appears well-thought-out from a user experience perspective. Accessing the Rewrite feature is straightforward - users can highlight text and either right-click, use the toolbar button, or press Ctrl + I.
The system then generates three alternative versions of the selected text, allowing users to choose the most suitable option or further refine the output.
Microsoft hasn't just focused on adding AI features; they've also made significant performance improvements.
The company reports that most users will see Notepad's launch time improve by more than 35%, with some experiencing even better results of up to 55% faster launches.
This update to Notepad is part of Microsoft's broader strategy to integrate AI across Windows 11. The company has been quietly testing these features, as revealed in a recent blog post, and plans to extend AI capabilities to other basic Windows applications like Paint and Photos. For Microsoft 365 subscribers, this means having access to AI credits that can be used across these applications.
The AI integration maintains Notepad's fundamental simplicity while adding powerful new capabilities. Users can still use it as a basic text editor, but now have the option to leverage AI assistance when needed. Microsoft has also implemented content filtering to ensure the generated text remains appropriate, with users having the ability to report any unsuitable content through the Rewrite dialog.
While some might see this as feature creep in what has traditionally been a minimalist application, it represents Microsoft's vision for the future of productivity tools - where AI assistance is available throughout the operating system, even in its most basic applications.
For users who prefer the classic Notepad experience, Microsoft has maintained the option to disable the rewrite feature in app settings, ensuring that this four-decade-old application remains as versatile as ever while embracing modern AI capabilities.