Notepad++
Don Ho / Notepad++ Team • Code Editor
Notepad++ is a powerful and free source code editor designed as a versatile replacement for the standard Notepad application on Microsoft Windows. It offers extensive support for numerous programming languages, providing essential features like syntax folding and highlighting. Users can also define their own languages for custom syntax rules, enhancing flexibility for various coding projects.
Beyond basic text editing, Notepad++ allows for simultaneous editing of multiple documents and even synchronized editing of the same document in two different views, boosting productivity. Its full drag-and-drop support simplifies file management. Built on the robust Scintilla edit component and written in C++ with pure Win32 API and STL, Notepad++ ensures high execution speed and a compact program size, all under the GPL Licence.
In This Post
Quick Start & Pro Tips
Enable Multi-Editing for Faster Changes
- Hold down the Alt key.
- Click and drag your mouse vertically or horizontally to create multiple cursors.
- Type or delete text, and the changes will apply simultaneously at all cursor locations.
How This Would Help: This feature significantly speeds up repetitive editing tasks, allowing you to modify multiple lines or columns of text at once, which is invaluable for refactoring code or reformatting data.
Customize Your Interface with Themes
- Go to Settings > Style Configurator.
- From the Select theme dropdown, choose a theme that suits your preference (e.g., Dark Mode).
- You can also adjust individual element colors, font styles, and sizes for further personalization.
How This Would Help: Personalizing the interface, especially by enabling a dark theme, can reduce eye strain during long coding sessions and improve overall readability and comfort.
Utilize Regular Expressions for Advanced Search and Replace
- Press Ctrl + H to open the Replace dialog (or Ctrl + F for Find).
- In the Search Mode section, select Regular expression.
- Enter your regex pattern in the Find what field and your replacement pattern in the Replace with field.
- Click Replace or Replace All to execute the operation.
How This Would Help: Regular expressions unlock powerful pattern-based searching and replacing, allowing you to perform complex text transformations that go far beyond simple word matching, making data manipulation and code refactoring highly efficient.
Download Notepad++
File size: 6.44 MB
OS support: Windows
Windows
Download Notepad++ 8.9.5 for Windows – x64 Plus
Download Notepad++ 8.9.5 for Windows – x64 Plus (PORTABLE)
Download Notepad++ 8.9.5 for Windows – x64 Plus Minimalist (PORTABLE)
Download Notepad++ for Windows
Download Notepad++ 8.9.5 for Windows – Plus Installer
Download Notepad++ 8.9.5 for Windows – Plus Minimalist Portable (PORTABLE)
Download Notepad++ 8.9.5 for Windows – Plus Portable (PORTABLE)
Technical Specifications
| Software Name | Notepad++ |
|---|---|
| Version | 8.9.5 |
| License | GPL Licence |
| File Size | 6.44 MB |
| OS Support | Windows |
| Language | Multi-language |
| Developer | Don Ho and the Notepad++ Team |
| Homepage | https://notepad-plus-plus.org/ |
| Changelogurl | https://notepad-plus-plus.org/news/ |
| Last Updated | April 27, 2026 |
Technical Requirements
Minimum
- OS: Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, 11 (32-bit, 64-bit)
Important Features
- Syntax Highlighting and Folding: Notepad++ automatically color-codes syntax for a wide array of programming languages, making code easier to read and understand. It also supports code folding, allowing users to collapse sections of code for better navigation and a cleaner view of their work.
- User Defined Syntax Highlighting: Beyond its extensive built-in language support, Notepad++ empowers users to define their own syntax highlighting rules. This feature is invaluable for working with proprietary languages or custom file formats, ensuring consistent visual cues for any code.
- Multi-Document and Multi-View Editing: The editor supports opening and managing multiple documents simultaneously through a tabbed interface. Additionally, it allows users to view and edit the same document in two different synchronized views, facilitating comparisons and complex editing tasks.
- Auto-completion: Notepad++ offers basic auto-completion for functions, keywords, and variables that have already been typed within the document. This feature helps to speed up coding and reduce typing errors, especially in frequently used languages.
- Regular Expression Search/Replace: For advanced text manipulation, Notepad++ includes powerful search and replace capabilities with full support for regular expressions. This allows users to perform complex pattern-based searches and replacements across single or multiple files.
- Macro Recording and Playback: Users can record and play back macros to automate repetitive tasks. This feature is a significant time-saver for common sequences of keystrokes or commands, streamlining workflows and improving efficiency.
- Full Drag n Drop Support: Notepad++ integrates seamlessly with the operating system’s drag-and-drop functionality. Users can easily open files by dragging them into the editor or rearrange tabs and documents within the interface using intuitive drag-and-drop actions.
- Multi-Language Environment: Designed to cater to a global user base, Notepad++ supports a multi-language environment. This includes interface localization and robust handling of various character encodings, making it accessible and functional for users worldwide.
Installation Steps
Installation Steps
- Click the download button above to get the installer for your operating system (x64 is recommended for most modern systems).
- Locate the downloaded .exe file and double-click to run the installer.
- Follow the on-screen installation wizard, accepting the license agreement and choosing your installation preferences.
- Once the installation is complete, launch Notepad++ from your Start Menu or desktop shortcut.
Compatibility: Compatible with Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, and 11, supporting both 32-bit and 64-bit architectures.
Problem Solving
- Issue: Installation fails or requires administrator privileges → Solution: Right-click the installer and select Run as administrator.
- Issue: Plugins not appearing after installation → Solution: Restart Notepad++ after installing plugins, or ensure they are compatible with your installed version and architecture (32-bit vs. 64-bit).
Questions & Answers
Is Notepad++ a free software?
Yes, Notepad++ is free and open-source software. It is distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), allowing users to freely use, modify, and distribute it.
What programming languages does Notepad++ support?
Notepad++ supports a wide array of programming, scripting, and markup languages, including but not limited to ASP, C, C#, C++, CSS, HTML, Java, JavaScript, PHP, Python, Ruby, SQL, and XML. It also allows for user-defined syntax highlighting for custom languages.
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