How to Replace Notepad with Notepad++ in Windows 10 and 11 Notepad++ is a free open source alternative to Notepad that offers features ideal for coding. In this video, we'll discuss some of Notepad++ best features and then outline how to install it on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 system. Before we begin, be sure to subscribe to NinjaOne's IT Video Hub for more tech content like this. What is Notepad++ Compared to the default notepad application, Notepad++ boasts significant improvements in text handling and organization. It detects the language you are using when you type and automatically provides syntax highlighting and simple autocompletion. The search and replace functions are also improved, offering keyboard shortcuts for Replace With, Find in Files, Find in Project, and Mark. Notepad++ user interface includes tabs, column mode selection, and three different file management systems. How to Install Notepad++ in Windows 10 and 11 Installing Notepad++ is relatively straightforward, and the steps outlined below apply to both Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices. Go to the Notepad++ website and download the file. Then run the executable file in your downloads. When prompted, make sure to allow any changes. Now choose a specific installation location and ensure that all the additional components are selected. Press Finish to begin installation. If you're setting up Notepad++ for the first time, you can allow its settings to sync across multiple devices. To do so, open Notepad++ Go to Settings, then Preferences, and finally, Cloud. Next, here are the steps for setting Notepad++ as your computer's default text editor. First, create a basic text file with a desktop shortcut. Then right-click this shortcut and select Properties. Navigate to General. Select Notepad++ then press Okay. Finally, you can opt to delete Notepad by opening Settings, then going to Apps and Features. Select Notepad from the menu. Then press Uninstall. Congratulations, you've now installed Notepad++ on your device. The next step is to play around with the software and get some hands-on experience with it. For more information, check out our official blog post on how to replace Notepad with Notepad++ linked in the description below.