The Notepad has been part of the Windows operating system for over three decades now. It’s been included in all versions of Windows operating system ever since it was introduced with Windows 1.0 back in 1985.
Although Notepad has been part of the Windows operating system for over 30 years, the basic text editing program from Microsoft still lacks many of the features and options offered by other third-party programs in its class.
While it’s true that the Notepad is meant for basic text editing and serves the purpose well, many users expect more from a text editor these days. Because of this, many users prefer third-party programs like Notepad++.
If you also have installed a better replacement for the Notepad on your Windows 10 computer and don’t see yourself using it, you can uninstall the Notepad.
In earlier versions of Windows 10 and Windows operating system, there was no provision to uninstall the Notepad. With Windows 10 build 18943, Notepad has been introduced as an app (by replacing the classic Notepad program) and is available from the Store as well. Since Notepad is an app now (earlier it was a classic desktop program), it’s now possible to uninstall, reinstall, reset and repair the Notepad app like any other app.
Uninstall the Notepad app from Windows 10
Step 1: Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
Step 2: Look for the Notepad entry. Select the Notepad entry by clicking on it to reveal the Uninstall button.
Step 3: Click on the Uninstall button. When you get the small confirmation dialog, click the Uninstall button again to uninstall the Notepad app.
If the Uninstall button doesn’t show up upon clicking the Notepad entry, it’s likely because you are running a Windows 10 build older than 18943.
Install the Notepad app from Store in Windows 10
Step 1: Open the Store app. Search for Windows Notepad, and click on Windows Notepad when you get the search results to open the Windows Notepad page.
Step 2: Click the Get button to install the Notepad app. Again, the Notepad app is available only on 18943 or higher build of Windows 10.
Repair or Reset the Notepad app in Windows 10
If you are encountering issues with the Notepad app, you can try resetting or repairing it before reinstalling it. Here is how to do that.
Step 1: Open the Settings app. Navigate to Apps > Apps & features.
Step 2: Click on the Notepad entry to see the hidden Advanced options link. Click on the Advanced options link.
If the Advanced option doesn’t appear, it’s because you are running an older version of Windows 10 that doesn’t support resetting or repairing the Notepad.
Step 3: Click the Repair button to repair the Notepad app. To reset the Notepad app, click on the Reset button.
