Notepads
A lightweight Windows text editor with tabs, Markdown preview, and a diff viewer.
- Stars
- 10.3k
- Forks
- 565
- Licence
- MIT
- Language
- C#
- Last update
- 6 days ago
- Type
- App
What it is
Notepads is a free, open-source text editor for Windows, meant as a modern replacement for the built-in Notepad. It offers a tabbed interface, a Markdown live preview, and a side-by-side diff viewer, while staying small and fast. It is distributed through the Microsoft Store and the Windows Package Manager.
- Take quick notes in tabs and switch between them with keyboard shortcuts
- Edit a Markdown file and view the rendered preview side by side (Alt+P)
- Compare changes to a file using the built-in diff viewer (Alt+D)
- Open a file from the command line or PowerShell with notepads <file path>
Great for
- People who want a simple, modern replacement for Windows Notepad
- Users who edit notes or config files and want tabs and session restore
- Anyone who writes Markdown and wants a live preview
- Windows users who prefer a lightweight editor over heavier tools
Not ideal for
- People working with large files, since the README sets a 1MB file size limit
- Users who need to save files into system folders, because UWP restrictions block this
- Users who need to associate .cmd or .bat files with the app, which is not allowed
- Users on macOS or Linux, since the README only describes Windows
How to get it
- 1
Install with a package manager
You'll need: Windows with Windows Package Manager (winget) available
Install with Windows Package Manager
winget install "Notepads App" - 2
Run it
- Install Notepads using the command above, or download it from the Microsoft Store
- Launch Notepads from the Start menu, or type notepads in a command line
- Press Ctrl+N or Ctrl+T to open a new tab
- Open a Markdown file and press Alt+P to see the live preview
- 3
Get the most out of it
- Use Alt+D to preview your changes with the side-by-side diff viewer before saving
- Use Ctrl+Num (1-9) to jump quickly between open tabs
- Use the session snapshot feature to restore your work across sessions
- Run multiple instances when you want to work on separate windows at once
Downloads
Strengths
- Simple, minimalist Fluent-style interface with a built-in tab system
- Includes Markdown preview and diff viewer without extra plugins
- Free and MIT-licensed, with the source code publicly available
Trade-offs
- File size is capped at 1MB, and the README says large file support is planned but not yet added
- UWP packaging restricts where files can be saved and which file types can be associated
- Developed by one person in spare time, so support and update pace are not guaranteed
How it compares
| Project | Stars | Type | Level | Updated | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notepads (this) | 10.3k | App | beginner | 6 days ago | People who want a simple, modern replacement for Windows Notepad |
| vscode | 194k | App | intermediate | 4 days ago | Developers who want a lightweight editor that can be extended with add-ons |
| Files | 46.4k | App | intermediate | 4 days ago | Windows users who want a more modern alternative to File Explorer |
| marktext | 63.5k | App | beginner | 4 days ago | People who write notes or articles in Markdown and want a clean, minimal editor |
| DevToys | 32.2k | App | beginner | 1 months ago | Developers who often decode, encode, or format small pieces of data |
| calculator | 31.1k | App | intermediate | 13 days ago | Windows 11 users who want to read or modify the built-in calculator |
Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.