Notepad and Paint Gain New Features in Latest Windows 11 BuildThe latest Windows Insider update introduces a focused set of improvements to two of Windows 11’s most enduring apps, Notepad and Paint. The changes are not dramatic, but they reflect a steady effort to bring long‑standing utilities in line with contemporary workflows and user expectations.
Notepad’s enhancements center on expanding its lightweight formatting capabilities, particularly for users who rely on Markdown. The addition of strikethrough formatting and nested list support makes the app more capable for quick documentation and drafting. These features integrate smoothly with the existing formatting toolbar and keyboard shortcuts, creating a more flexible environment without compromising the simplicity that defines Notepad. The update also introduces a new welcome experience that highlights recent improvements. This onboarding step acknowledges that Notepad has evolved significantly and helps users understand the broader set of tools now available to them.
The update continues by refining Notepad’s AI‑powered features. Write, Rewrite, and Summarize now support streaming output, allowing text to appear progressively rather than all at once. This creates a more responsive and natural interaction, particularly for users who rely on these tools to accelerate drafting or editing. Whether the AI runs locally or through the cloud, the experience feels more integrated into the writing process. As with other AI features across Windows, a Microsoft account is required to access them.
Paint’s updates take a different direction by emphasizing creativity and user control. The new Coloring book feature uses AI to generate coloring pages from text prompts, offering a playful and accessible way to experiment with visual ideas. Users can request anything from simple objects to imaginative scenes and receive multiple variations to work with. This feature is limited to Copilot+ PCs and requires Microsoft account sign‑in, but it represents a clear attempt to expand Paint’s role beyond basic image editing.
Alongside the AI additions, Paint now includes a fill tolerance slider that gives users more precise control over how the Fill tool behaves. This adjustment allows for cleaner fills or more experimental effects depending on the chosen tolerance level. It is a small but meaningful improvement that brings Paint closer to the behavior of more advanced graphics tools while preserving its familiar interface.
Unlike many Insider updates, this release does not list specific fixes or known issues. The focus is squarely on new features, which suggests that Microsoft is treating these app updates as forward‑looking enhancements rather than maintenance patches. As always, Insider participants are encouraged to submit feedback through the Feedback Hub to help refine these tools before they reach the broader Windows audience.
Taken together, the updates to Notepad and Paint illustrate Microsoft’s ongoing effort to modernize foundational Windows apps without losing the simplicity that makes them enduring. Notepad becomes a more capable writing companion, Paint gains new creative possibilities, and both apps continue to evolve in ways that support a wider range of users. The result is an Insider update that feels modest in scope but meaningful in direction, offering a glimpse of how classic Windows tools can continue to grow.
