How to Restore Old Classic Notepad in Windows 11

With Windows 11, Microsoft redesigned Notepad to match the modern Fluent UI aesthetic — rounded corners, dark mode support, and new menus. While the updated version looks great, many users miss the classic Notepad they’ve been using for years. The older Notepad launches faster, feels lighter, and retains the simple interface that’s ideal for quick edits and code snippets.

If you prefer that classic experience, you can bring it back. In this guide, we’ll show you how to restore the old Notepad in Windows 11 using official Microsoft Store versions, manual methods, or portable alternatives.

Restore Old Classic Notepad

You’ll need a Windows 11 PC with administrator rights and an internet connection for the download-based methods. If you plan to use system files from an older Windows build, keep a backup to avoid any accidental overwrites.

Tip: Windows 11 still supports legacy applications, so running the old Notepad is completely safe and compatible with most system configurations.

Step 1: Understand What Changed in Notepad

In early builds of Windows 11, Microsoft replaced the old Notepad (notepad.exe) with a modern UWP-based version. While functionally similar, it’s integrated into the Microsoft Store for updates and built on a newer framework.

The new Notepad includes:

• Tabs for managing multiple documents
• Dark mode support
• A redesigned settings menu

However, the classic Notepad (from Windows 10 and earlier) was lightweight, opened instantly, and lacked modern UI elements. If you prefer speed and simplicity, restoring the old version makes sense.

Step 2: Download the Classic Notepad Package from Microsoft

Microsoft made the classic Notepad available as a separate, optional component called “Notepad (Classic)” for enterprise and IT deployments. You can install it manually using PowerShell or a third-party tool like Winget.

To install the classic version directly from Microsoft servers:

1. Open Windows Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin).
2. Run this command: winget install --id=Microsoft.WindowsNotepad.Legacy
3. Press Enter and wait for the installation to complete.

Once done, you’ll have both the modern and classic versions available. You can access the classic version from the Start menu by searching for Notepad (Classic) or simply pinning it to your taskbar for easy access.

Step 3: Use the Old Notepad Executable from Windows 10

If the above package isn’t available or you prefer a manual approach, you can copy the original notepad.exe and notepad.exe.mui files from a Windows 10 installation.

Here’s how:

1. On a Windows 10 PC (or ISO file), navigate to: C:\Windows\System32
2. Copy notepad.exe to a USB drive.
3. Also copy the corresponding language file from: C:\Windows\System32\en-US\notepad.exe.mui (Replace en-US with your system’s language code if different.)
4. On your Windows 11 PC, create a folder such as: C:\ClassicNotepad
5. Paste both files there.

To launch the classic Notepad, double-click notepad.exe from this folder. You can also create a desktop shortcut for it for quicker access.

Step 4: Prevent Windows from Launching the Modern Notepad

If you want the old Notepad to open whenever you click “Notepad” or double-click a .txt file, you can reassign the default file association.

1. Right-click any .txt file and choose Open with → Choose another app.
2. Click More apps → Look for another app on this PC.
3. Navigate to the folder where you placed the old notepad.exe (for example, C:\ClassicNotepad).
4. Select it and check Always use this app to open .txt files.
5. Click OK.

Now, every time you open a text file, it will launch using the classic Notepad instead of the new one.

Step 5: Rename the Classic Notepad for Easier Access (Optional)

If you want the old Notepad to open directly from the Run dialog (Windows + R), you can rename the executable to avoid conflicts.

1. Rename the copied notepad.exe to something like notepad-classic.exe.
2. Place the folder path (for example, C:\ClassicNotepad) in your system’s environment variables:
   • Press Windows + S, type Edit the system environment variables, and open it.
   • Under System Properties → Advanced → Environment Variables, find Path.
   • Click Edit → New, and add the folder path.
   • Click OK to save.

Now, you can open the classic version instantly by pressing Windows + R, typing notepad-classic, and hitting Enter.

Step 6: Restore Classic Notepad via Registry (Advanced)

If you want to completely replace the modern Notepad across Windows, you can use a registry tweak to redirect Notepad calls to your copied version.

1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options
3. Right-click Image File Execution Options → New → Key, and name it notepad.exe.
4. In the right pane, right-click → New → String Value.
5. Name it Debugger and set its value to the full path of your old Notepad executable, for example: C:\ClassicNotepad\notepad.exe
6. Close the Registry Editor and restart your PC.

Now, every time Windows tries to launch Notepad, it will open your classic version instead.

Step 7: Use a Portable Classic Notepad Alternative

If you prefer not to modify system files or the registry, you can use portable Notepad alternatives that look and behave just like the old version.

Two popular options include:

• Notepad2 – Lightweight and visually identical to classic Notepad, with added syntax highlighting.
• Notepad++ – More advanced but can be configured to resemble the old layout.

Both can be downloaded from their official websites and run without installation.

Step 8: Disable Automatic Notepad Updates (Optional)

If you’re using the Microsoft Store version of classic Notepad, Windows may attempt to upgrade it back to the new version during system updates. To prevent that:

1. Open the Microsoft Store app.
2. Click your profile icon → App settings.
3. Turn App updates to Off.

This prevents the Store from automatically updating your classic Notepad to the new one.

Wrapping Up

Restoring the classic Notepad in Windows 11 is simple — you can either install the official legacy version through PowerShell, copy it from a Windows 10 system, or use a lightweight alternative like Notepad2.

If you miss the fast, no-frills text editor that’s been part of Windows for decades, the old Notepad still works perfectly on Windows 11 and remains a favorite for quick edits and simple note-taking.

Once restored, you’ll get that familiar interface back — no tabs, no animations, just pure simplicity.