Notepad is the windows default text tool, it’s a light app however it has very limited options. Basically, it’s just a place to write and read plain text. There is a great replacement for it, which is notepad++. It’s an amazing free source code editor, that supports several languages.
With features like syntax highlighting, auto-completion, search and replace option, Simultaneous editing. And many other features and it also allows additions of plugins which can make it even better. In this article we will show you how you can Replace Notepad with notepad++.
How to Replace Notepad with Notepad++
Go to the download page. https://notepad-plus-plus.org/downloads/
Choose the first option which is the latest version.
From the next page choose the suitable version for your windows, whether 32-bit or 64-bit.
After the download ends, click on the installer, click next until you complete the installation.
Now you’ve installed the application, there are two methods to replace notepad with notepad++.
The first method will make notepad++ run all the text files. However, you will still be able to use notepad if you choose to. The second method will completely replace notepad with notepad++.
We will go through each one in detail.
First Method: Setting Notepad++ As Default.
Go to any “.txt” file you have.
Or create a new one by right click anywhere and then choose new-> text document. Right-click on the file then choose “open with”, and then click on “choose another app”.
If it’s not listed already choose “more apps”.
Check the box for “Always use this app to open .txt files”.
Then scroll down and click on “look for another app in this pc”.
Access notepad ++ folder and then choose notepad++.exe.
It will be through this path: C:\Program Files\Notepad++
Now every time you open .txt file you will be using notepad++.
The Second Method: Replacing Notepad with Command line
You can make windows use an alternative app instead of the original one by using the “debugger” registry value. So, anytime you launch a notepad.exe, it will run as notepad++ instead.
After you finish the installation, do the following steps:
First, run command prompt as administrator. By pressing on the “windows key” or “start menu” and then type cmd.exe.
Right-click on command prompt and then choose “Run as administrator”.
Or press on “windows key + R” and type cmd.exe and then press “Ctrl + Shift + Enter”.
Once you have done that copy and paste the following command:
reg add “HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\notepad.exe” /v “Debugger” /t REG_SZ /d “\”%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Notepad++\notepad++.exe\” -notepadStyleCmdline -z” /f
The result will be this message: The operation completed successfully.
If you wish to reverse this procedure run the following command:
reg delete “HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\notepad.exe” /v “Debugger” /f
Associating Other Extensions.
If you wish to associate other file extensions to be run by Notepad ++.
Access this path: C:\Program Files\Notepad++
Right-click on notepad++.exe and click on run as administrator.
From the top ribbon choose “setting” and then “preference”.
At the left side menu, find “file association”. It will open all the supported extensions.
Choose any extension you want to make notepad++ the default for it. And then click add from the middle button.
Now you’re all set. I hope you enjoy and get the best out of the application.
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