The new Notepad update, version 11.2501.29.0, comes with two main features. The first one is a summarization tool, and the second is the Snipping Tool helping you make boxes and arrows more professionally.

The summarization tool uses AI to create summaries of the text you select. You can highlight the text, right-click to find the summarization option or press Ctrl + M on your keyboard. You can also choose how short or long you want the summary to be. This is pretty standard AI writing tools that exist in many other applications now.

To use this feature, you need a Microsoft personal account, and if you have Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, or Copilot Pro, you’ll use AI credits. You can turn off this feature in the app settings if you prefer. Keep in mind that the AI isn’t reliable, and it would likely be better for you to just read the text yourself.

The second new feature is a recent files option, which has been something I’ve wanted for a long time. I’ve accidentally closed windows and documents on Notepad more times than I can count, and going all the way back to find them has been a pain. This new update lets you easily access and reopen files you’ve recently closed from the File menu.

You can also delete the list of recent files if you don’t want to see it or disable this feature in the app settings. For those concerned about privacy, the recent files won’t say exactly what you were writing; the list will just show the title of the document.

The updates to the Snipping Tool aim to make it easier for users who often use its annotation features. The new “draw & hold” option specifically helps users create more precise shapes, which is great because using that freehand drawing tool was difficult. Basically, you draw the shape you want, and the tool will adjust it and make it look pretty.

The improved launch protocol will also let developers integrate the Snipping Tool into their apps more easily. That means regular users may see the snipping tool more often in their other applications.

Both updates are being rolled out to Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev channels. Microsoft has indicated that the rollout will happen gradually, so not everyone will get these features right away. I’d suggest checking back every day or so until it comes; any sooner, you’ll be disappointed pretty often.

Microsoft made a bigger deal of asking for feedback this time around. It makes sense because this is a bigger change to Notepad, and Copilot has a tendency to do strange things, as with most generative AI services. You can provide feedback through the Feedback Hub app (using WIN + F) under the Apps section, where there are separate areas for the Snipping Tool and Notepad.

Anyone who wants to see the full version of the Notepad update will likely have to wait a bit. The Snipping Tool’s update is just a regular new feature, whereas the Notepad update is attempting to add Notepad to an AI ecosystem. It’s not hard to think that a fully ready version of the Notepad update will take a while to test before a full release.

Source: Microsoft