Jun 5th 2025
AI-created, human-reviewed.
The tech community erupted this week when Microsoft announced that Notepad would receive lightweight text formatting support, specifically for Markdown. What should have been a routine feature update instead became what Windows Weekly host Paul Thurrott dubbed "the great Notepad controversy of 2025."
The backlash was swift and fierce. Long-time users expressed outrage at what they perceived as unnecessary bloat being added to Windows' most basic text editor. But according to Thurrott, who uses Notepad daily and has been following its evolution closely, the criticism fundamentally misunderstands what Microsoft is actually doing.
Understanding the Real Changes
The controversy stems from a basic misunderstanding about what Microsoft announced. As Thurrott explained on the latest Windows Weekly episode, "when you hear that, you think of the wrong thing, right like what you thought I just said was they're going to support rich text and that's not what they're doing."
Microsoft isn't converting Notepad into a rich text editor like the old WordPad. Instead, they're adding support for Markdown, which remains plain text with lightweight formatting markup. "It's still plain text, it's all it is," Thurrott emphasized during the show.
For those unfamiliar with Markdown, it's a formatting language that uses simple characters like hashes and brackets to denote headings, bold text, and links. The key advantage is that Markdown files remain completely readable as plain text, even without special software to render the formatting.
Why This Makes Sense for Developers
Thurrott believes Microsoft's motivation is clear: supporting the developer community that increasingly relies on Windows. "Markdown is the language, so to speak, the format, the style that is used by almost all developer documentation now," he noted. Popular platforms like GitHub use Markdown for readme files and documentation.
The timing aligns with Microsoft's broader push to make Windows more developer-friendly. Recent years have seen significant investments in Windows Subsystem for Linux, Windows Terminal, and other developer-focused tools. Adding Markdown support to Notepad fits this pattern perfectly.
"Microsoft does want developers to use Windows. It is a piece of that puzzle where it just works," Thurrott explained. Rather than forcing developers to install third-party editors for basic Markdown editing, they can now use the built-in Notepad.
The Fear of Feature Creep
Critics worry that Microsoft is following a familiar pattern of adding unnecessary features to simple, reliable tools. This concern isn't entirely unfounded given Microsoft's history with other applications. However, Thurrott argues that Notepad's evolution has been different.
"If you don't like these features anything I mentioned, anything I forgot you can turn them off, like you can just ignore them," he pointed out. The AI features, spell checking, and other recent additions all include toggle switches for users who prefer the classic experience.
This approach distinguishes legitimate feature enhancement from what Thurrott calls "enshittification" – when companies make changes that primarily benefit themselves while harming users. "Enshittification occurs when a company changes a product or service to benefit itself strategically, financially or whatever, while knowing full well that this change will harm users," he explained.
Notepad's Remarkable Legacy
The current controversy overlooks Notepad's impressive evolution while maintaining its core identity. The application predates Windows itself, originally called "Multi-tool Notepad." Despite decades of updates for Unicode support, various encoding formats, and modern UI elements, it has remained fundamentally a plain text editor.
"Notepad has never not been in good shape. They've always done right by notepad," Thurrott observed. Even the recent Windows 11 visual refresh and AI feature additions haven't compromised its basic functionality.
The application contains legacy code that even Microsoft engineers don't fully understand. "There are people at Microsoft who have looked at the code and said we don't actually know how they do this," Thurrott revealed, referring to some of the text encoding capabilities.
Missing the Bigger Picture
Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of the controversy, from Thurrott's perspective, is that it distracts from legitimate criticisms of Windows 11. "Windows 11, which in some ways is like this cesspool of terribleness. This one thing it's not the only thing, but this one thing. They've really gotten it right the whole time."
While users debate Markdown support in Notepad, more pressing issues like forced Microsoft account requirements, telemetry concerns, and genuine UI problems receive less attention. The energy spent opposing beneficial changes could be better directed toward actual problems.
The Resistance to Change
The Notepad controversy reflects a broader resistance to change within the tech community. "This is a big problem with the community. These days, I think it's like we're all old enough now. It's like stop changing things," Thurrott observed.
But stagnation isn't always preservation. Software that doesn't evolve risks becoming irrelevant, especially as user needs change. The key is evolving thoughtfully while respecting the core principles that made the software valuable in the first place.
Looking Forward
For users worried about Notepad's future, Thurrott's advice is simple: try the new features before dismissing them. The Markdown support is currently available in Windows Insider Dev and Canary channels, giving users a chance to experience it firsthand.
"I can't wait to try this. I, in fact, I, I feel like I, I'm gonna find it a little lacking, like I want it to go further," Thurrott admitted. His enthusiasm comes from someone who uses Markdown daily for writing articles and books.
The Notepad controversy of 2025 may seem like a tempest in a teacup, but it reflects deeper tensions about software evolution, user expectations, and the balance between innovation and preservation. Microsoft's approach with Notepad – adding features while maintaining the core experience – offers a model for how legacy applications can adapt to modern needs without losing their identity.
As the dust settles on this latest tech controversy, one thing remains clear: Notepad will continue to be what it has always been at its core – a reliable, simple text editor that just works. Whether it also becomes a capable Markdown editor remains to be seen, but early signs suggest Microsoft is handling this evolution with the same care they've shown throughout Notepad's long history.
Share: Copied! Windows Weekly #935Jun 4 2025 - Don't Spritz Yourself
The Great Notepad Controversy of 2… All Tech posts Contact Advertise CC License Privacy Policy Ad Choices TOS Store Twitter Facebook Instgram YouTube Yes, like every site on the Internet, this site uses cookies. So now you know. Learn more Hide Home Schedule Subscribe Club TWiT About Club TWiT FAQ Access Account Members-Only Podcasts Update Payment Method Connect to Discord TWiT Blog Recent Posts Advertise Sponsors Store People About What is TWiT.tv Tickets Developer Program and API Tip jar Partners Contact Us