After Microsoft’s classic Notepad app made its way to the Windows 10 Microsoft Store last year, the text editor could soon receive a Windows 11-inspired makeover. Last week, a Microsoft employee has apparently shared some pictures of the redesigned NotePad app before deleting them, but it wasn’t long before eagle-eyed users noticed the changes.
During the weekend, developer FireCubeStudios tweeted two screenshots of the app, with one image showing a revamped Settings section and the other image showing subtle changes to the app menu bar. The image showing the Settings section also includes a build number that’s higher than the production version of Notepad.
Notepad Windows 11 design leaked by Microsoft engineer then quickly deleted. We can see a new Fluent Design windows 11 settings for the app and also a WinUI menu bar#Windows11 #FluentDesign #CaughtIn4K pic.twitter.com/iV1FUIuoa5
— FireCube (@FireCubeStudios) October 9, 2021
Notepad has been around for almost 30 years and included in all versions of Windows, and the text editor has received very few updates over the years. Now that Notepad is a Microsoft Store app, Microsoft can update it separately from OS updates, just like Paint and other inbox apps that ship with Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Despite its age and pretty basic UI, Notepad remains a popular app among Windows users who prefer its simplicity over the versatility of OneNote. The latter is also getting a Windows 11 redesign, and Microsoft is currently working on unifying its two separate OneNote apps for Windows into a single client in 2022.
