Notepad is gradually becoming an analog of WordPad: you can now insert images into it.

Microsoft adds support for inserting images in Notepad for Windows 11

The *Windows Latest* edition reported a new feature: you can now insert pictures in the familiar “Notepad” editor. According to insiders, this capability will be integrated alongside existing text formatting support and should not noticeably affect the program’s performance. Users will be able to enable or disable it through the app settings.

Why it matters
- Notepad is no longer a “pure” text editor – Microsoft is gradually adding more advanced features to compensate for the removal of WordPad from the OS.
- WordPad has always supported images and extended formatting, while Notepad remained simple. With its disappearance there was a need to “fill the void.”
- Recently Microsoft introduced Markdown support in Notepad, allowing bold/italic highlighting and link insertion. This has already led to vulnerabilities.

What the innovation looks like
- In recent Windows Insider updates, a new icon appeared on the Notepad toolbar. It is visible only in the “What’s New” window during the first launch after installation or update.
- Currently the button is inactive, but its appearance in promotional materials confirms that work on image support is already underway.
- The feature is expected to become available in upcoming Windows 11 builds. By default it will be enabled, but users can disable it through settings.

Thus, Microsoft continues to expand Notepad’s capabilities, making it a more flexible and functional tool for working with text and graphics.