Microsoft is adding spellcheck and autocorrect to Notepad in Windows 11, more than 40 years after the app was first introduced. After testing these features in March, they are now being made available to all Windows 11 users.

The spellcheck feature in Notepad is similar to Word and Edge, showing misspelled words with a red underline. However, unlike Word, right-clicking a misspelled word in Notepad doesn’t immediately show correction suggestions — you need to click again to see them. This is different from the beta version where corrections appeared instantly. Notepad, originally known as Multi-Tool Notepad in 1983, was a simplified version of Word, which got spellcheck in 1985.

You can easily disable spellcheck and autocorrect in Notepad. These features can be turned off for specific file types like .md, .srt, .lrc, or .lic in the settings menu. Spellcheck is also disabled by default for log files and coding-related file types. Autocorrect can be turned off as well.

Microsoft has been adding features to Notepad in Windows 11, just as it plans to remove WordPad later this year. Notepad now includes character count, dark mode, tabs, Copilot integration, and even a virtual fidget spinner.