Install Notepad++ on Windows 11 with winget
- Copy the winget command. Copy winget install -e --id Notepad++.Notepad++ --accept-source-agreements --accept-package-agreements.
- Paste it into the Run box. Press Win+R, paste with Ctrl+V and press Enter to start the install in a console window.
- Approve the administrator prompt. Choose Yes on the User Account Control prompt so the installer can write to Program Files.
- Open Notepad++. Start Notepad++ from the Start menu or with Edit with Notepad++ on any file in Explorer.
Which install method should I use?
Use winget unless your PC blocks it. Winget ships with Windows 11 and current Windows 10 builds as part of App Installer, and it reads the official Notepad++ package manifest, which points at the installer attached to the GitHub release. The table below shows when each route is the better choice.
| Method | Best for | Needs admin | Updates |
|---|---|---|---|
| winget command | Most people on Windows 10 and 11 | Yes, one prompt | winget upgrade or the built-in updater |
| 64-bit installer (.exe) | PCs without winget | Yes | Built-in updater (? menu) |
| MSI package | IT departments deploying many PCs | Yes | Redeploy the new MSI |
| Portable .zip or .7z | Locked-down PCs and USB sticks | No | Replace the folder |
How do I install Notepad++ with winget?
Winget is one command, and the Run box is the fastest place to paste it. The four steps at the top of this page are the whole process.
- Copy the command from the install panel.
- Press Win+R, paste with Ctrl+V and press Enter.
- Choose Yes when User Account Control asks, because the manifest marks the installer as needing elevation.
- Open Notepad++ from the Start menu when the console window closes.
Winget downloads the file, compares its SHA-256 with the value in the manifest and stops if they differ. For the current release that value matches the digest on the GitHub release, so both routes deliver the same bytes. The default install folder is %ProgramFiles%\Notepad++.
How do I install Notepad++ from the downloaded installer?
The installer route is the same program without the package manager. Download the 64-bit installer from the panel, open it from your Downloads folder and approve the administrator prompt. Keep the default components unless you have a reason to change them; according to the user manual they include the shell extension that adds Edit with Notepad++ to the Explorer right-click menu.
The user manual notes that the installer keeps your settings in %AppData%\Notepad++. If you install somewhere outside Program Files, the installer offers a “Don’t use %APPDATA%” option that keeps settings next to the program instead.
When should I use the MSI or the portable build?
Use the MSI only when you deploy software centrally. The project added it in version 8.8.8 for IT departments and recommends the regular installer to everyone else. The portable zip and 7z packages need no administrator rights: unzip them into a folder you own and run notepad++.exe. They keep the program, settings and plugins in that one folder and leave Windows untouched, so there is no context-menu entry and no file associations. Do not unzip a portable copy into Program Files; Notepad++ then ignores its local settings and writes to %AppData% anyway.
How do I uninstall Notepad++?
An installed copy leaves through Settings, Apps, Installed apps, or with winget uninstall -e --id Notepad++.Notepad++ from Windows Terminal. A portable copy leaves when you delete its folder. Your settings stay in %AppData%\Notepad++ after an uninstall, so delete that folder too if you want a clean slate.
Next: add plugins with Plugins Admin, or check that your download is genuine.
Frequently asked questions
Does winget install the 64-bit version of Notepad++?
Yes on a normal 64-bit PC. The winget manifest lists x64, x86 and ARM64 installers, and winget picks the one that matches your processor, so a Windows on ARM laptop gets the ARM64 build automatically.
Can I install Notepad++ without administrator rights?
Use the portable zip. Unzip it into a folder you can write to, such as one in Documents, and run notepad++.exe from there. It keeps its settings in the same folder and does not add the Explorer context menu.