You thought Microsoft had added AI to almost its entire software lineup except Notepad? Well, no.
Notepad’s new Rewrite option, rolling out now in Windows 11 for Windows Insiders, promises to improve your text with the help of AI. Using the GPT artificial intelligence model, Rewrite can revise sentences, change the tone or length of your text, Microsoft says.
To test Rewrite, you will need the latest Canary or Dev version of Windows 11. If you are already enrolled in the Windows Insider program with one of these versions, Go to Settings, select Windows Update and click the Check for updates button.
you will need to be logged in to Windows to try
You should also make sure that you are using the latest version of Notepad. For that, Open the Microsoft Store app, click the Downloads icon, then update all installed apps.
Additionally, you will need to be logged in to Windows with the Microsoft account registered in the Insider program.
Microsoft explains that Rewrite is a cloud-based service that requires authentication and access to the AI credits needed to generate content.
How to use the Rewrite feature in Notepad
Then it’s quite simple.
- Open Notepad and enter the text you want to review, whether it’s a few words or an entire document
- Right-click on the selected text and choose Rewrite
- Select the Rewrite button in the toolbar or press Ctrl+I
- Then tell Rewrite how to handle the revision
You can also choose from different options, like lengthening or shortening the text, changing the tone between casual and professional, and even changing the overall format.
In response, the AI rewrites your text and generates three versions of the rewrite. Check each version to find the one you like best. If any of them don’t suit you, change the settings and try again. When a suitable version finally appears, apply the changes to your original text.
AI credits to run the rewrite function
AI credits granted by Microsoft for Rewrite vary depending on several factors.
French users start with 50 credits. Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscribers receive 60 credits per month.
Copilot Pro users get “extended use of AI features,” which in Microsoft terminology means unlimited use.
Strong link with Microsoft 365 and Copilot Pro
AI credits are accepted not only in Notepad, but also in other Microsoft products such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Forms, Designer, Photos, and Paint.
If you have used up your monthly credits, you can purchase more, but only by subscribing to Microsoft 365 or Copilot Pro. Otherwise, credits are automatically replenished at the start of each month.
With the rewrite feature currently limited to Dev or Canary builds of Windows 11, we’ll likely have to wait at least a few months before the option appears in the standard version of Notepad.
