For classic Notepad...
This is probably the same as the @Brink tutorial... but this is how I did it.
AND... double clicking on a text file... opens in the old Notepad.
Get Old Classic Notepad for Windows 11
Here are two ways to get the classic notepad without tabs in Windows 11. In Windows 11, the famous plain editor has turned into a Store app with new
winaero.com
I followed these instructions, and they worked, but double clicking on a text file still opened in the new Notepad.
So... I right click a text file and chose: Open with > Choose another app
On that dialog box I now show TWO notepads, one with the old icon and the other with the new 24H2 icon.
So I chose the old icon and click: (Always).
Now when I double click a text file it automatically opens with the classic Notepad.
If for any reason I need to use the new Notepad, I can right click a .txt file and choose: Open with...
And select the new Notepad and choose: (Just once)
For classic Wordpad...
Updated: January 1, 2026
Just download Wordpad from this page, and install...
Windows 7 Games for Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 8.
Download Windows 7 Games for Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows 8. Classic card games from Windows 7.
win7games.com
After installing... reboot. That's it.
It installs Wordpad.
It associates .rtf files with Wordpad
It adds New > Rich Text Document to the right click menu(s).
I've been using it for over a year, with no problems.
And... it scans clean locally and at Virustotal.
Here's the entire article, if folks want to read it...
Get Classic WordPad for Windows 11
Here is how to download WordPad for Windows 11, the original classic app that Microsoft has removed from Build 26020 and onward. You will get it back
winaero.com
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My Computers
System One System Two
-
- OS
- Win 11 Home ♦♦♦26200.8457 ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦25H2
- Computer type
- PC/Desktop
- Manufacturer/Model
- Built by Ghot® [May 2020]
- CPU
- AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
- Motherboard
- Asus Pro WS X570-ACE (BIOS 5302)
- Memory
- G.Skill (F4-3200C14D-16GTZKW)
- Graphics Card(s)
- EVGA RTX 2070 (08G-P4-2171-KR)
- Sound Card
- Realtek ALC1220P / ALC S1220A
- Monitor(s) Displays
- Dell U3011 30"
- Screen Resolution
- 2560 x 1600
- Hard Drives
- 2x Samsung 860 EVO 500GB,
WD 4TB Black FZBX - SATA III,
WD 8TB Black FZBX - SATA III,
DRW-24B1ST CD/DVD Burner
- PSU
- PC Power & Cooling 750W Quad EPS12V
- Case
- Cooler Master ATCS 840 Tower
- Cooling
- CM Hyper 212 EVO (push/pull)
- Keyboard
- Ducky DK9008 Shine II Blue LED
- Mouse
- Logitech Optical M-100
- Internet Speed
- 300/300
- Browser
- Firefox (latest)
- Antivirus
- Bitdefender Total Security
- Other Info
- Speakers: Klipsch Pro Media 2.1
-
- Operating System
- Windows XP Pro 32bit w/SP3
- Computer type
- PC/Desktop
- Manufacturer/Model
- Built by Ghot® (not in use)
- CPU
- AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ (OC'd @ 3.2Ghz)
- Motherboard
- ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition
- Memory
- TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX (2 x 1GB, DDR2 800)
- Graphics card(s)
- EVGA 256-P2-N758-TR GeForce 8600GT SSC
- Sound Card
- Onboard
- Monitor(s) Displays
- ViewSonic G90FB Black 19" Professional (CRT)
- Screen Resolution
- up to 2048 x 1536
- Hard Drives
- WD 36GB 10,000rpm Raptor SATA
Seagate 80GB 7200rpm SATA
Lite-On LTR-52246S CD/RW
Lite-On LH-18A1P CD/DVD Burner
- PSU
- PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Quad EPS12V
- Case
- Generic Beige case, 80mm fans
- Cooling
- ZALMAN 9500A 92mm CPU Cooler
- Keyboard
- Logitech Classic Keybooard 200
- Mouse
- Logitech Optical M-BT96a
- Internet Speed
- 300/300
- Browser
- Firefox 3.x ??
- Antivirus
- Symantec (Norton)
- Other Info
- Still assembled, still runs. Haven't turned it on for 15 years?
