Save multiple instances of Notepad

maarkr · Jan 24, 2026

I want to save multiple instances of Notepad with each instance containing different txt files. Tried Notepad++ but I don't need the programming interface. tried an app called Notepads which I liked but I couldn't find a feature to save several instances so I can group similar txt files in each instance.

MisterEd · Jan 24, 2026

Why don't you configure Notepad for this?

Change Files to Open in New Tab or New Window in Notepad in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to set files to open in a new tab or new window in Notepad by default for your account in Windows 11. Notepad is a fast and simple text editor that can be used to view, edit, and search through plain text documents instantly. Support for multiple tabs in Notepad...

www.elevenforum.com

You can also configure Notepad for how it acts when you close it. Notepad can either continue where it left off or discard changes.

Turn On or Off Automatically Save Session State for Notepad in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off Notepad automatically saving the session state to open and continue where you left off for your account in Windows 11. Notepad is a fast and simple text editor that can be used to view, edit, and search through plain text documents instantly...

www.elevenforum.com

maarkr · Jan 24, 2026

so if I want many different sessions of notepad, like one for animals, one for boats, one for cars, each having 10 txt files, I can save the first txt file in each session named 'animals'...etc. and save a shortcut to that file to open the session (group). edit: i thought it would work...but no, it wants to remove files saved in the session.

dacrone · Jan 24, 2026

maarkr said:
so if I want many different sessions of notepad, like one for animals, one for boats, one for cars, each having 10 txt files, I can save the first txt file in each session named 'animals'...etc. and save a shortcut to that file to open the session (group). edit: i thought it would work...but no, it wants to remove files saved in the session.

What do you mean it wants to remove them? I just tested:

Test1.txt - saved this file
- 2nd tab with text “test2”
- 3rd tab with text “test3”
Were opened in Test1.txt notepad app instance

Test4.txt - saved this file
- 2nd tab with text “test5”
- 3rd tab with text “test6”
Were opened in Test4.txt notepad app instance

Killed notepad via task manager. When I launched notepad it opened 2 instances exactly as I have them listed above. The 2nd and 3rd tabs in both instances were not saved either (only the temp bak/bin files were when notepad saved it’s instances)

antspants · Jan 24, 2026

dacrone said:
Killed notepad via task manager. When I launched notepad it opened 2 instances exactly as I have them listed above. The 2nd and 3rd tabs in both instances were not saved either (only the temp bak/bin files were when notepad saved it’s instances)

Same results for me.

dacrone · Jan 24, 2026

here, to make it a simple 1-click solution:

1 click will terminate notepad.exe if it is running, IF it is already NOT running, clicking this will launch notepad.exe. ENSURE that you have restore previous sessions enabled in notepad's settings (see post #2 @MisterEd image)

.exe is inside attached .zip file for convenience. it has the notepad app icon so you can pin it to start or taskbar and it will appear just like notepad

AHK code inside the attached exe:

Code:

#SingleInstance Force

notepadPath := A_WinDir "\System32\notepad.exe"

if ProcessExist("notepad.exe") {
    ProcessClose "notepad.exe"
} else {
    Run notepadPath
}

ExitApp

MisterEd · Jan 25, 2026

dacrone said:
What do you mean it wants to remove them? I just tested:

Test1.txt - saved this file
- 2nd tab with text “test2”
- 3rd tab with text “test3”
Were opened in Test1.txt notepad app instance

Test4.txt - saved this file
- 2nd tab with text “test5”
- 3rd tab with text “test6”
Were opened in Test4.txt notepad app instance

Killed notepad via task manager. When I launched notepad it opened 2 instances exactly as I have them listed above. The 2nd and 3rd tabs in both instances were not saved either (only the temp bak/bin files were when notepad saved it’s instances)

If you configure Notepad to launch a new instance of every time you open a file then the contents of files in any of the tabs won't be saved automatically. If you have Notepad configured this way then you have to manually save the contents of each tab. Otherwise they will be lost if you kill Notepad or reboot.

If want the contents of all tabs to survive closing Notepad or rebooting then you have to configure Notepad to only use one instance. That is annoying but that is the way it works.

To configure Notepad to only use one instance and automatically preserve the contents of all tabs then you have to configure Notepad this way...

I tested this with files open in 3 tabs. I modified the contents of the files in each tab. I then closed Notepad by clicking on the "X" in the upper right. I then rebooted the computer. I launched Notepad. All 3 tabs were still there. The changes I made in each tab were still there. Note if I close any of the tabs then I must first save the contents of that tab. Otherwise I will lose any changes.

dacrone · Jan 25, 2026

MisterEd said:
If want the contents of all tabs to survive closing Notepad or rebooting then you have to configure Notepad to only use one instance. That is annoying but that is the way it works.

Note if I close any of the tabs then I must first save the contents of that tab. Otherwise I will lose any changes.

No, you don’t. I explained exactly how to do it in my post. Any number of instances will relaunch if you do as I stated.

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Save multiple instances of Notepad

maarkr

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MisterEd

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Change Files to Open in New Tab or New Window in Notepad in Windows 11

Turn On or Off Automatically Save Session State for Notepad in Windows 11

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maarkr

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dacrone

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antspants

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dacrone

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MisterEd

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dacrone

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