[Fix] Notepad Restores Previously Opened Files in Windows 11
If Notepad automatically restores previously opened text files whenever you launch the app in your Windows 11 device and you want to disable this feature, this article will help you.
Many Windows 11 users might have noticed this new functionality introduced in newer versions of Notepad app. If you are working on one or more files in Notepad and you close Notepad and you open the app after some time, it automatically restores the last opened files without asking you as shown in following screenshot:
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It happens due to new “Auto session save and restore” functionality introduced in newer versions of Notepad as well as Windows 11 operating system. If you remember, Microsoft replaced classic Notepad program with a new improved UWP version of Notepad app in Windows 11 operating system in 2019. The new UWP version of Notepad came with new UI along with a few additional features.
The new Notepad app is updated regularly via Microsoft Store. So even if you don’t install newer versions of Windows 11 or disable automatic updates, the Notepad app will be automatically updated via Microsoft Store app.
Microsoft is regularly adding new useful features to Notepad app such as dark mode support and browser like tabs support. Now Microsoft has added much awaited and requested feature to Notepad which is automatic save and restore sessions.
Third party text editing software programs always provide session save and restore functionality and now Microsoft has enabled the same feature to newer versions of Notepad app in Windows 11 operating system. If you update Notepad app or you upgrade Windows 11 to Moment 4 Update or 2023 Update (version 23H2), you’ll get the new session restore feature in Notepad.
The new session save and restore feature doesn’t ask for confirmation when the user clicks on Close button in Notepad and automatically saves the session in memory. When the user opens Notepad again, it automatically restores all previously opened files in Notepad using tabs.
Personally I don’t like this new feature due to privacy reasons. If you also don’t like the new feature and want to get rid of the session restore functionality, here is a good news for you.
Microsoft provides a built-in option to completely disable or turn off session restore feature in Notepad. If a user doesn’t want Notepad to save and restore previous files and sessions upon launch, he can deactivate the new feature using following steps:
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STEP 1: Open Notepad app and click on Settings (cog wheel) icon present at the right-side of Notepad menubar/toolbar.
STEP 2: It’ll open Notepad Settings page. Now click on “When Notepad starts” section to expand it.
STEP 3: Now select Open a new window option and it’ll immediately disable session save and restore feature in Notepad app.
Now Notepad will always start with a blank “Untitled” file and will no longer restore previously opened files in your computer system.
In future, if you decide to restore session save feature in Notepad, select “Open content from the previous session” option present under “When Notepad starts” section.
Also Check:
[Tip] Enable Dark Mode in Notepad in Windows 11
[Windows Tip] Always Open Unknown Filetypes with Notepad by Default
Yes i discovered this myself too. But want to permanently disable it in the registry or its new UWP location where is that now?
before was able at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Notepad but microsoft has stopped that ability
thanking you in advance
jii
i am still waiting for you to bother to publish my comment. all i asked was yes can be done as you described BUT how to do this in the registry as could be done before so in the registry but microsoft changed the way i know?
thank you
^^ Sorry for the late reply! All the settings and data of new UWP version of Notepad app are stored under following location:
C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsNotepad_8wekyb3d8bbwe
New Notepad app doesn’t store settings in Registry.