Notepad Becomes a Separate Store App in the New Test Build 18963

Notepad Becomes a Separate Store App

Microsoft released another test build of Windows 10 20H1 to the Fast Ring on August 16. Build 18963 contains some minor tweaks and improvements. This is the first feature release build of Windows 10, and with this new change, Notepad becomes a separate Store app.

In Windows 10 test build 18963, GPU temperature monitoring support is added to Task Manager. But for now, there is only a dedicated GPU card and the latest graphics drivers. Right now, the temperature value is only in Celsius. 

You are also allowed to rename your virtual desktops by this build. Optional Features page in Settings is also made some tweaks – better manage lists, more easily navigate pages and the ability to multi-select. Besides, you can also set mouse cursor speed within Settings. Synchronization of account images in Windows of this build is still being improved by Microsoft. 

Microsoft is making small improvements to its Windows Search including improved spell correction for searches and hints of App and Settings, which can get best match results for you. 

Microsoft is also bringing the latest user experience for its Search Home, offering quick access to recent activities and top apps for most of you who are using Windows 10. Right now, if you are using Windows 10 1903, you will be seeing the new Search Home. 

Here is a piece of big news: Notepad becomes a separate Store app right now. That means you can update Notepad via the Store in the future and won’t have to wait for the twice-yearly Windows 10 feature release cycle to fix and update Notepad. Meanwhile, you can also uninstall Notepad if you want, but I don’t think it’s necessary because it’s the best feature on Windows to this Notepad fan. 

There will be more incremental features of Notepad. For example, Microsoft will add an indicator which will display unsaved content; in addition, in the last few Windows 10 feature updates, Microsoft will add expanded wrap-around search and line-ending support. 

As long as Microsoft keeps Notepad as a straightforward and simple text editor without a bunch of unnecessary updates, I’m sure most of you will continue to use it. 

I hope Microsoft doesn’t abandon Notepad, because now, as a standalone app, Notepad can be added new features more quickly and easily. 

There are other fixes and known issues for Build 18963, and you can browse more details online. Officials say that the upcoming cloud download recovery option which is designed for all Windows 10 PCs is not yet fully functional in this release. 

Bottom Line

To sum up, this post has introduced you that Microsoft makes Notepad a separate Store app starting with the new test build 18963. That means Notepad updates will be available in Microsoft Store in the future and you are able to update Notepad via the Store. Meanwhile, the Microsoft team can add new features to Notepad more quickly and easily.