Easily Fixed! How to Fix Notepad Is Missing in Windows 11

Hello, I’ve just updated my Windows 10 to Windows 11. I’ve somehow lost notepad, it seems to have been removed. I work in a stand-alone environment with no Internet access, how can I get Notepad re-installed?www.experts-exchange.com

Notepad Is Missing in Windows 11

Notepad is a built-in software on the computer, which can help you do some important work and is very easy to use. Many people choose to use it to help themselves complete their work more efficiently. But sometimes your Notepad is not working or you cannot find the Notepad tool. The latter does not happen often, but once it happens, it will cause a great impact. The following content will be divided into two parts, one part explains the reasons for disappearance, and the other part teaches you how to solve this problem.

Why Notepad Missing From Windows

Before solving the problem, I would like to explain why Notepad is missing in Windows 11. Here are some common causes you can refer to.

• Accidental deletion or uninstallation: Users may have deleted the Notepad program without knowing it, or uninstalled related software packages. Notepad is a basic text editor that comes with the Windows system and is usually not easily deleted.
• ‌System update or reinstallation: During the Windows system update or reinstallation process, the Notepad program may be accidentally deleted or not reinstalled.
• ‌Virus infection: Malware or viruses may delete or replace system files, causing Notepad to disappear.
• ‌Hardware failure: Hardware problems, such as hard drive damage, may cause the loss of system files, including the Notepad program.

How to Fix Notepad Missing in Windows 11

Solution 1: Use Optional Features Settings

If Notepad is completely missing from your computer, you can try reinstalling it. It is now an optional feature that you can choose to enable as needed. Here are the steps.

Step 1: Press the Win + I keys to open the Windows Settings app.

Step 2: Click on Apps from the left list. And then select Optional Features.

Step 3: In the Optional Features page, click on Add a feature.

Step 4: Type Notepad in the search box. When it is searched out, click on it and select Install.

Solution 2: Use the DISM Command Line

If you have Notepad on your computer but cannot open files, this is also a case of Notepad missing. In this case, it is recommended that you uninstall and then reinstall the application using this command line. Follow the steps below.

Step 1: Type cmd in the Windows search box, right-click on Command Prompt, and choose Run as administrator.

Step 2: Type the following commands in the window and press Enter:

• dism /Online /Remove-Capability /CapabilityName:Microsoft.Windows.Notepad~~~~0.0.1.0
• dism /Online /add-Capability /CapabilityName:Microsoft.Windows.Notepad~~~~0.0.1.0

When the process ends, check if Notepad shows up.

Solution 3: Remove Virus From Laptop

As mentioned before, virus attacks can lead to the problem of Notepad missing. There are many ways to remove viruses from your computer. Here I will teach you how to use Command Prompt to clean viruses without antivirus.

Step 1: Input cmd in the Search bar and press the Shift + Ctrl + Enter keys to open Command Prompt as administrator.

Step 2: Type f: and press Enter. Replace f with the drive letter of the infected partition or device.

Step 3: Continue typing attrib -s -h -r /s /d *.* and press Enter.

Step 4: Finally, type dir and press Enter to load all files, including hidden files, and clear all directories or subfolders.

Step 5: If you find a virus with the extension “autorun” and “.inf”, please enter del autorun.inf to delete the virus.

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Solution 4: Reinstall Notepad From Microsoft Store

The last resort is to download and install Notepad from Microsoft Store. Here is how you can do it.

Step 1: Type Microsoft Store in the Windows search box and press Enter.

Step 2: Input Notepad in the search box and press Enter to search for it.

Step 3: Click on Download to get it.

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Bottom Line

With these steps, you should be able to easily fix “Notepad is missing in Windows 11” issue and continue to enjoy the convenience it brings. If the problem persists, consider contacting Microsoft Support or reinstalling the system.