How to replace notepad with notepad++ or notepad2 in Windows 7
The notepad.exe is a protected system file, much like the explorer.exe, however you can replace the notepad with notepad++ or notepad2 with some tricks. Detailed instructions after the break.
This is an extensive guide that will teach you how to replace the notepad with either notepad2 or notepad++ in Windows 7. This should also work in Windows XP and Windows Vista.
Quick Links
- Replace Notepad with Notepad2
- Registry Keys for Notepad2 (Easy-Install)
- Replace Notepad with Notepad++
My recommendation: Use notepad2 and you won’t have to replace the notepad over and over again, because it’s only a registry value that you have to add, which can also be removed quite easily. If you replace the notepad with notepad++, you’ll might have to repeat the steps again. Tip: Bookmark this tutorial!
Replace Notepad with Notepad2
1. Download Latest Notepad2 (Notepad2 4.1.24 right now)
2. Install it.
3. Open elevated registry editor:
4. Uncollapse HKEY_LOCA_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\
5. Right-click on Image File Execution Options and click on New – Key, enter notepad.exe
6. Now in the right-pane: Right-click and create a new string value:
7. Give the string the name Debugger
8. Double-click on Debugger and enter the full path to the Notepad2 exe file, e.g. “C:\Windows\Notepad2.exe” and add /z at the end! Complete path: “C:\Windows\Notepad2.exe” /z
Download Registry Keys for Notepad2
Optionally you can use the following registry keys. Copy this into a notepad and save it as a .reg file (select all from the dropdown when you save the file). Also replace C:\Notepad2\Notepad2.exe with your own path:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\notepad.exe]
“Debugger”=”C:\\Notepad2\\Notepad2.exe\” /z”
Download Replace Notepad with Notepad2 Registry Key
Replace Notepad with Notepad++
Replacing the notepad with notepad++ in Windows 7 is slightly more complicated than replacing the notepad with notepad2. Why? Because you actually have to replace system files, which is difficult for beginners.
1. Download Notepad++ (Latest 5.7.1 RC2)
2. Install Notepad++
3. Open an elevated command prompt
4. Enter cd C:\Windows\
5. Enter TAKEOWN /F notepad.exe
6. Enter ICACLS notepad.exe /grant administrators:F Replace administrators with your username
7. Rename notepad.exe to notepad2.exe
8. Download notepad.exe (launcher) for either 32-bit or 64-bit:
Notepad.exe Launcher Windows 7 32-bit
Notepad.exe Launcher Windows 7 64-bit
Optionally, you can also download this notepad++ launcher from here.
Copy notepad.exe or notepad64.exe to C:\Windows, respectively C:\Windows\system32.
9. Rename notepad.exe/notepad64.exe to notepad.exe
10. Repeat steps 4-9 for C:\Windows\system32\notepad.exe
If you run into any problems or if you have any questions, please post a comment below and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Tip: Keep in mind that you will have to replace the notepad++ files again if you should ever use the Windows System File Checker SFC.exe to restore the original system files. Therefore I recommend notepad2, which is a lot easier to handle.
Or you might like these sexy wallpaper, tweaks and themes:
Written by oliversk Monday, September 20th, 2010
Was it helpful? Please bookmark it and spread the word
That works, thank you.
Works, but not as it should.
Running Notepad.exe (after making the above changes) will make Notepad++ open but ++ will also open the original notepad.exe binary file.
Any way to get this behavior to stop?
Just a note: don’t forget about C:\windows\SysWOW64\notepad.exe in 64-bit Windows 7