Microsoft has started rolling out fresh updates for two core Windows 11 Inbox apps — Notepad and Paint — to participants in the Windows Insider Program, specifically those on the Canary and Dev Channels. These updates bring enhanced formatting tools, deeper AI integration, and new creative features as Microsoft continues modernizing its built-in apps.
Notepad: Smarter Editing and AI Enhancements
The latest Notepad update (version 11.2512.10.0) introduces several useful improvements:
- Expanded Markdown support: Users can now create richer text structures with additional Markdown syntax, including strikethrough formatting and nested lists. This makes Notepad more capable for note-taking and structured text editing.
- Welcome experience: A redesigned What’s New first-run dialog introduces users to recent features and helpful tips. It’s accessible anytime via the megaphone icon in the toolbar, making it easier for both new and returning users to explore Notepad’s capabilities.
- Faster AI text features: Notepad’s AI-powered Write, Rewrite, and Summarize functions now support streaming results, showing partial outputs as they are generated, whether locally or via the cloud. This gives users interactive previews sooner. Sign-in with a Microsoft account is required to use these AI features.
Microsoft encourages Insiders to share feedback through the Feedback Hub under Apps > Notepad.
Paint: Creative New Tools and Precision Controls
The new Paint update (version 11.2512.191.0) introduces two noteworthy features aimed at boosting creativity:
AI-Powered Coloring Book Generator
A new Coloring book tool lets users generate custom coloring pages from a text prompt. Found in the Copilot menu, users simply describe the scene they want — for example, “a cute fluffy cat on a donut” — and the AI produces a set of unique pages. These can then be added to the canvas, saved, or copied for later use.
Note: Coloring book functionality is limited to Copilot+ PCs and requires signing in with a Microsoft account.
Fill Tolerance Slider
Paint now includes a fill tolerance slider for the Fill tool, which gives users precise control over how colors are applied within areas of an image. By adjusting the tolerance level, creators can fine-tune fills for clean edges or experiment with artistic effects.
As with Notepad, Microsoft asks for feedback via the Feedback Hub under Apps > Paint.
Community Testing and Future Expectations
These updates reflect Microsoft’s ongoing effort to modernize classic Windows apps by blending productivity, creative tools, and AI capabilities. They arrive first in preview builds for early testers in the Windows Insider Program. Feedback from Insiders will help shape whether and how these features evolve as they potentially move toward broader release channels.
