Microsoft updates Notepad and Paint with more AI features
Recorded: Jan. 22, 2026, 4:03 p.m.
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Microsoft updates Notepad and Paint with more AI features News Featured Zendesk ticket systems hijacked in massive global spam wave Hackers breach Fortinet FortiGate devices, steal firewall configs Fake Lastpass emails pose as password vault backup alerts Hackers exploit 29 zero-days on second day of Pwn2Own Automotive Why Active Directory password resets are surging in hybrid work Microsoft updates Notepad and Paint with more AI features Hackers exploit 29 zero-days on second day of Pwn2Own Automotive A lifetime subscription to the Mondly language app is now only $8 Tutorials Latest How to access the Dark Web using the Tor Browser How to enable Kernel-mode Hardware-enforced Stack Protection in Windows 11 How to use the Windows Registry Editor How to backup and restore the Windows Registry How to start Windows in Safe Mode How to remove a Trojan, Virus, Worm, or other Malware How to show hidden files in Windows 7 How to see hidden files in Windows Webinars Latest Qualys BrowserCheck STOPDecrypter AuroraDecrypter FilesLockerDecrypter AdwCleaner ComboFix RKill Junkware Removal Tool Deals Categories eLearning IT Certification Courses Gear + Gadgets Security VPNs Popular Best VPNs How to change IP address Access the dark web safely Best VPN for YouTube Forums Virus Removal Guides HomeNewsMicrosoftMicrosoft updates Notepad and Paint with more AI features Microsoft updates Notepad and Paint with more AI features By Sergiu Gatlan January 22, 2026 Microsoft is rolling out new artificial intelligence features with the latest updates to the Notepad and Paint apps for Windows 11 Insiders. "Whether generated locally or in the cloud, results for Write, Rewrite, and Summarize will start to appear quicker without the need to wait for the full response, providing a preview sooner that you can interact with," said Dave Grochocki, Principal Group Product Manager for Windows Inbox Apps. Expanded Markdown support in Notepad (Microsoft) Paint's Coloring Book feature (Microsoft) 7 Security Best Practices for MCP Related Articles: AI Sergiu Gatlan Previous Article Post a Comment Community Rules You need to login in order to post a comment You may also like: Popular Stories Fortinet admins report patched FortiGate firewalls getting hacked Ingram Micro says ransomware attack affected 42,000 people Tesla hacked, 37 zero-days demoed at Pwn2Own Automotive 2026 Sponsor Posts Identity Governance & Threat Detection in one: Get a guided tour of our platform Overdue a password health-check? Audit your Active Directory for free Discover how phishing kits are sold and deployed. Download the full research report. Upcoming Webinar Follow us: Main Sections News Community Forums Useful Resources Welcome Guide Company About BleepingComputer Terms of Use - Privacy Policy - Ethics Statement - Affiliate Disclosure Copyright @ 2003 - 2026 Bleeping Computer® LLC - All Rights Reserved Login Username Password Remember Me Sign in anonymously Sign in with Twitter Not a member yet? Register Now Help us understand the problem. What is going on with this comment? Spam Abusive or Harmful Inappropriate content Strong language Other Read our posting guidelinese to learn what content is prohibited. Submitting... |
Microsoft has recently released updates to its Notepad and Paint applications for Windows 11 Insiders, integrating artificial intelligence (AI) features designed to enhance user productivity and creative workflows. These updates, rolling out to Insiders within the Canary and Dev Channels, represent a strategic expansion of AI capabilities into traditionally straightforward applications. The update focuses on improving the functionality and user experience of both Notepad and Paint, leveraging AI to streamline various tasks. Notepad, version 11.2512.10.0, has undergone significant changes centered around AI-powered assistance. Specifically, the application now offers Write, Rewrite, and Summarize features, utilizing AI to generate text based on user prompts. A key element of this enhancement is the ability to preview AI-generated results more quickly than previously possible, reducing wait times and providing immediate feedback. However, access to these AI tools is contingent upon user sign-in with a registered Microsoft account, implementing a security measure to control access to the advanced features. The update also incorporates expanded Markdown support, enabling users to format their documents using a wider range of syntax options. These formatting features, including nested lists and strikethrough text, are accessible through keyboard shortcuts, the formatting toolbar, or direct Markdown syntax embedding within documents. To aid in the onboarding process, Notepad now includes a welcome screen that introduces users to the app’s newest features. This initial screen appears automatically upon first launch and can be accessed later via a megaphone icon located within the toolbar. Concurrent with these changes in Notepad, Paint version 11.2512.191.0 has been augmented with a novel Coloring Book feature. This creative tool takes advantage of AI to generate coloring pages from custom text prompts, offering a flexible canvas for users to add to, copy, or save. The Coloring Book feature is currently exclusive to Copilot+ PCs, reflecting Microsoft’s strategy of prioritizing premium AI features alongside dedicated hardware, and requires verification of a Microsoft account for functionality. Alongside the Coloring Book, the Paint update includes a fill tolerance slider. This adjustable slider, positioned on the left side of the canvas when the Fill tool is active, provides users with granular control over the color application process. Fine-tuning the tolerance level allows for a nuanced approach to filling areas with color, accommodating a wider range of artistic effects and styles. Microsoft is actively soliciting user feedback through the Windows Feedback Hub, specifically under the Apps category, to identify and address potential bugs and further refine these AI-powered features. The company is committed to ongoing development and improvement based on user input. These updates align with Microsoft’s broader strategy of integrating AI into its core productivity applications. Previously, in September 2026, Microsoft announced the availability of AI-powered text summarization, text rewriting, and text generation features, initially offered free of charge to customers with Copilot+ PCs running Windows 11. This initiative underscores Microsoft’s ambition to make AI accessible to a wide range of users, though the implementation remains tied to specialized hardware. Users who prefer to avoid the new AI features can opt to disable them through settings or uninstall the Windows Notepad app, reverting to the standard notepad.exe program. Furthermore, Paint version 11.2508.361.0 introduced support for Photoshop-like project files and included an opacity slider for the Pencil and Brush tools, catering to users familiar with Adobe’s creative suite. These enhancements broadened Paint’s capabilities and made it more versatile for diverse creative tasks. The integration of AI within Notepad and Paint reflects Microsoft’s evolving approach to software development, responding to market demands and leveraging the transformative potential of artificial intelligence. |