Windows 11 began rolling out almost a week ago but as we discussed in our review, it"s mostly a work-in-progress. While we already have updates for some native apps such as Paint, Clock, and Photos, we also learned that Microsoft is likely redesigning some other aspects, such as the media playing experience.
Now, it appears that a Microsoft employee has accidentally leaked the redesigned Notepad app for Windows 11. This information comes via @FireCubeStudios who posted screenshots of the revamped UI on Twitter, as can be seen below:
Notepad Windows 11 design leaked by Microsoft engineer then quickly deleted. We can see a new Fluent Design windows 11 settings for the app and also a WinUI menu bar#Windows11 #FluentDesign #CaughtIn4K pic.twitter.com/iV1FUIuoa5
— FireCube (@FireCubeStudios) October 9, 2021
The drop-down menus in Notepad for Windows 11 seem to have been reduced to just File, Edit, and View. Its Windows 10 counterpart also features Format and Help. It seems that all the options have been incorporated into this simplified menu. The Edit drop-down menu visible in the first screenshot contains all the options present in Windows 10. The rounded corners, which are a design staple in Windows 11, are evident too.
The second screenshot shows the Settings page which has a couple of interesting configurations present. The first is app theme, which indicates that Microsoft may be offering some personalization options for Windows 11. The second is an option to change the file editing experience. This suggests that instead of just a redesign, Notepad may have some backend modifications as to how text is rendered too, so Microsoft may be giving users an option to shift to the Classic experience.
That said, it is important to note that the new Notepad app has not been officially confirmed by Microsoft and is clearly under active development. It"s also worth remembering that sometimes, features end up never shipping to consumers altogether, despite their seeming usefulness.