Microsoft to revamp Notepad app and Snipping tool with Gen-AI, Smart Annotation features in upcoming Windows 11 update

In a recent blog, Microsoft revealed that both the Notepad app and the Snipping tool will get new useful features. Currently available to users on Windows Insider builds (Canary and Dev versions), the new revamped apps will soon roll out to stable builds after the initial testing and feedback.

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Microsoft Notepad App Gets New AI Features

Using generative AI, users will be able to summarize their content in the Notepad app. Since the app will be using Copilot, users will be required to sign in to their Microsoft Accounts to use it. To do this, you can follow the steps below:

1. Select the text you want to summarize

2. Right-click for the drop down menu and select “Summarize” from the Copilot menu

3. Alternatively, you can also use the “Ctrl + M” shortcut on your keyboard.

4. Notepad will then generate a quick summary of the selected text. You can also try this with different text lengths for a refined output.

5. Users can disable these AI features in the app settings based on their preferences.

Note: All Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, and Copilot Pro subscribers will be able to use the AI credits to use Summarize in Notepad.

In other updates, the Notepad app will finally get a “recent files” option in the File menu, allowing users to quickly reopen recently closed documents.

Snipping Tool app gets Smart Annotation Feature

Calling it the “Draw & Hold” feature, Microsoft’s new Snipping Tool update lets the users draw neat lines and shapes just from rough scribbles. Here are the steps to use it –

1. Open the Snipping Tool app (or use the keyboard shortcut Windows logo key + Shift + S).

2. Capture the screenshot of the content you require on your screen.

3. If the image does not automatically open in the Snipping Tool app, click on the toast notification to “Mark up and share” your image.

4. Select the pen tool and draw a line, arrow, rectangle, or oval over the image.

5. Before letting go of the shape, hold your cursor or pen still for a moment to convert your stroke into a well-formed shape.

5. Resize, move, or adjust your shape as needed.

6. Save the image once done.

The Notepad and Snipping tool update are currently being rolled out to Windows Insider users and will soon be available for stable builds after initial testing and feedback.