Notepad and Snipping Tool are getting (more) AI features

Microsoft has started testing new AI-powered features for its Notepad and Snipping Tool applications, which are now available to Windows 11 Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels. The new features are mostly in line with all the other enhancements from Microsoft’s suite of apps and can be disabled if not used.

Notepad gets a Summarize function

The latest Notepad update (version 11.2501.29.0) introduces a “Summarize” function, enabling users to condense selected text efficiently. To utilize this feature, highlight the desired text, right-click and choose “Summarize,” select “Summarize” from the Copilot menu, or use the Ctrl + M keyboard shortcut. This feature provides a quick way to summarize content, with controls to set the summary length for neater output. Signing in with a Microsoft personal account linked to a Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, or Copilot Pro subscription is required to use this feature because it draws on AI credits under these plans.

Also, Notepad now includes a “Recent Files” entry in the Edit menu so that users can reopen previously closed files directly within the app.

What’s new in Snipping Tool?

The Snipping Tool (version 11.2502.18.0) has also been enhanced with a “Draw & Hold” feature, designed to assist users in drawing flawless shapes when annotating screenshots. By drawing a shape and holding the cursor or touch input for a moment, the tool automatically straightens lines, arrows, rectangles, or ovals, creating cleaner annotations.

These features are now being rolled out to Windows 11 Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels and will be made available to users as an update on their Notepad and Snipping Tool apps through the Microsoft Store.