After upgrading to Win 11 a bit over a week ago, I found that my Image File Execution (i.e. HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\notepad.exe) replacement for Notepad was no longer working; all my text files opened in Notepad instead of Notepad2 as it used to in Win 10.
I checked my registry and found that IFE for notepad.exe was still in place. However, text files still opened in notepad. I therefore proceeded to check HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\notepad.exe and replaced the relevant values with Notepad2, my preferred text application. After that, typing notepad.exe in any terminal window opens Notepad2 but double-clicking text files still opens them in notepad.
My question therefore is, is there any straightforward way to make notepad2.exe (or any other text editor) replace notepad.exe as was possible in earlier versions of Windows?
33 Answers
I found that uninstalling the Windows Store Notepad app reverted the Win10 and older behaviour.
3In additional, set FilterFullPath to your editor.
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\notepad.exe]
"Debugger"="C:\\ProgramData\\scoop\\apps\\notepad3\\current\\Notepad3.exe /z"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\notepad.exe\0]
"FilterFullPath"="C:\\ProgramData\\scoop\\apps\\notepad3\\current\\Notepad3.exe"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\notepad.exe\1]
"FilterFullPath"="C:\\ProgramData\\scoop\\apps\\notepad3\\current\\Notepad3.exe"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\notepad.exe\2]
"FilterFullPath"="C:\\ProgramData\\scoop\\apps\\notepad3\\current\\Notepad3.exe"Not sure whether this is the solution you want, but as a workaround go to "Default Apps" settings in Win11 and change the default action for the extension .txt to "open with Notepad2". Other extensions also can be changed as required.
