The genuine notepad.exe file is a software component of Microsoft Windows Operating System by Microsoft Corporation. "Notepad.exe" is Microsoft's name for a basic text editor called Notepad, first introduced in 1983 and included in all Microsoft Windows operating systems since Windows 1.0 in 1985. While not essential to Windows, it should not be removed because some developers have hard-coded calls to it, (perhaps more than for any other Windows program), often in their Setup routines to open "Readme.txt" files. Because some pre-WinNT legacy software expects it in "C:\Windows", it exists there and in "C:\Windows\System32"; on 64-bit machines, the 32-bit version is in "\SysWOW64". The genuine "notepad.exe" is safe but some malware, such as the W32.Rusty@m worm, replaces "C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe" with a copy of itself and creates a "Run" registry key to ensure it executes at startup. If "notepad.exe" is missing, AV software may have removed it for that reason.
NoTEPad stands for No-Frills Text Editing Pad
The .exe extension on a filename indicates an executable file. Executable files may, in some cases, harm your computer. Therefore, please read below to decide for yourself whether the notepad.exe on your computer is a Trojan that you should remove, or whether it is a file belonging to the Windows operating system or to a trusted application.
Description: The original notepad.exe is an important part of Windows and rarely causes problems. Notepad.exe is located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder.
Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 179,712 bytes (37% of all occurrences), 69,120 bytes and 19 more variants.
Notepad.exe is a Windows system file. The program has a visible window. The file is a trustworthy file from Microsoft.
Therefore the technical security rating is 4% dangerous; but you should also compare this rating with the user reviews.
If notepad.exe is located in the C:\Windows folder, the security rating is 10% dangerous. The file size is 193,536 bytes (41% of all occurrences), 246,784 bytes and 7 more variants.
The program is not visible. The file is a trustworthy file from Microsoft.
Uninstalling this variant:
You can uninstall AkelPad software via Windows Control Panel/Add or Remove Programs (Windows XP) or Programs and Features (Windows 10/8/7) or use the software publisher's support.
If notepad.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\Windows, the security rating is 1% dangerous. The file size is 179,712 bytes (29% of all occurrences), 208,896 bytes and 8 more variants.
The notepad.exe file is a Windows core system file. The program has a visible window. The notepad.exe file is a Microsoft signed file.
If notepad.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files", the security rating is 2% dangerous. The file size is 1,208,320 bytes (16% of all occurrences), 2,234,912 bytes and 8 more variants.
If notepad.exe is located in a subfolder of the user's profile folder, the security rating is 48% dangerous. The file size is 1,374,758 bytes (50% of all occurrences) or 318,961 bytes.
If notepad.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\Windows\System32, the security rating is 46% dangerous. The file size is 70,144 bytes.
External information from Paul Collins: There are different files with the same name:
"(Default)" definitely not required. Added by the RUSTY WORM! Note - not to be confused with the valid Windows "NOTEPAD" text editor
"Notepad lptt01" definitely not required. Variant of the RapidBlaster parasite (in a "nvd32" folder in Program Files). It is not recommended you manually uninstall RapidBlaster but use RapidBlaster Killer. Note - this is not Windows Notepad which has the same executable name
Important: Some malware camouflages itself as notepad.exe, for example Worm:Win32/Rebhip.A or Backdoor:Win32/Xtrat.A (detected by Microsoft), and Trojan.Gen or W32.Spyrat (detected by Symantec). Therefore, you should check the notepad.exe process on your PC to see if it is a threat. We recommend Security Task Manager for verifying your computer's security. This was one of the Top Download Picks of The Washington Post and PC World.
Score
User Comments
editor moe
your default windows notepad text editor Wizzkid007
Basic wordpad. sarah
It's Microsoft Notepad Phillip_2005
MS text editot
Windows Notepad Joey
A simple wordpad. Easy to use, surprisingly good for quick notes. Takes up next to nothing in the form of memory. Nick
auto rv trader /a Niklg
cv+jeszcze jedno dla mlodych osob
Basic text editor RFW
in 64xbit versions of Win7 also appearing in syswow64 Bob
i almost lost my laptop because of it ethana green
It's using 100% of my CPU some kindof virus replaced with notepad.exe file and auto run on windows startup.
%SystemRoot%\system32\notepad.exe Bf
it uninstalls system32 a fellow human
notepad.exe, Windows' default text editor. Located in C:\Windows(\System32)\notepad.exe
Its for writing things Jacobw
I had two versions, one in C:\Windows and one in C:\Windows\System32. Turns out, the one in C:\Windows was some form of copy as it had the same file size, was not hidden like the one in System32, but no notepad icon. haxx0r
Summary: Average user rating of notepad.exe:
based on 34 votes with 19 user comments.
22 users think notepad.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application.
4 users think it's probably harmless.
2 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous.
One user suspects danger.
5 users think notepad.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it.
2 users don't grade notepad.exe ("not sure about it").
Best practices for resolving notepad issues
A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with notepad. This means running a scan for malware, cleaning your hard drive using 1cleanmgr and 2sfc /scannow, 3uninstalling programs that you no longer need, checking for Autostart programs (using 4msconfig) and enabling Windows' 5Automatic Update. Always remember to perform periodic backups, or at least to set restore points.
Should you experience an actual problem, try to recall the last thing you did, or the last thing you installed before the problem appeared for the first time. Use the 6resmon command to identify the processes that are causing your problem. Even for serious problems, rather than reinstalling Windows, you are better off repairing of your installation or executing the 7DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth command. This allows you to repair the operating system without losing data.
To get your computer running as fast as it did on day one, you can 8reset your PC. Your personal files will remain intact, but any programs you installed will need to be reinstalled.
To help you analyze the notepad.exe process on your computer, the following programs have proven to be helpful: ASecurity Task Manager displays all running Windows tasks, including embedded hidden processes, such as keyboard and browser monitoring or Autostart entries. A unique security risk rating indicates the likelihood of the process being potential spyware, malware or a Trojan. A good Bantivirus software detects and removes sleeping spyware, adware, Trojans, keyloggers, malware and trackers from your hard drive.
Score
User Comments
moe
Wizzkid007
sarah
Phillip_2005
Joey
Nick
Niklg
RFW
Bob
ethana green
Bf
a fellow human
Jacobw
haxx0r
Aria (further information)
Summary: Average user rating of notepad.exe: based on 34 votes with 19 user comments. 22 users think notepad.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. 4 users think it's probably harmless. 2 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous. One user suspects danger. 5 users think notepad.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it. 2 users don't grade notepad.exe ("not sure about it").