Stop Notepad from opening last file in Windows 11

Want to stop Notepad from opening previously opened files? If you want to start over each time you launch Notepad anew, you can turn off the setting that makes Notepad restore previously opened files in Windows 11.

With the recent version of Notepad on Windows 11, you can close Notepad without any interruptions from dialog boxes, and it will still save the session and anything you wrote in that. Simply put, you can resume where you left off whenever you want without worrying about your files not being saved. We feel that this is a great feature!

How to stop Notepad from opening last file in Windows 11

There are two ways to make Notepad not restore previously opened files but instead open a new blank page in Windows 11:

Via Notepad settings
Install the classic Notepad program

1] Notepad settings

When you close Notepad after working on one or more files in it, the program will automatically restore the last files you opened without requesting your permission. But you can enable the Open a new window in Notepad’s settings.

You can turn off Notepad’s behavior where it saves the previous session from Notepad settings.

Open Notepad and click the Settings icon on the right.

Click the drop-down arrow next to When Notepad starts in the Notepad’s Settings page.

Here, you will find two options where the Open content from the previous session option is selected by default.

To disable Notepad restoring previously opened files, press the radio button next to Open a new window to select and close it.
If any previous sessions are open on Notepad, you will get a prompt asking you to save or not save it. Please save it to your preferred location and close the window.

Next time you open Notepad, the previous files will not open; a new window will open.
To view your files from previous sessions, click the File tab and choose Open from the context menu. You can open the file you need from the list it displays and resume your work.

3] Install the classic Notepad

In this method, you can choose to use Classic Notepad, which does not save the previous files, unlike the new version of Notepad. To install the classic Notepad via Optional features, follow the steps given below:

Open Windows Settings and click System on the left pane.
Scroll down and click Optional features.

Click the View features button next to Add an optional feature.

Note: You can search whether the Classic Notepad is already installed on your PC by searching for it under Installed features. If it is not there, continue to the steps given below.

In the Add an optional feature window, type notepad, select it, and click Next.

Click the Install button and wait for the Classic Notepad to install.
Once it is installed, you can access the classic Notepad from the following location:

c:\windows\notepad.exe

c:\windows\system32\notepad.exe

This version of Notepad will not restore the files you have previously worked on upon opening Notepad. Alternatively, you can use Windows 11’s Run Command box (Windows key + R), type notepad.exe, and press Enter to launch the classic Notepad.

However, this will only function if your system contains the EXE files for the old Notepad.

The classic notepad is the last resort you want to try. Make sure to explore all the new features of the Notepad before switching.

Is AutoSave available in Notepad?

Yes, AutoSave is available in Notepad. This feature ensures you do not lose crucial data due to unforeseen circumstances like power outages or unintentional closures by automatically saving your work regularly.

How do I stop Notepad from opening old files?

To prevent Notepad from opening old files at startup, open Notepad and select the ‘Settings’ gear icon. Navigate to When Notepad starts, then select Open new window. This ensures old files won’t reopen automatically.

Read: Notepad is not opening in Windows 11

How do you open a closed file in Notepad?

Press the shortcut Windows key + S to open the taskbar search box. To access your computer’s Roaming folder, type %AppData% into the Windows search bar and press Enter. Type .txt into the search field to see if the desired unsaved Notepad files exist.