A cross-platform alternative notepad application.
Publisher’s description (Chinese)
What is Notepad--?
Notepad-- is an open-source text editor program for Windows from ndd开源组织. It is written in C++.
Installation and requirements
Official installers exist for 64-bit as EXE (Inno Setup). It can be installed for the current user only, without administrator rights. The installer supports unattended (silent) installation.
Updates and version history
The current version is 3.7.2, released on May 26, 2026. 12 versions are listed since February 10, 2023, each with links to its own installer files. That is about 3.6 releases a year.
Popularity and file types
The source code on GitHub (cxasm/notepad--) has 10,506 stars. Similar programs include Notepad++, Atom and Neovim.
Project description on GitHub: “一个支持windows/linux/mac的文本编辑器,目标是做中国人自己的编辑器,来自中国。”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Documented silent install
- Installs without administrator rights
- Large user base
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
In short: Notepad-- is an open-source text editor tool for 64-bit PCs. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is Notepad-- safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
DD983460AAE57101F5279F95569B62A5702245D0589DCBF43AD45A1C7166063A· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 12 versions ›12 versions over 3 years · about 3.6 a year
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id ndd.Notepad-- -escoop install extras/notepad--Notepad--v3.7.2-plugin-Installer.exe /VERYSILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART /SP-Related guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- ndd开源组织
- Category
- Text editors
- Licence
- GPL-3.0 license
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/cxasm/notepad--
- Written in
- C++
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit
- Installer
- EXE (Inno Setup)
- Version
- 3.7.2
- Released
- May 26, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- February 10, 2023
- Versions listed
- 12
- Updates / year
- 3.6
- GitHub stars
- 10,506
- GitHub forks
- 398
- Website
- gitee.com
- winget ID
- ndd.Notepad--
- Scoop package
- extras/notepad--
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Notepad-- free?
Yes. Notepad-- is open-source software under the GPL-3.0 license licence.
Is Notepad-- safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install Notepad-- with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can Notepad-- be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Does Notepad-- run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of Notepad--?
The versions page lists all 12 versions with links to their official installer files, back to February 10, 2023.
Can I use Notepad-- without administrator rights?
Yes, there is a per-user installer that does not need administrator rights.
What are alternatives to Notepad--?
Notepad++, Atom, Neovim, Geany and Brackets. The alternatives page compares them.