Notepad++ is a free, multi-functional, and lightweight text editor that has become a favorite in programming communities worldwide. Whether you’re writing code, analyzing logs, editing configuration files, or formatting JSON, Notepad++ offers powerful features that rival many paid IDEs.

This complete guide covers installation, custom languages, formatting tricks, plugins, and productivity best practices.

Installation and Download

You can download Notepad++ from the official website:
https://notepad-plus-plus.org/

Notepad++ Portable

The portable version runs without installation — ideal for USB drives or restricted environments.

Notepad++ for Windows

Native support for Windows (32-bit & 64-bit). This is the primary supported platform.

Notepad++ for macOS

There is no official macOS version. Mac users typically run it using:

  • Wine
  • Virtual Machines
  • Or choose alternatives like VS Code

Notepad++ for Linux

Linux users can install it via:

  • Wine
  • Snap packages
  • Compatibility layers

Custom Languages & Syntax Highlighting

One of Notepad++’s most powerful features is the ability to create User Defined Languages (UDL).

Add Custom Language

You can create a custom syntax definition:

  1. Go to Language → Define your language
  2. Create new
  3. Define keywords, operators, delimiters, and styles
  4. Save and assign file extensions

Helpful resources:

Add New File Extension to Existing Language

  1. Go to Language → Style Configuration

  2. Check your theme (e.g., Bespin or Default)

  3. Locate theme files:

    • Notepad++Portable7\App\Notepad++\themes\
    • stylers.xml

  4. Add your new file extension to the language definition

Turn Notepad++ into a Log File Analyzer

Notepad++ is surprisingly powerful for log analysis:

  • Use regex filtering
  • Highlight important keywords
  • Auto-refresh logs with plugins
  • Tail logs in real-time

Formatting & Code Beautification

Reformat Code in Notepad++

The old TextFX plugin is deprecated.

Use UniversalIndentGUI instead.

Shortcut:

CTRL + SHIFT + ALT + J

Note: UniversalIndentGUI may not work without administrator rights.

Fix:

  1. Run Notepad++ as Administrator

  2. Reinstall UniversalIndentGUI

  3. Navigate to:

    C:\Program Files (x86)\Notepad++\plugins\uigui

  4. Give Modify & Write permissions to:

    • config
    • temp

  5. Restart normally

Format JSON in Notepad++

Use plugin:

  • JSToolNpp (formerly JSMinNpp)

Shortcut:

CTRL + ALT + M

Works for:

  • JSON
  • JavaScript
  • Minified files

Auto Format XML / HTML

Install XML Tools plugin:

  • Plugins → Plugin Manager → Install XML Tools

Then:

Pretty Print (XML only)

Remove Numbers Using Regex

  1. Press Ctrl + F
  2. Go to Replace
  3. Set Search Mode to Regular expression
  4. Find:
[0-9]+
  1. Replace with:
    (empty)

Replace String with New Line

Find:

 xyz

Replace:

\r\nxyz

Set Search Mode to:

Extended

Remove Empty Lines

Use:

  • Replace
  • Search mode: Regular expression
  • Find:
^\s*$
  • Replace with:
    (empty)

Copy Text with Formatting

To preserve syntax highlighting:

Plugins → NPPExport → Copy RTF to clipboard

Block Selection Mode

Use:

ALT + Mouse Drag

This enables column/block editing, perfect for:

  • Editing multiple lines at once
  • Adding prefixes/suffixes
  • Formatting tabular data

Essential Plugins

Plugins Admin (Plugin Manager)

Access via:

Plugins → Plugins Admin

Install and manage extensions easily.

Compare Plugin

Allows:

  • Side-by-side file comparison
  • Highlight differences
  • Merge changes

Great for reviewing config changes or code revisions.

Document Monitor Plugin

Automatically reloads files every 3 seconds.

Perfect for:

  • Log monitoring
  • Real-time file updates
  • Watching generated output files

Productivity & Advanced Tips

Disable Auto-Update

Go to:

Settings → Preferences → Misc → Disable "Enable Notepad++ auto-updater"

Disable plugin update checks:

Plugins → Plugin Manager → Settings → Uncheck "Notify of plugin updates at startup"

Workspace Refresh / Explorer Panel

Install Explorer plugin:

Plugins → Plugins Admin → Install Explorer

Then:

Plugins → Explorer

It provides file browsing (though not as advanced as Eclipse).

Automatically Reload Modified Files

Disable confirmation:

Settings → Preferences → Misc → Update silently

Or use Document Monitor plugin for continuous refresh.

Cached Files Location

Temporary/cached files are usually located in:

%AppData%\Notepad++

For more:
Notepad++ cached files location

Official Documentation

Official documentation, keyboard and mouse shortcut list etc:
https://notepad-plus-plus.org/resources/

Best Practices for Power Users

  • Enable auto-completion
  • Use regex for advanced search/replace
  • Install only necessary plugins
  • Use column mode for bulk edits
  • Create custom UDLs for internal tools
  • Keep backups enabled
  • Disable unnecessary auto-update in enterprise setups

Why Notepad++ Remains Popular

  • Lightweight and fast
  • Free and open source
  • Massive plugin ecosystem
  • Powerful regex engine
  • Custom language support
  • Portable version available

Final Thoughts

Notepad++ may look simple, but with the right configuration and plugins, it becomes a powerful development and text-processing environment.

Whether you're a beginner or advanced developer, mastering these features will significantly boost your productivity.