<p>Notepad has been a simple, free text editor for over 40 years. Recently, Microsoft has added more features, including an AI-powered tool called &#8220;Rewrite.&#8221; When users saw a sign-in prompt, many worried that Notepad would no longer be free. However, that’s not the case, you can still use Notepad without an account or a paid plan.</p>
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<p>The sign-in prompt only appears if you try to use the Rewrite feature, which requires a Microsoft 365 subscription. If you don’t have one, attempting to use Rewrite will take you to a page asking you to subscribe. Fortunately, if you don’t want this feature, you can turn it off completely and continue using Notepad just like before.</p>
<p>Some people are frustrated because Microsoft has added ads in Windows apps like the Start menu, File Explorer, and even the Weather app. Seeing prompts to sign in or subscribe within Notepad feels similar. While Notepad itself remains free, adding a paid feature makes it feel more like a &#8220;freemium&#8221; app where basic features are free, but premium ones require payment.</p>
<p>Microsoft likely sees Rewrite as just another perk for Microsoft 365 subscribers, rather than a change to Notepad’s core functionality. The app still works as expected, but you’ll need to sign in and pay if you want AI-powered writing assistance.</p>