“Notepad++ 8” refers to the major release 8.x series of Notepad++, a popular free, open‑source text and source‑code editor for Window
Here’s a breakdown of what changed in version 8, what features it brings, and what you should know if you plan to use it.
What’s new in Notepad++ 8
Some of the key new features and improvements introduced with the 8.x line:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Dark mode support | Notepad++ 8 adds a built‑in dark theme mode you can toggle in settings. (Notepad++) |
| Fluent UI icons | The toolbar gets new “Fluent” style icons, giving the interface a more modern look (while keeping old icons available). (I Programmer) |
| Distraction‑free mode | A mode that hides interface elements so you can focus on the text (full screen, minimal UI). (gHacks Technology News) |
| ARM64 support | Native builds for ARM64 are supported, so Notepad++ can run natively on ARM‑based Windows devices. (I Programmer) |
| Close all tabs with one click | A SHIFT‑click on the close button can close all tabs in a panel, making it faster to clean up many open files. (gHacks Technology News) |
| Change text selection color / styling enhancements | You can change the foreground color of selected text; more styling flexibility for the current element, etc. (gHacks Technology News) |
| Reverse line order / more commands in context menus | New commands like reversing line order; “copy pathnames” in search results; extra options in Save As dialog. (Itigic) |
| Language / syntax expansions | Added support for languages like Ada, Fortran, Fortran77, Haskell in function lists etc. (Itigic) |
| Bug fixes & updates | Early versions of 8 included many bug fixes, performance improvements, and updates to the underlying editing engine (Scintilla / Lexilla). (GitHub) |
Things to watch out for / limitations
- As with any major version bump, there might be some regressions or small bugs. The Notepad++ project has been releasing “fix” or “regression‑fix” updates (e.g. 8.8.1) to address issues. GitHub+1
- Plugin compatibility: Some older plugins might not immediately work under version 8 until updated.
- The UI changes (new icons, dark mode changes) might feel unfamiliar until you adjust.
- If you’re on ARM Windows, the new ARM64 builds help, but the ecosystem (plugins, drivers) might have edge cases.
