One of the most useful additions to Windows 11’s Notepad is automatically saving the progress as you type. This means that even if you close the Notepad app accidentally, your text will still be available for editing the next time you open the app.
The feature is very useful and greatly reduces data loss but can irritate many users. The tabbed interface and the note-saving ability make the entire interface a mess. Sometimes, you may also want to prevent Notepad from opening the last file or note.
The option to stop Notepad from opening previous files on Windows 11 is hidden deep under the Notepad Settings itself; hence, no third-party tool is needed.
1. Click on the Windows 11 Search and type in Notepad. Next, open the Notepad app from the list of best match results.
2. When the Notepad app opens, click on the Settings gear icon at the Notepad’s toolbar.
3. On the Notepad settings, scroll down to the When Notepad Starts section and expand it.
4. Now, you will find two options – Open content from the previous sessions or open a new window.
5. If you don’t want Notepad to open your previous files, select the Open a new Window option.
Now, close the Notepad application and open it again. The next time Notepad will open, it will start with a blank ‘Untitled’ file. You won’t see Notepad restoring your previous files.
How to Force Notepad to Open Content from the Previous Session?
If you change your mind and plan to see content from previous sessions on Notepad, you need to force Notepad to open content from the previous sessions. The steps are almost the same; you must select the first option in Step 4.
1. Open the Notepad application on your Windows 11 computer.
2. When the Notepad opens, click on the Settings gear icon at the toolbar.
3. On Settings, scroll down and expand the When Notepad Starts section.
4. Now select Open Content from the previous session.
This guide explains how to prevent Notepad from opening files from previous sessions on Windows 11. Although this feature is useful, if you find it irritating, you can follow these steps to disable it. Let us know if you need more help on this topic.
