So you think Windows notepad is boring do you? Well after trying a few of these cool notepad tricks, you might well change your mind.
Notepad is provided by Microsoft in pretty much every version of Windows imaginable and is a really useful tool whether you just want to make a quick note or write a shopping list using it (like I do :)). But it is capable of a lot more. You see most people think it is a very simple tool but don't actually know what it is capable of.
Even though most files created by Notepad are saved in the text file (.txt) format, it is capable of saving many more file formats and opening more file extensions than you will have heard of.
So in this post, I'm going to show you some of the amazing things that you can do with Notepad which you can amaze your mates with.
Create a diary using Notepad
This is probably one of the most useful tricks you can do. Basically, whenever you create a note in this special format, it will automatically save it with a date and timestamp.
- Type ".LOG" on the first line of Notepad
- Save the file as Log.txt
Write something in the file and it will automatically add the edited date and time for you, awesome!
Create a fake Windows error using Notepad
This is a pretty cool trick that you can play on your mates. You can bascially create a fake error message using a message of your choice, let your imagination run wild! 🙂 Type the following into Notepad:
X=Msgbox("Message Here",0+16,"Title Here")
Obviously replace "Message Here" and "Title Here" with your own error message and title respectively. Then save the file as error.vbs. Finally, click the file and you’ll get a custom Windows error message!
I use this one all the time and with a single click, you can shutdown Windows. Trust me, it saves a lot of time, especially if you're in a hurry. Type the following into Notepad:
@echo off
msg * Shutdown computer"
shutdown -c "Sleep Tight" -s
Finally, save the file with ".bat" as the extension rather than ".txt". For example, shutdown.bat. Then click on your file and it will automatically shutdown Windows, ace!
Open Notepad on your friend's computer continuously!
This is ace if you want play a trick on your mates. Type the following into Notepad:
@ECHO off
:top
START %SystemRoot%system32notepad.exe
GOTO top
Finally, save the file with ".bat" and send it to your mates.
Recreate the Matrix using Notepad
This is a cool effect inspired from the Matrix. Just type the following into Notepad:
@echo off
color 02
:start
echo %random% %random% %random% %random% %random% %random% %random% %random% %random% %random%
goto start
Again, save the file with ".bat" extension and click on the file to run it!
Create a hidden password protected folder using Notepad
Do you share a computer and Windows profile with someone and want to password protect some files or store a top secret document? Firstly, enter the following code and save the file with ".bat" extension.
@ECHO OFF
title Folder Private
if EXIST "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" goto UNLOCK
if NOT EXIST Private goto MDLOCKER
:CONFIRM
echo Are you sure you want to lock the folder(Y/N)
set/p "cho=>"
if %cho%==Y goto LOCK
if %cho%==y goto LOCK
if %cho%==n goto END
if %cho%==N goto END
echo Invalid choice.
goto CONFIRM
:LOCK
ren Private "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"
attrib +h +s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"
echo Folder locked
goto End
:UNLOCK
echo Enter password to unlock folder
set/p "pass=>"
if NOT %pass%== bonkersabouttech.com goto FAIL
attrib -h -s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"
ren "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" Private
echo Folder Unlocked successfully
goto End
:FAIL
echo Invalid password
goto end
:MDLOCKER
md Private
echo Private created successfully
goto End
:End
Note that the password is "bonkersabouttech.com" and you should replace it with your own. Next run the file and add you files to the folder. Then run the file again and it will ask you if you would like to lock the folder. Type 'Y' and press enter. Your folder will then be hidden from prying eyes. To see the folder again, run the file again and it will ask you to type the password to open the folder. If you're having issues, try running the .bat file in the command prompt as administrator.
Make your computer talk
This one is my favourite, you can have endless fun with this one in the office. Open notepad and type the following:
Dim message, sapi
message=InputBox("What do you want me to say?","Speak to Me")
Set sapi=CreateObject("sapi.spvoice")
sapi.Speak message
Save the file as "speak.vbs" and double click to run the file. At the prompt, enter your sentence you would like it to say and then click ok. Your computer will then speak to you!
So there you, some cool notepad tricks for you to try on Windows. Some of them are really useful, others can be used to wind up your mates or just for your pure entertainment. If you know of any more, please let me know in the comments and I'll add them to the list.