Skip to content

Notepad++

Version tested: 8.6.2 Installer type: .exe (NSIS installer) from notepad-plus-plus.org

📦 Package Managers

Manager Install Command
winget winget install Notepad++.Notepad++
Chocolatey choco install notepadplusplus
Scoop scoop install notepadplusplus

📁 Registry Paths

  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Notepad++
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Notepad++
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Notepad++ (created at first launch)

🔑 Keys

Installation entry (HKLM\SOFTWARE\Notepad++)

Key Name Type Description
(Default) REG_SZ Root installation path (e.g., C:\Program Files\Notepad++)

Uninstall entry (HKLM\...\Uninstall\Notepad++)

Key Name Type Description
DisplayName REG_SZ Notepad++ (32-bit x86) or (64-bit x64)
DisplayVersion REG_SZ Installed version (e.g., 8.6.2)
DisplayIcon REG_SZ Path to notepad++.exe
InstallLocation REG_SZ Root installation directory
Publisher REG_SZ Notepad++ Team
UninstallString REG_SZ Path to uninstall.exe
NoModify REG_DWORD 1 — no modify option in ARP
NoRepair REG_DWORD 1 — no repair option in ARP

User preferences (HKCU\Software\Notepad++) — created at first launch

Key Name Type Description
(Default) REG_SZ Typically empty; presence confirms app has been launched

📝 Notes

  • All user preferences (recent files, language settings, themes, plugin config) are stored in %APPDATA%\Notepad++\ as XML files, not in the registry.
  • The 64-bit installer places keys under HKLM\SOFTWARE\Notepad++; 32-bit on a 64-bit Windows will use HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Notepad++.
  • Shell context menu entries ("Edit with Notepad++") are registered under HKCU\Software\Classes\*\shell\Notepad++ (per-user) or HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\*\shell\Notepad++ (system-wide), depending on install options.

🗑️ Cleanup

Remove-Item -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Notepad++"                 -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Remove-Item -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Notepad++"     -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue