Microsoft flipped the switch on a free AI writing assistant inside Notepad this week, but there’s a catch: you need a Copilot+ PC to use it without paying. The update, released to Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev channels on September 17, 2025, brings three new generative features — Write, Rewrite, and Summarize — directly into the decades‑old text editor. On qualifying hardware, the AI runs entirely on your device using the Neural Processing Unit (NPU); no cloud connection or Microsoft account is required. It’s a sharp departure from earlier Notepad AI previews, which demanded sign‑ins and consumed subscription credits.

What’s New in Notepad

The update (Notepad version 11.2508.28.0) embeds three AI‑powered actions into the app’s familiar interface. They’re meant for quick, no‑fuss tasks—not full‑blown document editing.

  • Write generates new text from a prompt you type, or expands a fragment into longer content. You can call it from the Copilot menu, the right‑click context menu, or use the shortcut Ctrl+Q in some Insider builds. Ideal for whipping up an email draft, turning bullet points into prose, or drafting a social post without leaving Notepad.
  • Rewrite rephrases selected text, letting you adjust tone (casual to formal) or length. Right‑click any highlighted passage, choose Rewrite, and pick from several suggested variants. It’s a fast way to polish a rough note or tailor copy for a different audience.
  • Summarize condenses highlighted text into short, medium, or long summaries. Right‑click or hit Ctrl+M on selected text, and Notepad distills it into a TL;DR. Handy for boiling down meeting transcripts, logs, or research notes.

All three tools appear in the same right‑click menu you’ve used for decades, keeping the experience lightweight and discoverable.

Who Gets It for Free — and Who Doesn’t

If you own a Copilot+ PC

Copilot+ PCs are a certified device class that includes an NPU. On these machines, the Notepad AI features tap into a local model runtime that ships with Windows. Microsoft’s Insider documentation explicitly states that this on‑device path does not require a Microsoft account or a Microsoft 365 subscription. It works offline, and all your text stays on your PC.

If you don’t have a Copilot+ PC

You’ll still be able to use Write, Rewrite, and Summarize, but only through the cloud‑powered fallback. That means you’ll need to sign in with a Microsoft account, and at some point, you may need a Microsoft 365 or Copilot Pro subscription. Earlier Notepad previews consumed cloud credits, and while the exact pricing has not been restated, it’s safe to assume the cloud route won’t be free forever.

For IT administrators

The on‑device path is a win for data governance: text never leaves the machine. However, enterprises still need to validate where local model weights are stored, how they’re updated, and whether any telemetry is emitted. You’ll also face a split fleet: Copilot+ devices can use free, offline AI, while other endpoints must rely on cloud models that may introduce per‑user subscription costs and cloud data‑handling concerns. Start piloting on your Copilot+ SKUs now, and review DLP policies to account for on‑device AI that doesn’t ship data off‑site.

How We Got Here

Notepad’s AI journey began quietly. In early 2025, Microsoft tested a single “Rewrite” button in an Insider build that required a Microsoft account and consumed cloud credits. The reception was lukewarm: users wanted fast, private, offline assistance — not another subscription prompt. Meanwhile, the company was laying the groundwork for Copilot+ PCs, a new hardware tier announced in May 2025 that included an NPU capable of running AI models locally.

The hybrid strategy — local inference for basic tasks, cloud for heavier lifting — emerged as the compromise. Over the summer, Insider builds started blending the two paths, and on September 17, 2025, Microsoft officially confirmed the full Write‑Rewrite‑Summarize suite with the free on‑device option. It’s part of a broader push to weave AI into inbox Windows apps like Paint and Photos, with the Copilot+ branding serving as the ticket to offline, subscription‑free features.

What to Do Right Now

  1. Verify your setup. Open Notepad’s “About” page and make sure you’re on version 11.2508.28.0 or later. You must be enrolled in the Windows Insider Program and on the Canary or Dev channel. If your PC is Copilot+ certified (check your OEM’s documentation), the AI features should appear automatically — though Microsoft’s staged rollout means you might not see them immediately.
  2. Experiment in a safe environment. Start with a benign note and try all three actions. Right‑click a paragraph to test Summarize and Rewrite; place the cursor and use the Copilot menu to trigger Write. If you’re on a Copilot+ device, disconnect from the internet to confirm the local model is functioning.
  3. Fact‑check everything. The local model is smaller than its cloud cousins and is prone to hallucination. Never use Notepad AI outputs for legal, financial, or medical content without human review.
  4. Know the limits. The on‑device model is English‑only at launch. If you need multilingual support, you’ll have to switch to the cloud path — and that might require a subscription. Also, performance varies by device; higher‑end Copilot+ SKUs will handle inference faster.
  5. For IT pilots: Deploy the update to a few Copilot+ machines, measure CPU/RAM/NPU usage and battery impact, and check for any unexpected network activity. Update your endpoint DLP rules to classify the local model as a trusted workload, and document which users are on the free local path versus the cloud path.

The Road Ahead

Microsoft says the Notepad AI features will eventually roll out to the Beta and Release Preview channels, then to all Windows 11 users — though the on‑device, subscription‑free path will always be tied to Copilot+ hardware. Language support for the local model will expand, but no timeline has been given. Watch for Microsoft to publish formal performance benchmarks or requirements for the NPU; until then, treat community‑reported thresholds (like 40+ TOPS) as unverified guidance. More broadly, expect this hybrid model — free local AI on Copilot+ PCs, paid cloud options elsewhere — to become the playbook for Windows inbox apps. Notepad is just the first big example, and it’s a clear signal that the next generation of Windows features will be defined not just by what your OS can do, but by what your hardware can run on its own.