IT House February 16 news, according to Windows Latest reported that a few weeks ago, Microsoft announced that Windows 11 will soon get some new features. As part of the update, Microsoft says it will refresh the look and feel of two key apps — Notepad and Groove Music (now called Media Player). Now, a few weeks after the beta release, the new Notepad and Media Player are finally starting to roll out to all users.
Starting this Wednesday, the new Notepad and Media Player will be available to all Windows 11 users through the Microsoft Store. Similar to previously released updates to native apps, Notepad and Media Player apps are getting a smooth design revamp, with windows or buttons featuring rounded UI.
Because the redesigned app is brand new, Microsoft has chosen to keep the classic version of Notepad or groove Music's default app for the time being. The new Notepad and Windows Media Player will be installed on PC devices later this year or next year as new pre-installed default apps.
notepad
Notepad's major design updates introduce a fluid design and WinUI overhaul that aligns the app with the rest of Windows 11's interface. As mentioned earlier, Notepad now uses WinUI controls, so you can expect better font access, new animations for drop-down menus, and more.
Microsoft is also adding a rounded UI to Notepad's windows, buttons, and other areas.
What's more, Notepad now has its own settings page, which allows users to customize fonts from drop-down lists. The settings page even lets you switch between dark, light, and system themes.
While the rounded corners may seem like a small change, the notepad's settings page is more useful in the long run as Microsoft adds more customization features.
Updates like Dark Mode will also be welcome.
It's worth noting that Notepad also retains its simplicity, and users can still use features like Find.
Media Player
After nearly three months of testing the new Media Player, Windows Media Player is finally open to everyone on Windows 11.
Media Player is replacing Groove Music — the app first joined with Windows 10 systems and has been around for some time as the default audio player.
Interestingly, Microsoft didn't refer to the new Media Player as the "successor to the iconic Windows Media Player," one of the most popular apps of the time. Media Player is advertised as an alternative to Groove music. As a result, the Movies & TV app, which can only play media content, remains here for now.
To download Notepad and Media Player, you'll need Windows 11 Build 22000.346 or later. If you're already using the latest productivity version of your operating system, then you can head to the Microsoft Store and check for updates to download both new apps.
While the Notepad interface simply gets updates, Media Player requires data migration, which is done automatically if you use Groove Music. Once applied, you'll find That Media Player replaces Groove Music in your List of Start menu apps.
In testing, we noticed that some applications were updated, but not available on all Windows 11 devices. We're guessing that the updated Notepad and Media Player will be part of Windows 11 Sun Valley, and most users will get these updates by the end of the week.