How to Summarize Text with AI in Windows 11 Notepad

Windows 11 Notepad now includes a built-in AI feature called Copilot that can summarize any selected text or document directly in the app. You select the text, right-click, and choose a summarization option; Copilot then generates a concise summary in a side panel, which you can copy or insert back into your document. No extra software is needed—just a Microsoft account and an internet connection.

What You’ll Need

• A PC running Windows 11 (version 23H2 or later, with the latest updates installed).
• Notepad updated to version 11.2402.18.0 or newer (check via Settings > About in Notepad).
• A free Microsoft account (or a work/school account) signed into Windows.
• An active internet connection—Copilot requires online access.
• Your text or document saved as a .txt file, or just open in Notepad.

Step-by-Step

1. Open Notepad by clicking the Start button, typing “Notepad,� and pressing Enter.
2. Open the document you want to summarize: go to File > Open, or press Ctrl+O, and select the text file. If you haven’t saved your text yet, just paste it into a new Notepad window.
3. Select the text you want to summarize. To summarize the whole document, press Ctrl+A to select everything. For a specific section, click and drag over it.
4. Right-click the selected text to open the context menu.
5. In the menu, hover over “Copilot� (or click it directly). A submenu appears.
6. Choose “Summarize� from the submenu. Copilot will open a panel on the right side of the Notepad window.
7. Wait a few seconds while Copilot processes the text. The summary appears in the panel, usually as a bulleted list or a short paragraph.
8. Review the summary. If you want a different length or style, you can type a follow-up prompt in the text box at the bottom of the Copilot panel (e.g., “Make it shorter� or “Summarize in three bullet points�).
9. To use the summary, click the “Copy� icon (two overlapping squares) at the top of the Copilot panel, then paste it (Ctrl+V) into your document or another app.
10. Alternatively, click the “Insert� button (if available) to place the summary directly at the cursor position in your Notepad document.
11. Close the Copilot panel by clicking the X in its top-right corner when you’re done.

Common Mistakes

• Not updating Notepad: If you don’t see the Copilot option, your Notepad is likely outdated. Go to the Microsoft Store, search for “Notepad,â€� and click “Update.â€�
• Selecting nothing: The Copilot menu only appears when text is selected. If you right-click without selecting, you won’t see the Summarize option.
• Expecting offline use: Copilot requires internet. If you’re offline, the feature won’t work—you’ll get an error message.
• Using a local account: If you’re signed into Windows with a local account (no Microsoft account), Copilot may not be available. Sign in with a Microsoft account in Settings > Accounts.
• Ignoring the summary quality: AI summaries can miss nuances. Always read the summary to ensure it captures the main points accurately, especially for technical or legal documents.

Tips

• For very long documents (over a few pages), Copilot may only summarize the first portion. Consider summarizing section by section for better results.
• Use the prompt box to refine the output: ask for “key points only,â€� “a one-sentence summary,â€� or “a summary in simple English.â€�
• If you want to summarize a PDF or Word document, first open it in Notepad (copy-paste the text) or convert it to a .txt file.
• Copilot can also explain, rewrite, or translate selected text—right-click and explore the other options in the Copilot submenu.
• Keep your original text saved before inserting the summary; you might want to compare or revert.

Troubleshooting

• Copilot option is missing: Update Notepad via the Microsoft Store. If it’s already updated, check Windows Update (Settings > Windows Update) and install all pending updates. Restart your PC.
• “Copilot is not availableâ€� error: Ensure you’re signed in with a Microsoft account. Go to Settings > Accounts and verify your email. Also check that your region supports Copilot—if not, you may need to change your region settings.
• Summary is blank or stuck: Close the Copilot panel, wait a few seconds, and try again. If it persists, disconnect and reconnect to the internet, or restart Notepad.
• Copilot takes too long: Large selections can slow it down. Try summarizing smaller chunks.
• Copilot gives a poor summary: Rephrase your prompt in the panel, e.g., “Summarize the main arguments in 3 bullet points.â€� If it’s still bad, the source text may be too technical or ambiguous—try simplifying the original text first.
• No internet or offline: Copilot won’t work. You can still use the old manual method: read and write your own summary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does Notepad Copilot work with any file type?
A: Notepad only opens plain text files (.txt). For other formats like .docx or .pdf, copy the text and paste it into a Notepad window first.

Q: Is the summary saved automatically?
A: No. The summary appears in the Copilot panel and is not saved unless you copy or insert it into your document.

Q: Can I use Copilot to summarize without selecting text?
A: No, you must select the text first. To summarize the entire document, press Ctrl+A to select all.

Q: Does this work on Windows 10?
A: No, the AI summarization feature is exclusive to Windows 11 Notepad. Windows 10 users can use other tools like Word Online or third-party summarizers.

Q: Is there a limit to how much text I can summarize?
A: Copilot can handle a few thousand characters, but very long documents may be truncated. For best results, keep selections under ~10,000 characters.

Q: Can I use Copilot to summarize text in other languages?
A: Yes, Copilot supports multiple languages. The summary will be in the same language as the selected text, or you can ask it to summarize in English.

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