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How Do I Restart Notepad++?

Published Aug 29, 2025 4 min read
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You can restart Notepad++ manually by closing all instances of the application and reopening it from your Start Menu or a shortcut.

There is no single "Restart" command built into the Notepad++ user interface by default, but there are several advanced methods to automate the process for greater efficiency, including creating a custom command, using third-party software, or forcing a restart via the Task Manager.

The basic restart: Close and reopen

This method is the most straightforward and requires no special configuration. It ensures a clean shutdown and startup, which can help resolve minor glitches or complete the installation of new plugins.

  1. Save your work. Notepad++ is good at remembering unsaved files between sessions, but it's best to manually save any important changes before closing.
  2. Close all Notepad++ windows.
    • Click the X button on each window.
    • Alternatively, go to File > Exit from the main menu.
    • If you have multiple windows open, you may need to repeat this step until all are closed.
  3. Relaunch Notepad++.
    • Find the Notepad++ icon in your Start Menu or on your desktop and click it to open a fresh instance.

Advanced restart methods

For users who frequently need to restart Notepad++, these more advanced methods can be significant time-savers.

1. Create a custom restart command

By adding a custom command to Notepad++'s Run menu, you can create a single-click or keyboard shortcut to perform a restart.

  1. Go to Run > Run... in the main menu.
  2. Enter the restart command. In the dialog box, type the following:cmd /c taskkill /im notepad++.exe & start "" "$(NPP_FULL_FILE_PATH)"
    • This command ends all notepad++.exe processes and then immediately starts a new one.
  3. Save the command.
    • Click the Save... button.
    • Name the command "Restart Notepad++".
    • Assign an optional keyboard shortcut, like Ctrl + Alt + R.
    • Click OK to save.
  4. How to use it: From now on, you can simply go to Run > Restart Notepad++ or use your assigned keyboard shortcut to quickly relaunch the application.

2. Use a third-party automation tool (AutoHotKey)

For even more customization, you can use a free, third-party scripting utility like AutoHotKey to create a powerful, system-wide shortcut.

  1. Install AutoHotKey. Download and install the software from its official website.
  2. Create a new script. Right-click on your desktop, select New > AutoHotKey Script, and open the new file with Notepad++.
  3. Add the script. Enter the following code into the file and save it:``` ; Restart Notepad++ #IfWinActive ahk_class Notepad++ ^!r:: Send !{F4} Sleep, 500 Run notepad++ return #IfWinActive 
    









- `^!r::` designates the `Ctrl + Alt + R` shortcut.
- `Send !{F4}` closes the active Notepad++ window.
- `Sleep, 500` waits for half a second to ensure the process has ended.
- `Run notepad++` launches a new instance.
  4. Run the script. Double-click the saved .ahk file to run it. The shortcut will now work whenever a Notepad++ window is active.

3. Force a restart with the Task Manager

This method is for when Notepad++ becomes unresponsive and cannot be closed normally.

  1. Open Task Manager. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard.
  2. Find the process. Navigate to the Processes or Details tab.
  3. End the task.
    • Locate all entries for notepad++.exe.
    • Right-click each one and select End task.
  4. Relaunch the application. Open Notepad++ normally from your Start Menu.

4. Restarting to change user privileges

Sometimes, you need to restart Notepad++ with administrator privileges to save files in protected directories, or restart as a normal user to fix a permission-related issue.

To restart as administrator:

  1. Close all instances of Notepad++.
  2. Right-click your Notepad++ shortcut or Start Menu icon.
  3. Select Run as administrator.

To restart as a normal user (if it was running as admin):

  1. Close all instances of Notepad++, including any running as an administrator.
  2. Open Notepad++ normally from your shortcut or Start Menu.

Understanding session management and auto-reloading

Notepad++ is designed to remember your session by default, meaning it saves all open files and their content when you close it.

  • Session saving: When you restart Notepad++ through any of the above methods, your previously opened files and unsaved changes will reappear upon reopening, so there's no risk of losing data.
  • Automatic reloading: For dynamic files like log files, you can enable silent auto-reloading. Go to Settings > Preferences > MISC and check the "Update silently" box under the "File Status Auto-detection" section. This will prevent a pop-up and automatically refresh the file whenever changes are detected externally.

When is a restart necessary?

A restart is not required for many common operations, but it can be beneficial in several scenarios:

  • Plugin installation: Most plugins require a restart to be fully enabled after installation.
  • Settings changes: Some settings, like changes to localization or the menu bar appearance, require a restart to take full effect.
  • Troubleshooting: If Notepad++ is behaving erratically, a restart is often the first and most effective troubleshooting step.
  • Restoring from a crash: Following a crash, a restart can help restore any temporarily saved recovery data and return the program to a stable state.
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