A fresh wave of updates is making familiar Windows apps smarter, as Microsoft begins testing new AI-driven features in Paint and Notepad for users enrolled in its Windows Insider programme.
Microsoft has announced a set of new capabilities for MS Paint and Notepad, currently rolling out to Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev channels on Windows 11. These updates focus on artificial intelligence and productivity enhancements, with a broader public release expected in the coming months.
One of the key additions is an AI Colouring Book feature in Paint. This tool allows users to create custom colouring pages by simply typing a text prompt. The AI converts the prompt into clean line art, similar to children’s colouring books, which can be coloured digitally or printed for offline use. Users can access the feature by opening Paint and selecting the colouring book option, where a text box appears for entering prompts. This feature is limited to Copilot+ PCs, and users must be signed in with their Microsoft account.
Paint has also received a new fill tolerance slider. This gives users better control over how the Fill tool applies colour. By adjusting the slider, users can decide how strictly the tool fills a selected area, helping avoid unwanted colour spill and making detailed artwork easier.
Notepad is also seeing meaningful upgrades. Microsoft has expanded its Markdown support, adding features such as strikethrough and nested lists. These formatting options can be used through keyboard shortcuts, a new formatting toolbar, or by typing markdown syntax directly. A new welcome experience has also been introduced to showcase recent features when users open Notepad.
In addition, Microsoft has improved existing AI-powered tools in Notepad, including Write, Rewrite, and Summarise. These tools now offer streaming previews, allowing users to see responses appear gradually instead of waiting for the full output. The AI features work whether processing happens on the device or in the cloud, but require users to be signed in with their Microsoft account.
These updates highlight Microsoft’s continued push to bring AI into everyday Windows apps, blending creativity and productivity into familiar tools.
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