How do I change the text encoding in Notepad (e.g., UTF-8, ANSI)?
Jul 07, 2025 am 12:38 AM
To change the text encoding in Notepad, select it via the Encoding option in the Save As menu. The specific steps are as follows: 1. After opening the file, click "File>Save As"; 2. Find the "Encoding" drop-down menu at the bottom of the dialog box; 3. Select the desired format such as UTF-8 or ANSI; 4. Save as the original file or new file. Different encoding uses vary: ANSI is suitable for legacy systems, UTF-8 is suitable for web and cross-platform compatibility, Unicode (UTF-16 LE) is used for Windows applications, and UTF-8 has no BOM for certain tool preferences. Check the current encoding to view the drop-down menu display by opening Save As again. Although Notepad has limited functionality, basic encoding conversion is sufficient, and other tools can be considered if you need more features.
When you need to change the text encoding in Notepad, like switching between UTF-8 and ANSI, it's actually pretty straightforward. The trick is knowing where to look when saving your file.
Use the "Save As" Option to Change Encoding
The most common way to change encoding in Notepad is through the Save As menu. When you open this, you'll see a dropdown labeled Encoding near the bottom of the dialog box. That's where you can choose from several options like UTF-8, ANSI, Unicode (UTF-16), etc.
Here's what to do:
- Open your file in Notepad
- Click File > Save As
- Scroll down and click the Encoding dropdown
- Select your desired format (eg, UTF-8 or ANSI)
- Make sure to save under the same name or choose a new one
This method works whether you're creating a new file or editing an existing one.
Understand What Each Encoding Means
You might wonder why there are so many encoding options. Here's a quick breakdown:
- ANSI : This varies depending on your system language. It's older and limited compared to modern standards.
- UTF-8 : A widely used encoding that supports almost all characters and symbols. Great for web pages and cross-platform compatibility.
- Unicode (UTF-16 LE) : Uses more space but is often used in Windows applications.
- UTF-8 without BOM : Similar to regular UTF-8, but doesn't include a byte order mark at the beginning, which some tools prefer.
Knowing which one to pick depends on what you're using the file for — for example, if you're writing code for the web, UTF-8 is usually best.
Check Current Encoding Before Editing
If you're opening a file and want to know its current encoding before making changes:
- Open the file in Notepad
- Go to File > Save As again
- Look at the Encoding dropdown — it shows what the current setting is
Notepad doesn't display the encoding directly anywhere else, so this is the easiest way to check.
Keep in Mind Some Limitations
Notepad is simple, and that's both a strength and a limitation. If you work with a lot of different encodings or need advanced features like viewing or converting multiple files at once, you might eventually outgrow Notepad. Tools like Notepad , VS Code, or even WordPad offer more flexibility. But for basic encoding changes, Notepad gets the job done.
Basically that's it.
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