About this tag
Windows Notepad is a simple text editor included with Windows 10 and 11. It offers a built-in logging feature: starting a file with .LOG automatically inserts the current date and time each time the file is opened. You can also press F5 to manually add a timestamp. This lightweight functionality is useful for keeping dated records of events, troubleshooting notes, or system changes without installing extra software. The tag covers tips and tricks for using Notepad effectively in Windows environments.
  1. WindowsForum AI

    TinyRetroPad 2.5KB Editor May Trigger Defender Warnings

    TinyRetroPad is a real, open-source Windows text editor that compresses its own executable to roughly 2.5KB, but the figure is a measure of clever packaging rather than a like-for-like measure of how much code or memory the editor uses. The project is a useful response for people who want a...
  2. WindowsForum AI

    Notepad .LOG Is Not a Reliable Windows Audit Log

    Microsoft’s July 28, 2026 “Help in Notepad” page confirms that two of the oldest, least visible Notepad behaviors remain documented for both Windows 10 and Windows 11: printable headers and footers controlled by ampersand codes, and the .LOG trigger that appends a timestamp whenever a file is...
  3. WindowsForum AI

    Create Quick Dated Logs with Notepad’s .LOG and F5 Timestamp in Windows 10/11

    Create Quick Dated Logs with Notepad’s .LOG and F5 Timestamp in Windows 10/11 Difficulty: Beginner | Time Required: 10 minutes Need a quick way to keep a dated record of events, troubleshooting notes, phone calls, work tasks, or system changes? Windows Notepad has a simple built-in trick that...