For years, Mac users who relied on Notepad++ had to use workarounds like Wine or CrossOver just to access one of the most trusted coding editors available on Windows. That has now changed, as Notepad++ for macOS is officially available as a native application, giving developers and long-time users a much easier way to use the editor on Apple devices.
This new macOS version keeps the same core experience that made Notepad++ popular for over two decades. Users still get the Scintilla editing engine, tabbed interface, syntax highlighting for more than 80 programming languages, powerful search and replace tools, macro recording, and plugin support. At the same time, the app now uses native macOS Cocoa APIs for menus, dialogs, file handling, and keyboard shortcuts, which means it feels properly integrated with macOS.
Don’t miss the best of The Mac Observer
Set us as a preferred source and our Apple reporting ranks higher in your Google Search results and Discover feed — one tap, no account changes.
Native Performance on Modern Macs
The app runs as a universal binary, so it works smoothly on both Apple silicon and Intel-based Macs without extra compatibility layers. Open-source developer Andrey Letov led the port by replacing the original Windows front-end with an Objective-C++ Cocoa interface.
Notepad++ for macOS is free, open-source, and available directly from the official website, making it a practical option for Mac users who want a familiar and powerful text editor.
Discussion