Notepad++ 8.1 End of Life
Support dates and upgrade guidance — rebuilt from live data.
End of Life
Notepad++ 8.1 reached end of life on 1 Jan 2022. It no longer receives security fixes.
1,681 days without security patches
Recommended action: upgrade to Notepad++ 8.9. Support timeline
Official dates from the Notepad++ release process.
| Milestone | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Initial release | 17 Jun 2021 | — |
| End of life | 1 Jan 2022 | 4.6 years ago |
| Latest release | 8.1.9.3 · 8 Dec 2021 | final |
Where to go from 8.1
Recommended target: Notepad++ 8.9.
The newest actively supported branch is Notepad++ 8.9 (latest release 8.9.7).
Frequently asked questions
Is Notepad++ 8.1 still safe to use?
Notepad++ 8.1 reached end of life on 1 Jan 2022, 1,681 days ago, and is no longer covered by standard support. Running it means no guaranteed security fixes.
Can I still download Notepad++ 8.1?
Yes — the final release (8.1.9.3) generally remains available from vendor archives and OS package mirrors, but installing it means running software with known, unpatched vulnerabilities.
What should I upgrade Notepad++ 8.1 to?
Upgrade to Notepad++ 8.9, the newest actively supported branch.