How To Windows
by Niharika

How to Compare Two Files in Notepad ++ 

September 22, 2026
0

How do I compare two files in Notepad? Notepad cannot help you compare two files, but Notepad++ can. Notepad++ is a practical alternative to the classic Windows Notepad, with advanced options, broad customization, and the ability to compare two files and save the differences. You can download the official Notepad ++ installer from the Notepad ++ Downloads page, double-click the installer, and then follow the setup wizard to install Notepad ++.

You can compare files in Notepad++ in several situations, such as identifying differences before merging files, comparing files side by side when moving them from one location to another, or comparing two versions of a file. This article explains how, and the sections below show how to compare text files in Notepad++ easily. 

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How to Compare Two Files in Notepad ++ Side By Side

You can compare files in Notepad ++ with or without a plugin. We recommend using a Compare plugin for file comparison, as it gives more accurate results with minimal effort. Below are both methods explained in detail.

Method 1: Compare files in Notepad ++ using a Compare plugin

The Compare plugin in Notepad ++ allows you to view the dissimilarities between two text files side-by-side. Below is how to install and use this plugin to compare two files in Notepad ++.

  • Open Notepad ++.  
  • Click Plugins.  
  • Click Plugin Admin.  
Plugin Admin
  • In the search box, type Compare Plugin and click Next.  
  • Check the Compare plugin box.
  • Click Install. 
  • If prompted to restart Notepad ++ to complete the plugin installation, click Yes.  
  • Back in the Notepad++ application, click Plugins.  
  • Click Plugin Admin and ensure you can find Compare in the Installed tab.
  • Next, click File in Notepad ++.
  • Click Open.  
  • Select the files you want to compare.
  • After opening both files in Notepad ++, click Plugins.  
  • Click Compare in the Plugins drop-down.
  • Next, click Compare to display the two files side by side, with their differences highlighted. Below is how to understand these differences.
Compare

Also know: Best Notepad++ Alternatives For Mac

Understanding file differences with a Compare plugin

The Compare plugin in Notepad ++ uses a color-coded system and symbols to display differences between two files. It highlights three main differences: changed sections in lines, added lines, and deleted lines. These differences are highlighted in colors and symbols:

  • Green color and a + symbol: Added lines.
  • Red color and a – symbol: Deleted lines.
  • Red or green color and a ≠ symbol: Changed sections; red color for deletion, green color for addition.
  • Blue color: Word case change between the two files.
  • Pink whitespace: Whitespace differences between the two files, such as line breaks or spacing changes.
  • ↕ Symbol: Text blocks moved up or down as compared to their position in the other file.
  • ≈ Symbol: Unchanged lines; identical content between the two files.

Additionally, line numbers help you navigate through these differences. Displayed side by side, the line numbers for both file versions help you track the changes when moving through the lines.

If you do not like the default colors in the Compare plugin, you can even customize it to compare files in Notepad ++ according to your requirements.

Customizing the Compare plugin in Notepad ++

Below is how to customize various Compare plugin settings in Notepad ++, such as colors, text wrapping, and file priority.

  • Open Notepad ++.  
  • Follow the path File > Open to open the files you want to compare.
  • Follow the path Plugins > Compare > Compare to compare the files.
  • When the comparison starts, follow the path Plugins > Compare > Settings.  
  • In the Compare Plugin Settings, you can change various comparison features and options, such as file positioning with the First is option, or enable Go to first diff after re-compare to navigate to the first difference in the file.
  • To change the color settings, choose one of the available color tabs in the Color settings and then select an alternative. You can also change the transparency levels through the Highlight transparency value from 0 to 100.
  • If you want to reset any change, click Reset.  
  • Click OK to save the changes you have made.

Also know: Best AI Notetaker Software to Use for Meetings

Method 2: Compare two files in Notepad ++ without a plugin

Below are the steps to compare two files in Notepad ++ manually, without a plugin.

  • Open the files you wish to compare in Notepad ++.
  • Right-click the file tab you want to move to the side.
  • Click Move Document.  
  • Next, click Move to Other View to open your files side by side.

Note that there are no clear results when you compare two files in Notepad ++ without a plugin. There is no color coding and symbols to make the comparison easy, making it difficult to ensure that you spot all important differences. 

Regardless of how you compare files in Notepad ++, a few simple practices can make the comparison more reliable and error-free.

Best Practices for Comparing Content of Two Files in Notepad ++ 

Below are a few habits to compare 2 files in Notepad ++ reliably without errors.

  • Normalize before comparing files to prevent false positives. To do this, follow the path Edit > EOL Conversion and Encoding.  
  • If you are comparing code reformatted through Black, Prettier, or a similar tool, use Ignore Whitespace for reformatted code.
  • For comparing files with both free-text values and structured lists, split the comparison; compare lists separately from prose.
  • Save your comparison results for easy analysis, compliance, auditing, or team review. You can do this through the copy option in the Compare plugin.

If, for some reason, you do not like Notepad ++, Open PowerShell and then run: $file1 = Get-Content “C:\path\to\file1.txt” 

$file2 = Get-Content “C:\path\to\file2.txt” 

Compare-Object $file1 $file2

Though a complicated process, the above command helps compare two files without Notepad ++.

Check the answers to the commonly asked questions below to clear up any persistent doubts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How can I compare two files side by side in Notepad++?

To compare files in Notepad ++, follow the path Plugins > Plugins Admin to install the Compare plugin, and then follow the path Plugins > Compare > Compare. For details and alternatives, refer to the guide above.

Q2. What is the shortcut to compare two files in Notepad ++?

Ctrl + Alt + C is the default shortcut to compare 2 files in Notepad ++ using the Compare plugin. For older versions of the Compare plugin, the shortcut to compare files may be Alt + D.

Q3. What file types can I compare in Notepad ++?

You can compare all plain text-based file formats in Notepad ++, such as SQL, CODE, LOG, CSV, JSON, XML, etc.

Q4. Can I compare files in a regular Notepad?

No, you cannot compare files in a regular Notepad, as it does not have a diff feature or a plugin system to open two files side by side. However, you can use the Compare-Object cmdlet in Windows PowerShell to open two Notepad windows side by side for a visual scan.

Q5. Can I compare binary files in Notepad ++?

No, Notepad ++ and the Compare plugin can only compare text files. To compare binary files, you need a hex diff tool.

Hopefully, you can now compare two files in Notepad ++ easily to inspect changes without exiting your editor. If you have questions or need further clarification, leave us a comment.

Author

Niharika

Niharika is a passionate soul who finds immense satisfaction in putting all her thoughts in writing. Being a technology enthusiast, she loves learning new things about tech and making everyone technologically literate through her articles. When not composing tech articles, you can find her bringing characters to life in her fictional stories, reading something intriguing, or spending time with her near and dear ones.

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What is msedge.exe and How to Fix this Message

What is msedge.exe and How to Fix this Message

November 20, 2023
0

This article introduces you to the best possible solutions to the common yet frustrating Microsoft Edge process msedge.exe errors.

Many Windows users recently reported a mysterious and unusual msedge.exe process running on their computer in the background. Have you also noticed such a process in your Task Manager? If yes, do not panic, as it is simply a Microsoft Edge browser process.

However, it consumes a significant amount of your system resources, leading to performance issues. Moreover, such a process can be a virus in disguise. Hence, it becomes essential to remove it if your computer has been behaving strangely and not performing up to your expectations.

In this article, we are going to discuss how to remove it from your computer or fix related errors. However, before attempting to terminate the process or solve the problems, let us first understand the msedge.exe in a little more detail.

Msedge.exe: What Is It

In simple terms, msedge.exe is an executable file required for the smooth functioning of the Microsoft Edge browser. This file helps you launch and run the browser.

However, the msedge.exe you see in the task manager can be an imposter. It can be a virus hampering your browser and overall device performance. Hence, to check whether or not it is a genuine process running on your PC, you should check the location of this executable file.

The genuine file is located at no location other than the C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\. Moreover, your computer cannot have multiple msedge.exe files.

To ensure you only have one file, navigate to your computer’s primary drive (generally the C:) drive and search for the msedge file. Also, note that the legitimate msedge.exe file is equal to or close to a size of 2, 964, 368 bytes. If you have a file significantly more or less than this size, the file may be malware.

If you are experiencing errors like msedge.exe not found, msedge.exe application error, or high CPU usage by msedge.exe, the causes can be missing/corrupted msedge.exe file, outdated browser, or malware infections. Moreover, a cluttered PC may be another reason for the issues you are experiencing (you can try using a renowned PC cleaner software to solve the problems).

After learning what is msedge.exe, let us learn how to remove it if it is malware or fix the issues if it hampers the device’s performance.

How to Fix the Msedge.exe Message Error (100% Working)

You can apply the following solutions to solve the msedge.exe problems.

Fix 1: Scan your computer for corrupted or missing files

System file corruption or missing files can result in more than one problem, including the msedge.exe issues. Hence, here is how to scan your device and fix the file issues.

  • Firstly, input cmd in the search box.
  • Right-click Command Prompt and choose the Run as administrator option.In Search Box of Windows Type CMD
  • Now, input SFC /scannow in the command prompt window and press Enter. Command Prompt Open and Then Enter SFC-Scannow Command and Again Hit Enter
  • Lastly, restart your computer after the scan completes.

Also Read: How to Fix Ntoskrnl.exe High CPU and Disk Usage in Windows 10, 11

Fix 2: Run a security scan

Malware infections can be another reason your computer behaves erratically and you experience the msedge.exe errors. Hence, scanning your device for viruses and malware infection can help solve the problem. You can use one of the best antivirus software or the in-built Windows Defender to do it. Here is how to scan your computer using the Windows Defender.

  • Firstly, search and open Windows Security on your computer.Windows Security
  • Choose Virus & Threat Protection from the left panel of the on-screen window.Windows Security and then click on Virus & threat protection
  • Select the Scan options. Select Scan options in Virus & threat protection
  • Choose Full Scan from the available options and click Scan now to scan your whole computer for malware.
  • After completing the scan, check whether or not the problems associated with the msedge.exe file have been resolved. If they persist, below are more fixes for you to try.

Fix 3: Update Windows

Updating the operating system fixes a lot of common problems. It can also resolve the msedge.exe issues. Hence, here is how to update Windows.

  • Firstly, using your keyboard’s Windows+I keyboard shortcut, access the Settings panel.
  • Now, select Update & Security from the panel available on your screen.Click on Updates and Security
  • Ensure Windows Update is selected in the left panel. If not, select it.
  • Choose the option to Check for updates. Check for Windows Updates to Get Update for the Driver
  • Download and install all available OS updates.
  • Lastly, restart your computer after performing the above steps.

Also Read: How to Fix System Interrupts High CPU Usage [FIXED]

Fix 4: Update the Microsoft Edge browser

If you have an older version of the browser installed on your computer, you may be missing out on important security patches, bug fixes, and updates. It may result in unstable browser performance and compatibility issues with various extensions, websites, and your operating system, leading to msedge.exe error messages. Hence, here is how to update the browser to fix the issues.

  • Firstly, launch your Microsoft Edge browser.
  • Now, choose the three-dot menu from the browser window’s top-right corner.microsoft edge three dots
  • Select Help & Feedback from the on-screen options.
  • Choose to view the details About Microsoft Edge. 
  • Lastly, wait until your browser checks for and installs the available updates.

Fix 5: Run the DISM command

The DISM command finds and fixes the problems with your operating system which may have caused the msedge.exe errors. Hence, you can follow these steps to run it on your computer.

  • Firstly, search for and run Command Prompt as an administrator.In Search Box of Windows Type CMD
  • Input the DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth command in the on-screen window and press the Enter key.Type DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth i
  • Lastly, restart your computer after completing the scan.

Also Read: How to Fix WindowServer High CPU Usage on Mac [FIXED]

Fix 6: Use Task Manager to remove the msedge.exe malware

If you are sure the msedge.exe file you have on your device is malware (the file’s location is not where the default genuine file should be, you have multiple such files, or the file size is nowhere close to 2, 964, 368 bytes), you can remove it through Task Manager. Here are the steps to do so.

  • Firstly, right-click the empty space on your taskbar and choose Task Manager. 
  • Now, navigate to the Details tab and find the msedge.exe process that may be unrelated to the Microsoft Edge browser.
  • Right-click the msedge.exe process and select the option to Open file location. 
  • Now, right-click the available file and choose Delete from the on-screen options.
  • Lastly, select Yes to complete the removal process.

Msedge.exe Errors Fixed

This article explained various fixes you can apply to solve the msedge.exe problems. You can try them to get rid of the issues you are experiencing. In case of any confusion or question, please drop us a comment. For more useful tech guides, you can stay tuned to this blog. 

Best Free Video Merger Software

9 Best Free Video Merger Software in 2024 (Online & Offline)

February 5, 2024
0

How can I combine videos? Which video merging software is the best? Whether you’re merging video clips on a computer, a mobile device, or the internet, you probably have a lot of questions. Thus, we’d like to present to you the top 9 video merger software in this article.

A video merger creates a single file from one or more video clips. You can utilize a range of straightforward video joiners, as well as a number of straightforward editing tools, to help. You will have to combine several video clips into one when making a video. And instead of using cumbersome tools like Adobe Premiere Pro, a simple video merger tool is what you need in order to merge several video files.

List of 9 Best Video Merger Software in 2024 (Windows & Mac)

The leading eight free video mergers are listed here so you can combine videos without a watermark. Select the one you prefer and begin joining your videos without fear!

1. Movavi Video Merger & Converter

Movavi Video Editor and Merger

Movavi Video Converter, a component of the Movavi Video Suite, is designed to convert videos between different file formats. On the input side, it supports a variety of container files & codecs, and it exports video in the most widely used codecs.

Basic choices let you slightly alter the quality. Before the films are assembled, clips can be easily modified using a wide range of editing tools like stabilization, effects, trim, crop, and rotation. When downloaded, the software offers a free seven-day trial, and users who wish to use it for more than a week must purchase a license. All videos that are processed using the free version will have a watermark.

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2. Filmora Video Merger and Editor

Filmora Video Merger and Editor

Another best video merger that you can try is Filmora Video Editor and Merger. The interface of Filmora Video Editor is incredibly well-designed, and it supports a variety of platforms. Since it’s a full-fledged video editor, it’s not as easy to use as the more straightforward choices on our list. But, with greater complexity comes greater capability, which you may use to make a variety of adjustments through editing, including transitions, audio tracks, titles, effects, and trimming. Videos can be downloaded from the internet or recorded on your screen in the fully featured mode.

The merging process is made simpler by Filmora’s “Instant Cutter” if you don’t want to take on the challenge. Just choose your videos and export them. The paid premium edition of Instant Cutter is required to remove the watermark from exported videos even if it is free to use.

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3. Mergevideo.online

Mergevideo online

An excellent and simple online video merger tool available for all platforms. Mergevideo.online is an online software for combining various video clips. It is completely free to use. It lacks any sort of real and complex options.  Just choose the videos from the file browser or drag them into the browser window. Wait for the selected files to be uploaded, then choose Merge to proceed.  It can be accessed without any software installation formalities in all desktop and mobile browsers. If you’re a newbie, then Mergevideo.online is an ideal video merger software for you.

Download Now

4. WonderFox Free HD Video Converter

WonderFox Free HD Video Converter

WonderFox Free HD Video Converter Factory is the finest free video merger without a watermark for Windows users. It has outstanding format support and can effortlessly mix various videos into one while maintaining high quality. Along with video merging, it also includes basic editing features like video cutting, cropping, rotating, and applying filters. This tool also allows you to merge and cut audio files. There is no watermark on the exported file, and all of these features are free to use.

The speed at which Free HD Video Converter Factory can combine videos is only average. The Pro edition of this software may quickly combine videos with hardware acceleration or join videos without re-encoding if the video clips are of a similar file type.

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5. Video ToolBox

Video ToolBox

Another video merger for Windows software with a wide range of video features is Video Toolbox. Nevertheless, it only supports video files up to 300MB in size. The process of utilizing it is complicated since you have to register before you can upload the files from a hard drive or online video website, then merge them utilizing a drop-down command.  It supports numerous video formats and offers various video editing tools.

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6. MPEG Streamclip

MPEG Streamclip

MPEG Streamclip is free, open-source software and is designed to convert video clips. Select multiple files by choosing File > Open Files. After that, the video files will automatically be concatenated and arranged alphabetically. But, once the clips are opened, there is no ability to change the order in which they appear or rearrange them.

As a result, the video merging facilities provided by MPEG Streamclip are, at best, rather basic. It’s preferable to rename video files with numbers before accessing them in order to arrange them. There are several input and output choices with intricate settings. You can easily try this video merger software on Windows and Mac.

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7. Gihosoft Free Video Editor

Gihosoft Free Video Editor

Formerly known as Gihosoft Free Video Joiner, Gihosoft Free Video Editor is a flawless and simple-to-use video merging software that can be used to combine multiple video files into one on a Windows computer. Users can combine an endless number of video clips of any size. Even better, the entire combing procedure offers you lossless output movies and is simple to use without any technical knowledge. Many popular video and audio file extensions are supported, including .rmvb,.avi, mp4,.mpeg,.wmv,.mkv, mpg, webm, wav, mp3, etc.

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8. BeeCut

BeeCut

BeeCut is another free online video merger tool that enables users to effortlessly combine videos in practically every video format, including MP4, FLV, MOV, AVI, and more. You can change the order of your video clips while merging videos online for free with BeeCut.

In contrast to Gihosoft Free Video Editor and MP4Tools, it does not permit you to combine more than five videos, nor will it allow you to edit individual videos before merging them.

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9. Online Video Cutter

Online Video Cutter

As its name suggests, Online Video Cutter is an online video merger tool that you can use on your system to cut, crop, merge, rotate, and trim videos. In addition to this, you can also modify the playback speed. It is a cross-platform online tool that effectively works in any web browser like Safari, Chrome, Opera, and more.

This free video merger tool lets you export the files in all major formats including MKV, MP4, or MOV. And, in case your destination and source formats are the same, then you can also select a fast no-encode option. In sum, this is a robust online video editing tool that works in any web browser.

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9 Best Video Merger Software for Windows & Mac- Final Words

So, these are the top 9 free video merger software that you can use on your Windows and Mac. You can evaluate them side by side to choose which video file merging program best suits your requirements. Which one are you most eager to test out first? If you’re having trouble making a decision, we’d like to recommend the Filmora Video Editor as the best option because it allows users to combine, split, reverse, overlay, and perform other actions with videos according to their preference. What are you waiting for then?

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