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You can use Notepad to manually compare text files, but it is suitable for small files or quick checks. Specific methods include: 1. Open files side by side in two Notepad windows, and visual comparison is achieved by dragging the window or using the "Snap" function; 2. Reading and comparing line by line, suitable for files with fewer content and obvious differences; 3. Find fixed patterns such as titles and version numbers to improve efficiency, and pay attention to the impact of blank lines or format differences; 4. Use copy and paste techniques to paste a paragraph of text from one file to another, and observe the mismatched parts to quickly locate the differences. Although these methods are not as accurate as professional tools, they can complete basic comparison tasks when only Notepad is available.

If you're stuck with only Notepad and need to compare two text files, it's not the most elegant solution, but it can be done manually. It's a bit tedious and best suited for small files or quick spot checks. Here's how you can approach it.

1. Open both files side by side

Notepad doesn't support split views or tabs, so the workaround is to open both files in separate Notepad windows.

• Open the first file: right-click it → “Open with” → Notepad.
• Do the same for the second file — this will launch a second Notepad window.

Now arrange the windows side by side:

• On Windows, drag each window to the left or right edge of the screen until they snap into place.
• Alternatively, use the "Snap" feature (Windows key Left/Right arrow) to position them.

This way, you can visually scan both files at the same time. Keep scrolling in sync to catch differences line by line.

2. Use line-by-line comparison

Once the files are side by side, go through each line manually. This works best if:

• The files are short (a few dozen lines or less).
• You're looking for obvious differences like missing lines or typos.

Here's how to do it effectively:

• Start from the top of both files.
• Read one line from each file and compare.
• If they match, move down both files.
• If they don't, note the difference and decide whether it's a real discrepancy or just formatting.

This method isn't foolproof, especially if lines are out of order or there are many small changes. But for simple checks, it gets the job done.

3. Look for patterns or repeated sections

Sometimes, even when comparing manually, certain patterns can help speed things up.

For example:

• Check headers or section titles first — these often align clearly.
• Look for timestamps, version numbers, or IDs that should be identified.
• If one file has extra blank lines or spacing, that might explain why lines don't match up.

You can also try copying and pasting parts of one file into the other temporarily to see if blocks of text match exactly.

Tip: Use Ctrl F to search for specific lines in either Notepad window. This helps jump to known matching points quickly.

4. Workaround: Use temporary copy-paste to highlight differences

If you're trying to find where the content diverges, here's a trick:

• Copy a block of text from one file.
• Paste it into the other Notepad window.
• Visually scan where the pasted text doesn't blend in — those are your differences.

This won't give you a full diff report, but it can help pinpoint mismatched areas faster than pure visual scanning.

It's definitely not as fast or accurate as using a proper diff tool, but if you're limited to Notepad, these methods can help you manually compare files without installing anything new.

Basically that's it.

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