5 Best XML Plugins for Notepad++ in 2026 (Tested & Ranked)

XML Tools is the plugin most Notepad++ users need. Install it and format XML with Ctrl + Alt + Shift + B. Single-line XML becomes readable instantly.

Notepad shows XML in different colors but can't format it. Pasted XML stays as one long line. You can read it but can't work with it easily.

XML Tools fixes this. One keyboard shortcut formats any XML file. This guide shows you how to install it and use it.

How to Install Plugins in Notepad

First, check your Notepad version:

1. Open Notepad
2. Click the ? menu at the top
3. Click About Notepad
4. Look at the version number

If you see version 7.6 or higher: You're good. Continue below.

If you see version 7.5 or lower: Download the latest Notepad from notepad-plus-plus.org. Install it. Your settings stay safe.

To install any plugin:

1. Open Notepad
2. Click Plugins menu
3. Click Plugins Admin
4. Type the plugin name in the search box
5. Check the box next to it
6. Click Install
7. Notepad restarts automatically

That's it. The plugin is ready to use.

The 5 Best XML Plugins for Notepad

1. XML Tools (Start Here)

This is the plugin everyone needs. It makes messy XML readable with one keyboard shortcut.

How to install:

1. Plugins → Plugins Admin
2. Type "XML Tools" in search
3. Check the box
4. Click Install
5. Notepad++ restarts

How to use it:

Open any XML file. Press Ctrl + Alt + Shift + B. Done. Your XML is now formatted and easy to read.

What else it does:

• Finds things in XML: Search for specific parts using XPath
• Shows where you are: The bottom bar shows your location in the XML
• Closes tags automatically: Type

  <book>

  and it adds

  </book>

  for you
• Removes formatting: Makes XML compact again if needed

Who needs this:

• Anyone who copies XML from websites or APIs
• People editing configuration files
• Developers working with XML data

Bottom line: If you use Notepad for XML, install this plugin. It's free and makes XML readable.

Download: XML Tools on SourceForge

2. Tidy2 (For Finding Errors)

This plugin checks your XML for mistakes. It finds errors and tries to fix them automatically.

How to install:

Same as before: Plugins → Plugins Admin → search "Tidy2" → Install.

How to use it:

1. Open your XML file
2. Click Plugins → Tidy2 → Tidy: XML
3. Look at the bottom panel for errors
4. The plugin fixes simple errors automatically

What it finds:

• Missing closing tags
• Tags in wrong order
• Broken brackets
• Other syntax mistakes

Do you need this?

Only if you write XML by hand or work with XML from unreliable sources. If you just format XML from APIs, XML Tools is enough.

Download: Tidy2 on GitHub

3. Compare (For Seeing Changes)

This plugin shows two XML files side by side and highlights what's different.

How to install:

Plugins → Plugins Admin → search "Compare" → Install.

How to use it:

1. Open your first XML file
2. Open your second XML file in a new tab
3. Click Plugins → Compare → Compare
4. See both files side by side with differences highlighted

What the colors mean:

• Green: New stuff added
• Red: Stuff removed
• Yellow: Stuff changed

Who needs this:

• People reviewing changes before saving
• Teams checking what changed in config files
• Anyone comparing two versions of the same XML

Helpful shortcuts:

• Alt + Down: Jump to next difference
• Alt + Up: Jump to previous difference

Download: Compare on GitHub

Simple Comparison Table

4. MIME Tools (Only for Special Cases)

This plugin decodes Base64 text. You only need it if your XML contains encoded data.

What is Base64?

Sometimes XML files contain images or other data encoded as long strings of random-looking characters. That's Base64 encoding.

How to use it:

1. Select the encoded text in your XML
2. Click Plugins → MIME Tools → Base64 Decode
3. The decoded content replaces the selection

Do you need this?

Probably not. Most people never work with Base64-encoded XML. Skip this unless you know you need it.

Download: MIME Tools on SourceForge

5. NppExport (For Copying Formatted XML)

This plugin copies your XML with all the colors and formatting intact. Useful when you need to paste XML into documents or presentations.

How to install:

Plugins → Plugins Admin → search "NppExport" → Install.

How to use it:

1. Open your formatted XML file
2. Click Plugins → NppExport → Copy RTF to clipboard
3. Paste into Word, PowerPoint, or any rich text editor
4. Your XML appears with all colors preserved

What it does:

Exports your XML with syntax highlighting to rich text format. Great for documentation, presentations, or sharing formatted code.

Do you need this?

Only if you create documentation or presentations that include XML code. Most people don't need this.

Download: NppExport on GitHub or via Plugins Admin in Notepad

How to Use XML Tools (Step by Step)

First time setup:

1. Open Notepad
2. Click Plugins menu
3. Click Plugins Admin
4. Type "XML Tools" in search
5. Check the box
6. Click Install
7. Notepad restarts

Every time you need to format XML:

1. Open your XML file (or paste XML into Notepad)
2. Press Ctrl + Alt + Shift + B
3. Done - your XML is now formatted

That's the only shortcut you need to remember.

Quick Summary: What to Install

Everyone needs:

• XML Tools (for formatting)

Also useful:

• Tidy2 (if you want error checking)
• Compare (if you need to see what changed between files)

Probably don't need:

• MIME Tools (only for Base64 data)
• Converter (only for debugging encoding issues)

Most people install just XML Tools and they're done.

When to Use Notepad vs VS Code

Use Notepad when:

• You just need to format XML quickly
• You're on Windows
• You want something that opens instantly
• You have an older computer

Use VS Code when:

• You need to check XML against a schema
• You work on Mac or Linux too
• You're doing serious XML development
• You want better error messages

Many people use both. Notepad for quick tasks. VS Code for bigger projects.

Which Plugins Should You Actually Install?

Just want to format XML? Install XML Tools. That's the only plugin most people need.

Want to check for errors too? Add Tidy2. It finds mistakes in your XML.

Need to compare two XML files? Add Compare. It shows differences side by side.

Working with Base64 data? Add MIME Tools (but most people don't need this).

Most people only need XML Tools. Add others only if you have specific needs.

Common Questions

How do I format XML in Notepad?

Install XML Tools (Plugins → Plugins Admin → search "XML Tools"). Then open any XML file and press Ctrl + Alt + Shift + B. Your XML becomes readable instantly.

What's the best XML plugin for Notepad?

XML Tools. It's free, easy to install, and does everything most people need. One keyboard shortcut formats any XML file.

How do I check for XML errors in Notepad?

Install Tidy2 (Plugins → Plugins Admin → search "Tidy2"). Open your XML file and click Plugins → Tidy2 → Tidy: XML. Errors show at the bottom with line numbers.

Can I compare two XML files in Notepad?

Yes. Install Compare plugin. Open both files in separate tabs. Click Plugins → Compare → Compare. You'll see both files side by side with differences highlighted.

Does Notepad work with large XML files?

Yes. Notepad handles files up to 100MB without problems. XML Tools formatting works well on files up to 50MB. Bigger files take longer but still work.

Is Notepad better than VS Code for XML?

Different strengths. Notepad is faster and lighter (opens in 1 second, uses 20-40MB RAM). VS Code has better error checking and works on Mac/Linux too. For quick XML formatting on Windows, Notepad is great. For serious XML development, VS Code is better.

Related Reading

These guides help when Notepad is not the only editor in your workflow, or when teammates use different tools across Windows, macOS, and Linux:

1. Best XML extensions for VS Code
2. Best XML editors for Windows
3. Best XML editors for Mac
4. Best JSON plugins for Notepad
5. Best JSON extensions for VS Code

If you're comparing data formats, JSON vs XML vs YAML breaks down where each one fits best.

Need to combine multiple XML files? The XML merger tool handles it in your browser without installing anything.