How to Encode and Decode Base64 on Notepad ++

By Mitch Bartlett Updated July 11, 2024 Reviewed & Updated by Supreeth Koundinya

Quick Tips

Base64 is an encoding scheme that enables a safe standard for transmission of binary data over channels that only reliably support text data.
Highlight the data, select Plugins > MIME Tools, and select the encoding/decoding option.
For general purposes, “Base64 Encode with padding” is recommended.

How to Convert and Decode Base64 Data on Notepad ++

Here’s how you can easily encode and decode Base64 data on Notepad ++ on your PC.

Step 1: Open the document on Notepad ++.

To encode or decode Base64 data you need to first highlight the entire range of data you want to be encoded or decoded.

Step 2: Next, click on Plugins in the top bar, then MIME Tools. In the second level of the menu, you can see all of the Base64 encode and decode options.

Also Read: How to compare two files in Notepad ++.

Note: The encoders only work on selected data, make sure you highlight all the data you want encoded first.

Here’s what all of the encoding and decoding options do on Notepad ++.

“Base64 Encode” encodes all of the selected data into one Base64 string but omits the padding character even if it’s needed. This could cause compatibility issues with some Base64 decoders.
“Base64 Encode with padding” encodes all selected data but includes the padding where it’s needed.
“Base64 Encode with Unix EOL” specifically uses an “End Of Line” (EOL) character used by Unix systems, rather than the default Windows EOL. This can be helpful if a Unix-based command-line decoder is failing to decode the data.
“Base64 Encode by line” encodes each separate line of data into a separate Base64 string.
“Base64 Decode” decodes a single Base64 encoded string but may show corrupted output if there are unexpected characters.
“Base64 Decode strict” decodes a single Base64 string but will throw an error message if an unexpected character is detected, such as “&”.
“Base64 Decode by line” can decode multiple separate Base64 strings at once if they’re on new lines.

Also Read: Top 10 Notepad++ Plugins.

FAQs on Base64 Data Encoding and Decoding

1. Does encoding data to Base64 increase the size?

Encoding data to Base64 typically increases the size of the data by approximately 33%.

2. Where do I download Notepad ++?

You can download Notepad ++ from the official website.

3. Is Notepad ++ free to use?

Yes. Notepad ++ is free to install and use on Windows.

4. What happens if I try to decode data that is not Base64-encoded?

If you try to decode data that is not Base64-encoded, you’ll likely get a decoding error, and the output may be unreadable.

5. Is there a difference between URL-safe Base64 and standard Base64 encoding?

Yes, there is a difference between URL-safe Base64 and standard Base64 encoding. URL-safe Base64 uses different characters for the “+” and “/” symbols to make the encoded data safe for use in URLs and filenames.

6. Why am I not able to see the plugins menu on Notepad ++?

Ensure that you have installed Notepad++ correctly. Try re-installing Notepad ++ to fix the problem.