Word Count in Notepad++: Use Summary Without a Plugin
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For a full-document word count in Notepad++, open View → Summary. You do not need an old TextFX plugin just to check a text file. The Summary dialog is a useful starting point for plain-text drafts, but a count of code or markup is not the same as a count of the prose a reader sees.
Open the built-in Summary dialog
Open the correct file tab, then choose View → Summary. Read the word count in the dialog. Check the file identity before recording the result: several tabs may contain similar draft names, and Summary concerns the active document rather than every open tab.
The ordinary status bar is not a substitute for word count. Length, line count, and cursor position describe other properties of the file. A long URL or a stretch of punctuation can add many characters without adding the same number of words. Do not report a file-length value when your editor or client asks for a word total.
Count a paragraph without changing the original file
For a precise excerpt workflow, copy the desired passage to a new temporary tab and run Summary there. This avoids depending on whether a particular dialog version reports a selection. Leave the original file untouched and verify that the copy begins and ends at the intended sentences.
Imagine a draft containing a 420-word introduction followed by 180 words of internal notes. A whole-file check includes both. Copying only the introduction into a temporary tab gives the measurement you need for an introduction-only limit. The numbers here illustrate the scope problem; the actual result depends on the text and the counter's parsing rules.
Why plugin advice can be misleading
Older tutorials may recommend TextFX. The Notepad++ community describes that plugin as deprecated, so it should not be your prerequisite for this simple task. Start with the current built-in command. If you later choose a plugin for a specialized workflow, review its compatibility and source rather than installing an old download from an unrelated tutorial.
Different plugins may use different word boundaries. A plugin total is not automatically more accurate just because it appears beside the editor. For a strict requirement, the important question is whether the counting method matches the recipient's instructions. Keep your spelling and punctuation correct rather than rewriting compounds merely to change a counter.
Separate source text from visible prose
An HTML file includes tags, attribute values, scripts, and other source material. A Markdown draft may include link destinations and formatting markers. Summary measures the file's text using its counting rules; it does not promise to measure only what a rendered page displays.
For a website article, use the rendered prose or an intentionally cleaned plain-text copy. Do not blindly delete everything between angle brackets from your only copy: that can remove meaningful examples or damage source files. Keep source and reader-facing text as separate documents so the measurement stays reproducible.
Make comparisons useful
When comparing Notepad++ with another counter, use a short test passage first. Include a normal sentence, a hyphenated compound, a number, and a URL. If those produce a difference, you have identified a boundary-rule issue rather than a mysterious editing error. For the final submission, use the required app or portal and save the exact draft you measured.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need TextFX for word count?
No. View → Summary provides a built-in document count; older TextFX instructions are unnecessary for this task.
Does counting an HTML file count only the article?
Not necessarily. Source markup and other file text can affect the count. Measure the visible article separately if that is your requirement.