Notepad++ has a Reload false alarm / bug? "This file has been modified by another program. Do you want to reload it"? even when it hadn't been recently modified at all?!

[Doug Ross]

@Marc-Greiner I am having this same issue as well. I am on version 8.4.5 32-bit, though it has been happening through the past several versions.

The steps are exactly the same as Marc described, though my files are being synced to OneDrive, not pCloud.

Also, my File Status Auto-Detection setting is set to “Enabled”.

[Alan Kilborn]

IMO, Notepad++ has trouble with this for files that are on these types of drives. In my case, like @Doug-Ross it is for OneDrive, and indeed I discussed it on this forum over 2 years ago; see current top result HERE and also note some other results…

There is also an “issue” open for this; see HERE.

Perhaps it isn’t a problem for most users of these services, so it has gained little attraction from those that could address it.

[Mountain-Eagle]

@Marc-Greiner I have this problem occasionally while using SpiderOak doing scheduled cloud storage backups every 30 minutes.
Windows 10 Pro 64 bits
Notepad++ v8.4.9 64 bits
Preferences ->
MISC. -> File Status Auto-Detection -> Enabled.
Backup -> Enable session snapshot and periodic backup every 5 minutes.

When I am prompted with: “Do you want to reload?” I click no and proceed normally.

I am a small business owner, with tech knowledge, not a developer.
I will be migrating from Windows 10 to Linux Mint, not upgrading to Windows 11.

[jim hughes]

I’m using NP++ for the first time and seems I’m getting this “file has been modified” warning constantly - except for my first access to the file. Any way I can turn this off?

[Terry R]

@jim-hughes said in Notepad++ has a Reload false alarm / bug? “This file has been modified by another program. Do you want to reload it”? even when it hadn’t been recently modified at all?!:

I’m getting this “file has been modified” warning constantly

This page of the online manual might help.

As you would have read, it tends to be an issue with cloud based storage, is that what you are using?

Terry

[Denis Rionnet]

I’ve been using Notepad++ for a very long time, and it’s only very recently that I experienced this constant “file has been modified” warning.
I currently use v8.8.1 (64bits on Windows 10), which I think is the most recent.
I understand that this behaviour can be disabled via the settings panel (it works: the warning gets muted)). But actually, this warning was a good feature as long as it was accurate.

[Ekopalypse]

@Denis-Rionnet

This usually works quite reliably as long as the underlying file system supports it.
Where are these files stored and which file system is used?

[Marshall-Brooks]

@Denis-Rionnet said in Notepad++ has a Reload false alarm / bug? "This file has been modified by another program. Do you want to reload it"? even when it hadn't been recently modified at all?!:

I understand that this behaviour can be disabled via the settings panel (it works: the warning gets muted)).

How and where? nvm - found it with Google - Settings>Misc>File Status auto-detection.

I’m having the same issue - for me, typically when I don’t save the file in NPP, lock the computer, and then unlock it and go back to editing.

Files are stored on a network hard drive (not Cloud storage). File protocol is SMB, if that is what @ekpalypse is asking.

I don’t think I’ve seen the message in NPP previously, but I’ve just started using it heavily.

I agree, the feature was handy when it worked.

For me, nobody else edit’s these files, and the one other program that I might edit them in notifies me if they were changed in NPP, so I’m okay with disabling it, but I’d like to see it fixed.

Debug info:
Notepad++ v8.8.1 (64-bit)
Build time : May 3 2025 - 18:41:09
Scintilla/Lexilla included : 5.5.6/5.4.4
Boost Regex included : 1_85
Path : C:\Program Files\Notepad++\notepad++.exe
Command Line : “Z:_Brooks Work\FM ExtendScript\Scripts_2025\OPS_JG_Update_Variables.jsx”
Admin mode : OFF
Local Conf mode : OFF
Cloud Config : OFF
Periodic Backup : ON
Placeholders : OFF
Scintilla Rendering Mode : SC_TECHNOLOGY_DEFAULT (0)
Multi-instance Mode : monoInst
File Status Auto-Detection : cdEnabledNew (for current file/tab only)
Dark Mode : OFF
OS Name : Windows 11 Enterprise (64-bit)
OS Version : 23H2
OS Build : 22631.5472
Current ANSI codepage : 1252
Plugins :
JSMinNPP (1.1905.1)
mimeTools (3.1)
NppConverter (4.6)
NppExport (0.4)
NPPJSONViewer (1.34)
XMLTools (3.1.1.13)

[kshipp]

I’ve experienced something similar - Notepad++ will begin to occasionally corrupt files when I try to save them to a network drive. I can tell when it’s going to happen because it will not respond “not responding” for about 5-10 seconds, then display that error message. And it corrupts the file!!! When I’m heavily coding, this happens constantly. I have to make back-up copies constantly since it WILL corrupt the files! Extremely frustrating. This has only started being a problem within the past 2 ? updates.

[githubtools101]

For anyone who wants to get rid of that annoying “This file has been modified… Do you want to reload it…” prompt/dialog box, do the following:

1. Go to Settings
2. Click Preferences
3. Click MISC.
4. Under “File Status Auto-Detection” click Disable from the drop-down menu
5. Close