Change size of tab text

C Bacca

I have Notepad++ v8.8. On Windows server 2013. (No we cannot update the OS.) This program has been updated several times over the past 10 years, overwriting files in install directory each time.

I use Courier size 10 in my main editing window for all file types: .pl, .txt.

I’m trying to change the font size of the tab text where the filename is shown but the steps I try do not work. Here is what I tried.

Go to Settings, Style Configurator.
For Select Theme I choose “Global Styles”.
I choose Global Override.
I choose Courier New size of 10.
I have also checked, and unchecked, “Force font choice for all styles” and “Force font size choice for all styles” and neither makes a difference.
Click Save and Close and restart Notepad.

But the text in the tab name is still too big.

In the Style box if I scroll down to “Active tab focused indicator” font size is not a choice. Font size and font name is not a choice for “Active tab unfocused indicator” and “Active tab text” even if I go to “Global Override” and unchecked the Forced boxes.

How do I make the size of the tab text smaller without affecting other text?

Thank you.

EDIT: On another PC I have Notepad++ v8.6 and the tab text is not even in courier and it is a correct, smaller size. I use courier for programming and all my text files. I’d like to make the tab text smaller because I often have 5+ files opened at once.

NPP Debug info:

Notepad++ v8.8 (64-bit)
Build time : Apr 24 2025 - 02:59:05
Scintilla/Lexilla included : 5.5.6/5.4.4
Boost Regex included : 1_85
Path : C:\Users\chuck\Apps\Notepad++\notepad++.exe
Command Line : “C:\PerlProgs\Chuck\hon\342610upd-ws-20250506\done\342610-04afoo_0730.txt”
Admin mode : OFF
Local Conf mode : ON
Cloud Config : OFF
Periodic Backup : OFF
Placeholders : OFF
Scintilla Rendering Mode : SC_TECHNOLOGY_DEFAULT (0)
Multi-instance Mode : monoInst
File Status Auto-Detection : cdEnabledOld (for all opened files/tabs) + cdAutoUpdate
Dark Mode : OFF
OS Name : Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard (64-bit)
OS Build : 9600.21620
Current ANSI codepage : 1252
Plugins :
AutoSave (2)
mimeTools (3.1)
NppConverter (4.6)
NppExport (0.4)

C Bacca

@C-Bacca It would be nice to right click on a tab, and choose “Change tab font” to change the font name and info for all files.

The tab text is definitely bigger than the text in the editor window.

PeterJones

@C-Bacca said in Change size of tab text:

But the text in the tab name is still too big.

The font/size for the tab name is not controlled by the style configurator. The only setting that affects the font/size for the tab name (as far as I know) is Settings > Preferences > Tab bar > Reduce, where it will be bigger if Reduce is not checkmarked and smaller if it is. Beyond that, there is no specific control available in Notepad++ for the font or font-size for that tab name text. Sorry.

C Bacca

@PeterJones Ok, Reduce was checked. So I’m stuck with this.

It would be nice to control the font size and font name for the tab bar text.

Thanks!

Consider this closed.