What is a NOW file? A NOW file is a plain text document commonly used as a README file to provide important information about a program, patch, or software update. It typically contains notes, such as installation instructions, usage guidance, known issues, or a summary of changes introduced in a new version. NOW files are often named readme.now to draw attention to time-sensitive or newly added information that users should review immediately.

More Information The NOW format does not belong to a single software platform or standard. Software users, system administrators, and developers reviewing installation or update details may encounter or use NOW files. Specifically, developers have used NOW files informally in older or cross-platform software distributions to distinguish update notes from more general documentation files, such as README.TXT files. You can open NOW files with any plain text or code editor. Some examples include Microsoft Notepad , Apple TextEdit , and Microsoft Visual Studio Code .