Microsoft declared WordPad, the original text editor included in Windows 95, as obsolete in September 2023. Subsequently, the release notes for a Windows 11 preview build revealed that the company intends to remove WordPad from the operating system without the possibility of reinstallation. As a result, additional details have emerged regarding the imminent demise of the traditional WYSIWYG text editor.
According to a publication on the official Microsoft Learn website, the company has announced that WordPad will no longer be included in the upcoming Windows 11 version 24H2 and Windows Server 2025. As a result, both operating systems will not contain the WordPad components, including wordpad.exe, write.exe, and wordpadfilter.dll. In light of this change, Microsoft suggests that developers refrain from using these files in their applications and instead utilize Microsoft Word and Notepad.
Despite its limited features, WordPad was a reliable rich-text editor that supported RTF. However, the upcoming Windows 11 version 24H2 (also known as Windows 11 2024 Update) will no longer include a built-in text editor with RTF support. In such cases, Microsoft advises using Word for RTF files. For plain text files (TXT), Notepad is sufficient, and Microsoft assures users that it will continue to receive updates and new features.
When Microsoft announced the upcoming end of life for WordPad in September 2023, we published an article looking back at the history of this iconic Windows app. If you didn’t get a chance to read it, you can find it here.
Although there is no official method for restoring WordPad in Windows 11, users can still rely on enthusiasts to find a way to bring back the old text editor. As Windows is known for its backward compatibility, it should be relatively easy to port WordPad back, similar to restoring the old Task Manager and Notepad which are also simple tasks.
Farewell, WordPad, may you rest in peace.
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