Microsoft to Exclude WordPad from Future Windows Operating Systems
Microsoft to Exclude WordPad from Future Windows Operating Systems
Microsoft to Exclude WordPad from Future Windows Operating Systems.
Twenty-eight years ago, Microsoft introduced WordPad, a successor to a text editor called Microsoft Write. WordPad debuted as part of Windows 95, Microsoft’s then-cutting-edge operating system.
Since then, WordPad has been a staple in every Windows version, offering users basic text editing capabilities and support for popular formats like RTF, DOC, ODT, and more.
Now, nearly three decades later, Microsoft is poised to retire WordPad.
Microsoft has updated its official documentation, notifying users that WordPad is being phased out. The company stated that WordPad is no longer in active development, will not receive new features or updates, and will be removed from future Windows updates.
Microsoft states:
“WordPad is no longer being updated and will be removed in future versions of Windows. For rich text documents such as .doc and .rtf, we recommend using Microsoft Word. For plain text documents like .txt, we recommend using Windows Notepad.”
However, WordPad is not without first-party and third-party alternatives. Basic text editing can be done using Notepad (which recently added tabbed interface and session auto-save features), or users can opt for more advanced editors like Microsoft Word. The latter can be downloaded for free online or used as a standalone application with a Microsoft 365 subscription.
WordPad isn’t the only component Microsoft is removing from Windows. The company recently retired the voice assistant Cortana and announced the discontinuation of the Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool (MSDT).
Additionally, Microsoft will soon disable old transport layer security protocols to enhance the security of Windows 11.
More information about deprecated features in Windows can be found in the official documentation.
It’s important to note that deprecation and removal are distinct, meaning WordPad will remain usable for some time before Microsoft completely removes it.
Furthermore, Windows enthusiasts are likely to find ways to restore WordPad, allowing users who are not ready to part with this 30-year-old application in favor of more modern alternatives to continue using it.
