After 30 years, Microsoft removed WordPad from Windows

Microsoft removed WordPad, it is no longer updating it, as it plans to remove the word processor from a future release of Windows. The software giant will instead replace it with Microsoft Word, its paid word processor that has always been far more feature-rich than the basic WordPad. The WordPad app has shipped as part of Windows since Windows 95.

“WordPad is no longer being updated and will be removed in a future release of Windows,” reads a support note published by Microsoft on Friday. “We recommend Microsoft Word for rich text documents like .doc and .rtf and Windows Notepad for plain text documents like .txt.” 

The recent announcement about WordPad's removal has surfaced near Microsoft's unveiling of substantial enhancements to its Notepad application. Microsoft's decision to improve Notepad by incorporating features such as autosave and automatic tab restoration serves as a testament to its commitment to refining user experience and productivity within its software ecosystem.

This development follows a significant milestone in 2018 when Microsoft released a comprehensive update to its Windows Notepad application. This update marked a pivotal moment as it represented the first substantial overhaul in the application's functionality and user interface in several years.

Furthermore, Microsoft continued to build upon these improvements by introducing tab support in the Windows 11 version of Notepad. This strategic addition empowers users to better organize their work, providing a more efficient and user-friendly environment for creating and managing documents.

In summary, the removal of WordPad comes amid a broader context of Microsoft's dedication to enhancing its software offerings. Their recent focus on revamping Notepad underscores their commitment to delivering cutting-edge features and a seamless user experience to their ever-evolving Windows ecosystem.

WordPad was last updated with Windows 7’s Ribbon UI, but after a slight Windows 8 redesign, it hasn’t had any major additions.  

Microsoft will now remove WordPad entirely in a “future release of Windows,” which will most likely be the Windows 12 version we’re expecting to see in 2024 with plenty of AI-powered features.