Launched in 1995 with Windows 95, WordPad is a very basic word processing software, aimed at people looking to edit small documents. An upcoming Windows update will put an end to this.
“WordPad is no longer being updated and will be removed in a future version of Windows. » On its site dedicated to its discontinued applications (yes, that site exists), Microsoft announced on September 1, 2023 that it was preparing to discontinue WordPad, its lite version of Microsoft Word launched in 1995. The latest update to the software dated back to 2018, which left very little doubt about its future.
WordPad, a mini-Word
Included in Windows, WordPad has long been the easy way out for people looking for fast word processing software. You could use it to take notes, write an assignment or modify a file received by email. Of course, in order not to overshadow its paid Word software, Microsoft has restricted it for a long time. His goal was to make WordPad practical and cool, but not too much.
The problem with WordPad is that Microsoft, as so often in its history, probably lacked foresight as to its true role. Word, Notepad, OneNote… Several software have competed, to the point of making the usefulness of WordPad more mysterious. Since the software was no longer receiving updates, then it quickly became obsolete.
What if you still use WordPad? On its website, Microsoft “recommends Microsoft Word for rich text documents such as .doc and .rtf and Windows Notepad for plain text documents such as .txt. ». Its objective seems to impose the sale of its Microsoft 365 subscription, to access Word.
A disappearance in Windows 11… or Windows 12?
Another question: when will WordPad be discontinued? Technically, Microsoft could just remove it from a future Windows 11 update. It’s also possible that Microsoft is thinking bigger since, according to several rumors, Windows 12 is in the works. The removal of old native software is more of an event that happens in new major releases, which makes you want to believe in the rumor of an imminent new Windows.
Finally, last point, remember that Microsoft has already tried to kill some emblematic software, like Paint in 2017, in vain. Fan petitions had forced the web giant to review its copy, updating Paint. Will WordPad have as many defenders? It’s unlikely, but you never know.
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