Microsoft confirms when word processing software WordPad will bow out. We knew that it was going to disappear since 2023, but the firm remained unclear on the exact date.
It’s the end of an era. Perhaps you are unaware that Windows 11 still includes this word processing software that appeared with Windows 95 28 years ago, WordPad. However, it has been of service to many users over the years, notably through its ease of use and its native support for most basic text files such as RTF, ODT Or D.O.C.. Despite its almost 30 years of existence, WordPad remains a viable alternative to Word, Google Docs or Libre Office when it comes to quickly writing a document without complex formatting.
Its last update dates from 2012 with the launch of Windows 8 of which it takes the design. Since then, Microsoft has no longer taken care of the software and announced in September 2023 that WordPad would be removed during a future system update. It remains to be seen when exactly, with the Redmond firm remaining vague on this subject. At the end of January, a downloadable beta version if you are registered with the program Windows Insider removes WordPad from PC, but all other users can still enjoy it. Not for long.
WordPad will bow out of Windows 11 faster than we thought
On the page titled Resources for deprecated features, Microsoft added the following: “WordPad will be removed from all editions of Windows starting with Windows 11, version 24H2 and Windows Server 2025. As a result, Windows will no longer have a built-in RTF reader by default“. It is therefore the Windows 11 24H2 update expected for September which will mark the end of the word processing software. She will take the opportunity to delete these files:
- wordpad.exe
- WordpadFilter.dll
- write.exe
The company “recommends Microsoft Word for rich text documents like .doc and .rtf and Notepad for plain text documents like .txt“. Note that you can keep a working version of WordPad by copying the files wordpad.exe AndWordpadFilter.dll on an external medium. You will find them in C:Program Files (x86)Windows NTAccessories.