Microsoft has officially announced that WordPad will be removed from the upcoming 24H2 version of Windows 11. This news comes as no surprise, as WordPad was also removed from the initial release of Windows 11 on the Canary channel earlier this year. The 24H2 version is expected to be released around September and will bring improvements for Arm devices.
WordPad has been a staple word processor in the Microsoft ecosystem since it was introduced with Windows 95 in August 1995. Positioned between Notepad and Microsoft Word, WordPad offered more text formatting functions than Notepad but lacked the full capabilities of Word. Despite its usefulness in the past for users who did not want to pay for MS Word, WordPad’s significance has dwindled as free alternatives to Microsoft Word have become more prevalent.
For those who still rely on the functionality of WordPad, all its features can now be found in the free web version of Microsoft Word. While the web version requires an internet connection, it allows for seamless synchronization of files across devices. This shift towards online word processing aligns with the trend of increasing internet connectivity among users.
As the 24H2 version of Windows 11 approaches, users should be prepared for the complete removal of WordPad from the operating system. With ample alternatives available, such as the free web version of Microsoft Word, the retirement of WordPad signifies a shift towards more modern and versatile word processing options in the Microsoft ecosystem.