Windows loses this important free tool after 28 years

One of the oldest and most beloved features of Windows will soon disappear. Microsoft has confirmed that the next major update to its operating system will not include a word processing program that has been a Windows staple since 1995. The free tool, which many users rely on for basic document creation and editing, will be phased out after 28 years of service.

The program in question is none other than WordPad, the simple and lightweight word processor that comes pre-installed on all Windows PCs. WordPad is not as powerful or as versatile as Microsoft Word, but it offers a convenient and easy way to create and format text files without the need for any additional software. WordPad can handle rich text formatting, such as bold, italics, underline, bullets and alignment, as well as images and basic tables. It can also open and save files in various formats, such as .docx, .rtf, .txt and .odt.

WordPad has been part of Windows since the first version of Windows 95, which was released in August 1995. Since then, it has undergone several changes and improvements, but it has always been a free and accessible option for Windows users who need a simple word processor. WordPad is especially useful for people who do not have access to Microsoft Office or other paid alternatives, or who do not need the advanced features and functions of those programs.

However, Microsoft has decided that WordPad is no longer necessary or relevant to the modern Windows user. The company has announced that the next version of Windows, codenamed Sun Valley, will not include WordPad as a default application. Instead, users who want to use WordPad will have to download it from the Microsoft Store as an optional feature. Microsoft has not given a clear reason for this decision, but it may be related to the company’s efforts to optimize and modernize its operating system, as well as to promote its cloud-based services, such as Microsoft 365 and OneDrive.

The removal of WordPad from Windows will likely disappoint and frustrate many loyal users who have grown accustomed to using it for their daily tasks. Some users may even feel nostalgic about losing one of the oldest and most familiar features of Windows. However, Microsoft expects users to adapt to the change and embrace the new alternatives that are available in the Microsoft Store or online. For example, users can download Microsoft Word for free from the Microsoft Store if they have a Microsoft account and an Internet connection. Alternatively, users can use online word processors, such as Google Docs or Zoho Writer, which offer similar or even more features than WordPad.

The next version of Windows is expected to be released in late 2023 or early 2024. Until then, users will still be able to enjoy using WordPad on their current Windows PCs. However, they should also be prepared to say goodbye to this important free tool that has been part of Windows for 28 years.

Microsoft will remove Wordpad from Windows after 28 years. Microsoft announced in a blog post that the free Wordpad word processing program will no longer be part of the next generation of Windows. In other words:Windows 12 (or whatever the successor to Windows 11 is called) comes without Wordpad.

US media such as Windowslatest Expect the release of Windows 12, or more precisely the successor to Windows 11, in autumn 2024. Windows 12 would then be the first Windows without Wordpad on board.

Wordpad has existed since Windows 95

Wordpad has been part of Windows for 28 years; it first became part of Microsoft’s operating system in 1995 with Windows 95. Since Windows 7, Microsoft has not updated Wordpad, which is simple but completely sufficient for many word processing purposes, nor has it added new features. But Wordpad was included in every new version of Windows that was released. In October 2009, Wordpad received the last major innovation, namely the new ribbon bar in Windows 7. As of February 2020, Wordpad is an optional feature of Windows.

However, Microsoft does not give a specific date on when it will remove Wordpad. Instead, Microsoft’s support document only talks about the next release of Windows: «WordPad will no longer be updated and will be removed in a future version of Windows».