Microsoft is ending Wordpad on Windows 11 … not right away but sometime soon. Here are your options for a replacement.
WordPad has been in Windows since 1995 as a basic word-processor with Word document compatibility. It was never much loved but still has an important place. It’s the only way to view or edit ever-present Word files (.docx .doc .rtf) direct in Windows without an Internet connection. Most people won’t miss Wordpad … until they need it.
A fast exit for Wordpad
Usually when Microsoft ends a part of Windows (their term is ‘deprecates’) the app remains on existing installations and becomes an optional extra for new installs. Eventually the app or feature is removed entirely. The whole process from deprecation announcement to removal can take years.
For WordPad, Microsoft is taking a much faster and harder approach. WordPad won’t be available at all on new Windows 11 installations from early 2024. Worse, an update to current Win11 machines is planned to delete Wordpad from existing computers! Many people won’t notice the deletion until they look for Wordpad.
Before that heavy-handed deletion happens, let’s look at alternatives Wordpad.
What to do instead of WordPad
WordPad serves two major editing needs in Windows, each need has a different replacement.
Text Files
Wordpad can edit any plain text file including .txt and text data files like .csv format
The obvious replacement for editing/viewing text files is Notepad, another Windows app which has received some overdue improvements in recent Windows 11 releases. It now supports multiple files on tabs among other changes.
Many people skip past Notepad to other text editors — our long-standing preference is Notepad++ .
Word documents
Word documents (.docx .doc etc) and Rich Text Format (.rtf) files can be viewed and edited in Wordpad.
Microsoft’s recommendation to replace Wordpad is to use Microsoft Word. Please contain your shock and surprise at this self-serving suggestion. Frankly, that Microsoft suggestion is really an insulting brush-off to their customers. Even the browser-based version of Word has many more features than WordPad but crucially it also requires an Internet connection.
Assuming Microsoft Office isn’t installed on the computer, what are the options for opening and editing Word documents?
Fastest alternative to Wordpad
The fastest option are the browser-based versions of Microsoft Word or Google Docs which are free for all comers. Upload a document, view or edit then download back to a computer.
See How to edit or view an Office document on your computer for step-by-step instructions. All you need is a compatible browser and a free Microsoft account.
Software alternatives to Wordpad
There are other software options available to view or edit Word documents.
If you have a Microsoft 365 plan, download and install the software. Even if it’s just temporary. Paid Office plans activate on five currently used machines. Licencing of Microsoft 365 hasn’t counted installations since 2018.
In 2018, Microsoft stopped supporting the free Word, Excel and PowerPoint Viewer software.
There are other software packages which have software compatible with Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents for Windows or Mac.
Save your Wordpad
An advance precaution is to copy the WordPad files to another folder. Save WordPad before it’s too late
Mobile apps
If you have a smartphone or tablet (under 10.1” screen) then maybe the Microsoft Office apps will be enough. These apps are available to everyone with a compatible device – Apple or Android.
