News Microsoft axes WordPad after 28 years of duty - Windows 95 stalwart has been removed from the new Windows 11 Canary Build

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I was the same way. Until 2015 it wasn't uncommon to see dual cores with 8GB RAM or less commonly even in some higher end machines, even in Microsoft Surface devices, and launching Office is a relatively long ordeal (launch Office on a Surface Pro 3 and you'll understand). When I was in college pre-2010 it really was an ordeal to launch, especially if you were late or just on time for class. Wordpad was the perfect balance of launch speed, enough features to start taking detailed notes immediately (which Notepad doesn't have) like formatting.

In 2024 though, with cell and WiFi coverage the way it is, even basic computer specs what they are, Google Docs and web based Word free, and Android's transcription app able to distinguish between different speakers and format as such, I agree it's time to say farewell to Wordpad.
 
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Alvar Miles Udell said:
In 2024 though, with cell and WiFi coverage the way it is, even basic computer specs what they are, Google Docs and web based Word free, and Android's transcription app able to distinguish between different speakers and format as such, I agree it's time to say farewell to Wordpad.
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While I can't say that I've made much use of Wordpad for the last couple decades, web-based alternatives are only acceptable for those willing to share their documents with questionable data harvesting companies. Not exactly a direct replacement for a compact, quick-loading word processor running directly off one's device. And really, the benefits of using a web-based word processor are questionable for anything outside of collaborative projects.

Getting rid of Wordpad is little more than a move to attempt to push users toward alternatives that they hope to profit off of. The software isn't exactly feature-packed, and word processors in general haven't changed much in 20 years, so it's not like it costs them any significant money to maintain, so there should be no logical reason to remove it.

TerryLaze said:
Didn't everybody already switch over to only using notepad++ years ago?!
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Notepad++ is not a word processor, but a text editor, making it more of a notepad replacement, if anything. Those are two largely different categories of document editors. Just as you probably wouldn't want to use Microsoft Word or LibreOffice Writer to type code, you likely wouldn't want to use Notepad++ to type a document intended for print or other uses where you need text formatting.
 
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As usual MS does the opposite of what it ought to do. A standard, offline office suite is obviously a benefit. Most Linux distros ship with LibreOffice preinstalled and that works quite well. MS should have expanded WordPad to include endnote/footnote and docx support. This would directly compete against GoogleDocs and provide a reason for students to choose Windows over ChromeOS, but instead MS chooses to cut off support altogether and "recommends" people use Word, which is not remotely comparable. Sadly, MS seems to care more about the user's data than it does providing a good experience.
 
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AlanC9 said:
Well, my workflow has to do with selling seafood, so WordPad isn't particularly helpful. But it's been my tool of choice for a long time for a bunch of mundane stuff. Taking notes in CRPGs and whatnot.

It's just annoying. Why would I go out of my way to annoy myself?
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I'm just saying...the user base of WordPad is vanishingly small.
I know of no one that still uses it. Uber geeks all the way down to oldsters with little clue.

MS just decided it is not worth the time and effort to continue with it.

There are a multitude of other, free tools for this.
GoogleDocs, LibreOffice, online Word, etc...


Tools and applications get removed and deprecated all the time. Across all OS's. Windows, Linux, Apple, Android.
 
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A good idea is to buy a physical copy of the old version of Office. I use Office 2019. It works fine and doesn't require a subscription. Might be a little hard to find a physical copy but its out there somewhere.

If anybody wines about not getting new features with old copy I just say "Oh well for you, if you need the newer stuff you can subscribe. Otherwise shut up."

edit: Just checked and Office 2019 is attached to my Microsoft account so if I wanted to I can just download it from the site. Still no sub needed.
 
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Geef said:
A good idea is to buy a physical copy of the old version of Office. I use Office 2019. It works fine and doesn't require a subscription. Might be a little hard to find a physical copy but its out there somewhere.

If anybody wines about not getting new features with old copy I just say "Oh well for you, if you need the newer stuff you can subscribe. Otherwise shut up."

edit: Just checked and Office 2019 is attached to my Microsoft account so if I wanted to I can just download it from the site. Still no sub needed.
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$100 or more for something that used to come with the operating system and literally is end of life in 2025 is not such a good idea.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/microsoft-office-2019
 
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USAFRet said:
Really?
Your actual workflow depends on WordPad?
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Some big name stores still only have WordPad as the available word processor for certain office/internal management sections. The Walgreens I worked for during my HS/College years did and still does; only having access to WordPad in the thin clients. According to the IT guys coming around every now and then to do a major server update, it was Walgreens cheaping out as the branch and main offices actually use a corporate MS Office suite.
 
Pity to see WordPad go. It was also the go-to app for me when writing text. Still is. There are alternatives (SoftMaker's FreeOffice is my favourite), but it's convenient to just have something built-in that's good enough for a little bit of formatted text.
 
Is this a bad time to remind people that Emacs has always been there for you? For those brave enough to try? We have copilot integration now too, if you like that sort of thing.

VScode is honestly in a similar space where it's kinda just the best for editing text however you need to. 80% of the way to Emacs for features, and about 50 times the oob experience
 
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