Microsoft has announced that it will be removing its WordPad text tool from the next version of Windows 11, 24H2, as well as from the Windows Server 2025 platform. WordPad, a basic word processor included in many versions of Windows since 1995, will no longer be supported. In September, Microsoft advised users to use Memo Pad for plain text documents and Microsoft Word for rich text documents instead of WordPad.
Microsoft has updated its support document to confirm that WordPad will be removed from all Windows editions starting with Windows 11 version 24H2 and Windows Server 2025. This announcement comes after Microsoft confirmed that the next update of their operating system will be Windows 11, not Windows 12 as previously speculated by some.
It is clear that Microsoft is shifting away from WordPad in favor of other text processing options, signaling a change in their software offerings. Users will need to adapt to the removal of WordPad by utilizing alternative programs for their word processing needs. Although WordPad has been a staple in Windows operating systems for many years, Microsoft is moving towards a more streamlined software lineup for future updates.