Microsoft has announced plans to discontinue WordPad, the basic word processing software that has been a part of the Windows operating system since its 95 version.
Going forward, the tech giant will recommend users switch to Microsoft Word, a more advanced and feature-rich word processor that requires a subscription.
According to a support note issued by Microsoft, “WordPad will no longer receive updates and will be discontinued in a forthcoming Windows release. For rich text files like .doc and .rtf, we recommend Microsoft Word, and for plain text files like .txt, we recommend Windows Notepad.”
The announcement comes hot on the heels of Microsoft’s recent revelation that they are enhancing the Notepad application with new features like autosave and automatic tab restoration. While Notepad received updates in 2018 and again in the Windows 11 edition, WordPad hasn’t seen significant changes since its redesign in Windows 8.
WordPad last received a significant update with the Windows 7’s Ribbon UI, and hasn’t seen any major changes since a modest redesign in Windows 8. It is expected that WordPad will be completely phased out in an upcoming version of Windows, most likely Windows 12, which is anticipated to be released in 2024 and will feature a host of AI-powered functionalities.
