WordPad, the simple text-editing software that has been a fixture of Windows since its inception, has been discontinued by Microsoft. This is a significant shift in the company’s software offerings. This decision, which follows Microsoft’s redesign of Notepad, will see WordPad phased out in future Windows releases, most likely commencing with Windows 12, which is scheduled to be released in 2024.
A report claims that even while the software has been pre-installed on Windows computers since it was created, it changed to an optional feature in 2020, allowing users to decide whether or not to use it. This shift hinted at Microsoft’s broader strategy to reevaluate and update its software lineup.
When we look at Microsoft’s larger word-processing software strategy, their justifications become evident. WordPad has always trailed behind Microsoft Word and Notepad, in terms of features and functionalities, although being adequate for simple text editing jobs.
Word Pad. Photo Credit: The Verge
The move to phase out WordPad is undoubtedly part of the plan to focus on Microsoft Word as the premier word-processing solution for its users. While Word comes with a price tag, it offers an array of advanced features, including document collaboration, advanced formatting options, and extensive template libraries. Microsoft Word has evolved into a powerful tool for professionals, students, and creatives alike.
The company is also encouraging users to look into exploring Microsoft Notepad. A generic text editor included with all versions of Windows that let you create, open, and read plain text files with a .txt file extension.
In a support note from Microsoft, it said,
WordPad is no longer being updated and will be removed in a future release of Windows. We recommend Microsoft Word for rich text documents like .doc and .rtf and Windows Notepad for plain text documents like .txt.
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