Microsoft Bids Farewell to WordPad After Decades of Service to Windows Users
Microsoft has officially ceased development and support for WordPad, the word processing application that has been a part of Windows since 1995.
WordPad, the simple word processing application that has been a loyal companion to Windows users for 28 years, must now part ways. Microsoft has announced that WordPad will no longer receive updates and will be removed from future Windows releases.
This announcement came from Microsoft through its official website in early September 2023. "The WordPad application will no longer receive updates and will be removed in upcoming Windows releases," stated Microsoft as the developer of Windows.
The Early Days of WordPad
WordPad first emerged as a built-in application in Windows 95, which was launched in August 1995. This application was designed to assist users in creating and editing text documents in common formats such as .doc and .rtf.
WordPad had a user interface and features similar to Microsoft Word, albeit with more limited functionality. WordPad provided only basic editing features like font selection, color, size, and text formatting.
WordPad also lacked comprehensive text printing capabilities like Word. Therefore, WordPad was more suitable for creating simple and lightweight text documents.
The Evolution of WordPad
Since its debut in 1995, WordPad has not undergone significant changes. The application received design updates to align with the evolution of Windows interfaces.
In 2007, WordPad received an update with the Ribbon UI interface of Windows 7, introducing seven new tabs: Home, Insert, Page Layout, References, Mailing, Review, and View.
In 2012, WordPad underwent a minor design overhaul to match Windows 8. However, after that, Microsoft did not provide substantial updates for WordPad.
Until August 2023, WordPad could still be found and used in Windows 11, specifically in OS build 22621.2134.
WordPad Alternatives
Following the removal of WordPad from Windows, Microsoft recommends users to use Microsoft Word to open or create text documents in .doc and .rtf formats.
Microsoft Word is a more sophisticated and comprehensive word processing application compared to WordPad. Word offers numerous additional features such as tables, images, graphics, shapes, symbols, text alignment, table of contents, footnotes, comments, and more.
Word also provides superior text printing capabilities compared to WordPad. Users can customize paper size, margins, orientation, page layout, headers and footers, page numbers, and more.
Besides Microsoft Word, users can also utilize Notepad, which is also available in Windows, to open .txt format documents.
Notepad is the simplest text editing application in Windows. Notepad can only open or create plain text documents without any formatting.
Notepad is typically used for coding or taking quick notes. Despite its simplicity, Notepad has still received attention from Microsoft.
Starting from 2018, Notepad received several major updates such as Bing search support, text zoom, dynamic status bar, and more.
In Windows 11, Notepad also introduced tabbed features, allowing users to open multiple text documents within a single window.
Most recently, Microsoft announced that Notepad will receive automatic saving and automatic tab recovery features. These features will assist users in avoiding the loss of unsaved text documents.
In Conclusion
WordPad is a simple word processing application that has been a part of Windows since 1995. It was designed to help users create and edit text documents in common formats like .doc and .rtf.
However, after 28 years of service, WordPad must bid farewell to Windows users. Microsoft has announced that WordPad will no longer receive updates and will be removed from future Windows releases.
Users who need to open or create text documents in .doc and .rtf formats can turn to Microsoft Word, a more advanced and comprehensive option. Those looking for a straightforward text editing experience without formatting can rely on Notepad, which is simpler but still receives updates from Microsoft.
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