Microsoft Depracting Wordpad In 22H2 Update

Microsoft has confirmed that WordPad will no longer be included in any editions of Windows starting with Windows 11, version 24H2, and Windows Server 2025. This was expected news since Microsoft had already announced in September 2023 that WordPad would be deprecated here in the deprecated features table, and it had disappeared from preview builds of Windows 11 in January 2024. The 24H2 update is expected to roll out to Windows 11 users around September 2024. This means that users won’t be able to reinstall WordPad, and the app won’t be present in new installations of Windows 11.

The decision to remove WordPad from Windows 11 is not surprising since the app has been around for a long time and is not used as much as it used to be. Microsoft aims to streamline Windows 11 so that it’s more efficient and user-friendly. This means removing legacy apps like WordPad and focusing on more modern apps like Notepad.

Notepad will still be included in Windows 11, and Microsoft is actively developing this lightweight text editing app. Unlike WordPad, Notepad has been given a new lease of life with extra features such as spellcheck and autocorrect. Microsoft is even considering adding an AI-based writing assistant to Notepad in the future.

It’s speculated that Microsoft may have decided to remove WordPad to make Notepad a more viable alternative to Word. Notepad is a simple, lightweight app that’s perfect for taking quick notes and editing text documents. With the addition of new features, it could even be used as a mini-Word alternative for users who don’t need the full functionality of Word. 

However, users who rely on WordPad and don’t want to lose it can choose not to update to the 24H2 version of Windows 11. They can stick with version 23H2, which will be supported until November 2025. But, eventually, Microsoft will force users to upgrade to the latest version of Windows 11 as older versions become unsupported and vulnerable to security risks.