In September 2023, Microsoft made the unexpected announcement that it would discontinue its free text editing application, WordPad. For many users, WordPad served as a straightforward and practical alternative to Microsoft Word, but it has now been removed from the Windows operating system.
The release of Windows 11 24H2 signifies the official sunset of WordPad, alongside the removal of several other features in this update, which is currently being deployed. (If you’re curious about when you’ll receive this update, check out our article detailing its rollout schedule.)
If you’re in search of a free substitute, you might consider options like LibreOffice, but it may not quite replicate the experience of using WordPad. However, if you still have a fondness for WordPad and wish to keep it on your system, there’s a way you can do so.
How to Restore WordPad in Windows 11
You can easily restore WordPad to your Windows 11 setup. You’ll need the relevant files from an earlier version of Windows (prior to the 24H2 update) that still included WordPad. Although the WordPad folder remains in the 24H2 version, it no longer contains the actual wordpad.exe file.
On a Windows computer running version 23H2 or earlier, navigate to this file path in the File Explorer’s address bar:
C:\Program Files\Windows NT\Accessories
In this directory, you will find three items: WordpadFilter.dll, wordpad.exe, and a localization folder (e.g., en-US).
Transfer all three files to a USB drive or another external storage device. Then, take it to the computer from which WordPad has been removed and paste the files into any folder of your choice. For better organization, it’s advisable to create a new folder named WordPad.
Once you’ve pasted the files, right-click on wordpad.exe in the folder, choose Show more options, then go to Send to and select Desktop (create shortcut) to create a desktop shortcut.
Next, copy this new shortcut and navigate to the following location in File Explorer:
C:\Program Files\Data\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Program Files
Paste the shortcut here and rename it if needed.
After that, open the Start menu, click on All apps, and look for WordPad. You can now pin it to either the Start menu or the taskbar. (This step is crucial as WordPad won’t show in the search results unless installed this way.)
You may also want to configure WordPad as the default application for opening specific document types. To do this, visit Settings > Apps > Default apps and find WordPad in the list. For instance, you can set it as the default for opening all RTF documents.
Is This Approach Safe for WordPad in Windows 11 24H2?
Reinstalling WordPad on Windows 11 is indeed safe as you are utilizing official Microsoft files. However, do keep in mind that there will be no future feature or security updates for WordPad.
Consequently, if the application encounters glitches or becomes incompatible with other aspects of your system, you may ultimately have to part ways with WordPad. It is also conceivable that documents created in newer versions of Microsoft Office may eventually become inaccessible via WordPad.
For now, though, you can continue to utilize this free text editor using the outlined method.