Last September, Microsoft announced that they were deprecating WordPad and removing it from Windows with the next version release. That release happens to be Windows 11 version 24H2, which the tech giant has now started rolling out to the public.
To put it simply, the beloved free text editor will no longer be available on future Windows versions — at least officially. If you still want to keep using it, we have brought you something that you can try.
Here’s How You Can Still Use WordPad on Windows 11
First of all, you will need a Windows machine that is still running Windows 11 version 23H2. So, if you have not received the update yet, you are in luck. Otherwise, you will have to arrange a computer that fulfills this requirement. On this computer, enter the following path in the address bar of File Explorer:
C:\Program Files\Windows NT\Accessories
Once you do so, you will see three items at this location. Their names are as follows:
- wordpad.exe (file)
- WordpadFilter.dll (file)
- en-US (folder; this may vary)
Copy all three of these to an external drive. After that, insert this external drive into the computer you want to use WordPad on and paste it there. The location of these items does not matter, although you can create a separate folder if you like to keep things organized.
Now, right-click on the wordpad.exe file and then click on Show more options. Then, open the Send to menu and select the Desktop (create shortcut) option. This will create a shortcut on your desktop. Now, copy this shortcut and paste it at the following location in the File Explorer:
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
Now, for the final few steps, open the Start menu and then click on the All Apps button. As you scroll down, you will find WordPad.
Now, if you want to shorten this way of locating the app, you can pin it to the taskbar or the Start menu. This will give you easy access.
We recommend doing this since WordPad will not appear in search results if you have followed the given steps for installing it. WordPad is now ready for you to use!
Use WordPad as Default
You can also make WordPad the default software for opening supported files if you want. To do so, open the Settings app, head into the Apps section, and click on the Default Apps option. Then, select WordPad and choose it as default for whichever types of files you want from there.
No Official Support from Microsoft
While you may have safely and successfully installed WordPad following these steps, it is important to note that you will not get any feature updates or security updates for it.
In other words, if the app ever starts giving you problems or having compatibility issues, you will have to say goodbye. So, enjoy it and make the most out of it while you still can!