Microsoft introduced in the present day that it’ll deprecate WordPad with a future Home windows replace because it’s not below lively growth, although the corporate didn’t specify the exact timing of this alteration.
WordPad is a fundamental text-editing utility that permits customers to create and edit paperwork with formatted textual content and embody pictures and hyperlinks to different information.
It’s mechanically put in on Home windows techniques beginning in 1995 since Home windows 95 was launched, offering customers with a fundamental phrase processor and doc editor built-in into the working system.
The corporate now suggests the Microsoft Phrase app as a substitute for WordPad customers and Notepad for individuals who do not want wealthy textual content assist.
“WordPad is not being up to date and will likely be eliminated in a future launch of Home windows,” Microsoft revealed in the present day.
“We advocate Microsoft Phrase for wealthy textual content paperwork like .doc and .rtf and Home windows Notepad for plain textual content paperwork like .txt.”
This does not come as a shock, on condition that this system has been an optionally available Home windows characteristic for the reason that Home windows 10 Insider Construct 19551 launch in February 2020.
Though it is nonetheless being put in by default on all Home windows techniques, it made it doable to uninstall it utilizing the ‘Non-compulsory options’ management panel.
Whereas not tagged by Redmond as the rationale for discontinuing WordPad, earlier this yr, the Qbot malware operation additionally began infecting computer systems and evading detection by abusing a DLL hijacking flaw within the Home windows 10 WordPad app.
Paint moved on the Microsoft Retailer, Cortana slowly being killed off
5 years in the past, Microsoft additionally introduced that the basic Home windows Paint utility could be deprecated and eliminated with the discharge of the Home windows 10 Fall Creator’s Replace in July 2017.
Nevertheless, following an outpour of affection for the app, Redmond determined to not fully kill it, as a substitute making it obtainable by means of the Microsoft Retailer.
If sufficient individuals ask for it, perhaps Microsoft will even transfer WordPad to its app retailer in order that it stays obtainable as a much less feature-rich substitute to Microsoft Workplace and related software program.
The corporate additionally formally started killing off the Cortana voice-based assistant in Home windows 11 Canary preview builds launched in early August 2023.
The app’s spot as a Home windows digital assistant has already been stuffed by the AI-powered Home windows Copilot unveiled throughout this yr’s Construct convention.
