Almost thirty years in the past, Microsoft unveiled WordPad, a fundamental textual content enhancing software program that later usually got here pre-installed on Home windows machines, however now it’s going the way in which of Windows Movie Maker and Internet Explorer, and getting discontinued.
WordPad was packaged as part of Home windows 95, which was Microsoft’s flagship working system again within the day, and has been included in every launch of Home windows since then. It allowed a person to carry out fundamental textual content edits with none further software program, with capabilities like having the ability to embody photographs and hyperlinks to different recordsdata, and supported a number of in style textual content codecs.
Now, Microsoft has determined to retire WordPad, as detailed in an updated version of the latest Windows software documentation. It explains that as a part of deliberate improvement lifecycles, some options get launched and a few get eliminated to enhance person expertise. To this finish, WordPad won’t see any new developments or updates, and will probably be faraway from Windows 11 in a future software program replace.
A possible safety threat
There’s additionally speculation by Bleeping Computer that WordPad posed a safety threat. Earlier within the 12 months, some computer systems working Home windows have been contaminated with Qbot malware, which dodged detection by exploiting a hijacking flaw within the WordPad app for Home windows 10.
So, regardless of our nostalgia for the software program, it’s maybe greatest if Microsoft does certainly drop it.
If you’re an avid WordPad person, or simply on the lookout for some good free textual content editors, don’t fear, I’ve acquired you. Listed here are some various program suggestions you will get totally free each from Microsoft and from third-party builders.
Microsoft’s personal suggestions
Microsoft’s first suggestion is one you’re in all probability already accustomed to: Microsoft Word.
You need to use Microsoft Phrase on-line totally free with an Outlook account. You possibly can then signal into Microsoft 365 on-line, accessing Microsoft’s cloud-based suite of Office apps including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. You may also obtain Phrase as a standalone app with a Microsoft 365 subscription, however this isn’t free.
Microsoft Phrase continues to be a favourite alternative for a lot of customers, providing a wealth of options for writing, enhancing and formatting textual content, in addition to doc sharing, and makes use of wealthy textual content file varieties, most notably .docx, a proprietary file sort that not each textual content editor can open or edit. You can access Word online free here.
Its second suggestion is one other staple textual content editor that’s been featured in Home windows for years: Notepad. It’s primarily supposed for plain textual content paperwork corresponding to .txt recordsdata. Whereas WordPad is being dropped, Notepad continues to see updates to its performance.
Now you can open a number of recordsdata on the similar time with its new tabbed interface, have periods be autosaved, and keep it up engaged on a file in a unique program like Phrase.
Notepad is a favourite software amongst programmers, particularly for creating Home windows applications and functions. One huge characteristic it doesn’t have in addition to the wealthy textual content format options is spell examine, so it’s price checking your textual content by copy and pasting it elsewhere.
In case your system got here with Home windows put in on it, you must have already got Notepad put in. You possibly can seek for it within the search field in your taskbar.
Free third-party substitutes for WordPad
The primary substitute I might suggest is a favourite amongst fashionable professionals and college students: Google Docs. All you want is a Google account, which you’ll join utilizing any legitimate e-mail tackle totally free.
Microsoft Phrase does provide extra structure and formatting choices, however Google Docs is optimized for collaboration between customers and modifications are continuously saved in actual time. In case you’re already accustomed to textual content editors, it’s fairly straightforward to choose up. It’s a part of the Google Suite of apps that you need to use at the side of Google Docs, corresponding to Slide, Google’s presentation software program.
Subsequent up, I’d suggest LibreOffice Writer. LibreOffice is a collection of free open-source software program that’s an alternative choice to Microsoft Workplace, and Author is the suite’s phrase processing software program that has a ton of textual content formatting and structure options, in addition to compatibility with Microsoft Phrase doc codecs, together with the newer .docx format.
LibreOffice additionally sees energetic improvement, and steadily receives updates and new options. LibreOffice has a refined interface that could be very user-friendly, and also you’ll be up and working very quickly.
My remaining suggestion is WPS Office Writer. With the intention to get this, you’ll must obtain WPS Workplace.
As soon as put in, you’ll both must create or register with a WPS account, or alternatively you may register with Google, e-mail, or Fb.
WPS Workplace Author has an interface that’ll be acquainted to Microsoft Phrase customers and it even has a built-in WPS AI assistant to enhance your writing and assist generate concepts (you can also download the WPS AI assistant separately).
You possibly can then combine WPS Workplace with Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive.
Different options which can be being disabled
There are different options that may even be discontinued in a future Home windows replace. Cortana, its voice assistant challenger to the likes of Alexa and Google Assistant, will be turned off.
Microsoft can also be ending help and performance of the Microsoft Assist Diagnostic Device (MSDT) and will probably be turning off the previous Transport Layer Safety to enhance Home windows 11’s safety. Cortana’s been changed by Microsoft Copilot, which debuted at this 12 months’s Microsoft Construct convention, and goals to carry artificial intelligence options to Home windows 11 sooner or later.
The complete particulars and clarification of modifications, together with the discontinuation of options, might be discovered within the full up to date software program documentation for Home windows. So far as we all know, Wordpad will stay purposeful and accessible till the Home windows replace is definitely put in. Microsoft hasn’t but specified a date for when this will likely be, nonetheless.
In case you actually miss WordPad, and are reluctant to make use of one of many applications I’ve listed above, Neowin speculates that Windows enthusiasts will likely do their best to preserve the program. Microsoft Paint was additionally headed for the same destiny, but after an outcry from users described by Bleeping Computer, it wasn’t killed off solely, and made out there for obtain within the Microsoft Retailer. If there’s sufficient demand, Microsoft could take into account doing one thing much like WordPad.
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