Online WordPad is a free, browser-based word processor — no account, no installation, no waiting. This guide walks you through every core feature so you can go from a blank page to a finished, exported document in minutes.

1. Opening the Editor

1. Go to wordpad.online/pad in any modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari).
2. The editor loads instantly with a blank document ready to type.
3. No sign-in screen, no tutorial pop-up — just an empty page waiting for your words.

The editor works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, and iPad.

2. Writing and Typing Basics

Click anywhere in the document area and start typing. The editor behaves like a standard word processor:

• Press Enter to start a new paragraph.
• Press Shift+Enter to insert a line break within the same paragraph.
• Press Tab to indent text or move between table cells.
• Ctrl+Z undoes your last action. Ctrl+Y redoes it.

3. Formatting Text

The Toolbar

The formatting toolbar sits at the top of the editor. Use it to apply:

Select the text you want to format first, then click the toolbar button. You can also apply formatting before you type — the style stays active until you toggle it off.

Keyboard Shortcuts for Formatting

• Ctrl+B — Bold
• Ctrl+I — Italic
• Ctrl+U — Underline

4. Using the Slash Command Menu

Type / anywhere in the document to open the command menu. It gives you quick access to:

• Headings (H1, H2, H3)
• Bullet lists and numbered lists
• Tables
• Images
• Page breaks
• Blockquotes and code blocks

Scroll through the list or keep typing to filter by name (for example, type /table to jump straight to the table option). Press Enter to insert the selected element.

5. Inserting a Table

1. Place your cursor where you want the table.
2. Click the Table button in the toolbar or type /table in the slash command menu.
3. Drag over the grid picker to choose the number of rows and columns.
4. Click to insert the table.
5. Right-click any cell to add or remove rows and columns.

6. Inserting an Image

Paste method: Copy an image to your clipboard (screenshot, right-click → Copy Image), then press Ctrl+V inside the editor.

Upload method:

1. Click the Image button in the toolbar.
2. Select a file from your computer (.jpg, .png, .gif, .webp).
3. The image appears inline in your document.

After inserting, drag the corner handles to resize. Click the image to access alignment and crop options.

7. Adding a Page Break

1. Place your cursor at the point where you want the new page to begin.
2. Type /page break in the slash command menu, or click Insert → Page Break in the toolbar.
3. A visible divider appears in the editor. Content below the break starts on a new page when printed or exported.

8. Auto-Save

Online WordPad saves your document automatically to your browser's local storage every few seconds. You do not need to press Ctrl+S.

• The document persists across page refreshes and browser restarts.
• Storage is local to your device and browser — your content never leaves your computer.
• If you clear your browser data or use a private/incognito window, the document will not be retained after you close the tab.

9. Exporting Your Document

1. Click File in the top menu.
2. Select Export.
3. Choose your format:

4. The file downloads to your computer immediately.

10. Printing Your Document

1. Press Ctrl+P or go to File → Print.
2. The browser print dialog opens with a formatted preview.
3. Adjust page margins (0.5 cm to 2 cm) in the Online WordPad print settings before opening the dialog.
4. Select your printer and click Print.

For the best print output, use Chrome and set margins to "Default" in the browser's print panel.

Ready to put this into practice? Open the editor and start your document now — it's free, instant, and requires nothing to install.