In October 2023, Microsoft quietly removed WordPad from Windows 11. A program that had been part of Windows since 1995 was gone — no installer, no download page, no replacement built into the operating system. If you have updated to Windows 11 and noticed WordPad is missing, you are not alone. Here is what happened and the best free replacements available now.
When Was WordPad Removed?
Microsoft announced WordPad's deprecation in September 2023 and removed it from Windows 11 via the October 2023 cumulative update (KB5031455). After installing that update, the program simply disappears. It is not uninstalled in the traditional sense — it is excised from the operating system entirely.
The removal also applies to clean installs of Windows 11 after that date. WordPad is no longer included in any version of Windows 11.
Windows 10 users still have WordPad for now, but Microsoft has signaled it will not be maintained going forward.
What Microsoft Recommends
Microsoft's official position is to use Word or OneNote as replacements:
- Microsoft Word requires a Microsoft 365 subscription (~$100/year) or a standalone purchase. It is a full office suite, not a lightweight text editor.
- OneNote requires a Microsoft account. It is a note-taking application structured around notebooks and sections — not a document editor in the WordPad sense.
Neither of these is a like-for-like replacement. WordPad had no subscription, no login, and no account. It was a simple tool that opened fast and did one thing well. Microsoft's recommendations require accepting account-based services that collect usage data and, in Word's case, cost money.
The Best Free WordPad Replacements
Online WordPad — Best Browser-Based Replacement
Online WordPad is the closest experience to the original. Open a browser tab, write a formatted document, export or print, close the tab. No account, no installation, no subscription.
It supports everything the original did — rich text, fonts, images, lists — and adds features MS WordPad never had, including tables and .docx export.
LibreOffice Writer — Best Desktop Replacement
LibreOffice Writer is a full open-source word processor. It is free, has no ads, and is maintained by a nonprofit foundation. It handles complex documents, mail merge, tracked changes, and virtually every feature Microsoft Word offers.
The trade-off: it is a ~300MB download and requires installation. It is not the right choice if you just need to type a quick note, but it is the best free desktop application for serious document work.
Google Docs — Best Collaborative Replacement
Google Docs is a browser-based word processor that is free with a Google account. It is excellent for collaboration, cloud storage, and working across multiple devices. Documents are saved automatically and accessible anywhere.
The trade-off: it requires a Google account, and your documents are stored on Google's servers. Not suitable for private writing or use on shared computers.
Comparison Table
| Online WordPad | LibreOffice Writer | Google Docs | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account required | No | No | Yes (Google) |
| Installation required | No | Yes (~300MB) | No |
| Cost | Free | Free | Free |
| Rich text formatting | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tables | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Export to .docx | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Works offline | Yes (after first load) | Yes | Partial |
| Collaboration | No | No | Yes |
| Cloud storage | No | No | Yes |
| Privacy | Local (browser only) | Local | Stored by Google |
| Best for | Quick docs, no account | Heavy desktop use | Team collaboration |
Why Online WordPad Is the Closest Replacement in Spirit
The original MS WordPad succeeded because of what it was not. It was not a subscription. It was not a suite. It was not tied to an account or the cloud. You opened it, used it, and that was all.
Online WordPad preserves that philosophy in a browser tab:
- No account. You are never asked to sign up or log in.
- No install. Works on Windows 11, Mac, Linux, and Chromebook without downloading anything.
- No subscription. Completely free with no feature paywalls.
- Fast. The editor loads in under two seconds.
- Private. Your document stays in your browser. It is never sent to a server.
The only real difference from the original is that you need a browser instead of the Start menu. For most users that is a non-issue — the browser is already open.
WordPad is gone from Windows, but the experience lives on. Open Online WordPad — free, instant, no account needed.