In September 2023, Microsoft officially removed WordPad from Windows 11 with the Windows 11 23H2 update. After more than 28 years, the built-in word processor is gone — and millions of users are looking for a replacement.

Why Was WordPad Removed?

Microsoft's official statement says WordPad is a "deprecated" feature and users should use Notepad for plain text or Microsoft Word for rich text documents. However, many users relied on WordPad as a lightweight middle ground — something more capable than Notepad but less complex than Word.

The Best Free WordPad Replacements

1. Online WordPad (Browser-Based — No Install)

Online WordPad is a free browser-based word processor that works like the original WordPad — but runs in your browser on any device.

Why it is the best replacement:

• No download or installation needed
• Works on Windows 11, Windows 10, Mac, Linux, and Chromebooks
• Rich text formatting: bold, italic, underline, font sizes, text color
• Insert tables, images, and page breaks
• Export to Word (.docx), HTML, or plain text (.txt)
• Print with configurable margins
• Completely free, no account required

Open Online WordPad — it works instantly in your browser.

2. LibreOffice Writer (Desktop)

A full desktop office suite, free and open source. More powerful than WordPad but requires a ~300MB download and installation.

3. Google Docs (Online)

Google's word processor requires a Google account. Good for collaboration but not ideal for quick offline editing.

4. Notepad++ (Text Editor)

A powerful plain text editor for developers. Lacks rich text formatting — not a true WordPad replacement for document writing.

What Features Did WordPad Have?

The original Windows WordPad supported:

• Bold, italic, underline formatting
• Font families and font sizes
• Text and background color
• Bulleted lists
• Insert images
• Save as .rtf, .docx, or .txt
• Print support

Online WordPad matches all of these features and adds tables, page breaks, a command menu, emoji, and export to HTML.

How to Open a .rtf File Without WordPad

If you have old .rtf files that WordPad used to open, you can:

1. Open them in Online WordPad by pasting the content
2. Use LibreOffice Writer (free download)
3. Rename the file to .doc and open in Google Docs

Frequently Asked Questions

Is WordPad still available on Windows 10? Yes. WordPad is still pre-installed on Windows 10. It was only removed from Windows 11 23H2 and later.

Can I reinstall WordPad on Windows 11? No. Microsoft has fully removed it and does not offer a way to reinstall it.

What is the best free WordPad alternative? For most users, Online WordPad is the easiest replacement — no install, works instantly, and has all the same features plus more.