Microsoft has announced it will cease development and support for WordPad, the straightforward word processing application that has been a feature in various iterations of the Windows operating system. The company plans to remove the application in a future update, suggesting users switch to Microsoft Word for more advanced document editing or use Windows Notepad for simpler, plain text files.
The decision to discontinue WordPad aligns with Microsoft’s recent trends of phasing out older applications and features to focus on enhancing more modern offerings. This follows in the wake of Microsoft improving the Notepad application and discontinuing support for other less-used features and applications, such as its voice-based assistant Cortana.
For those seeking free alternatives, Microsoft recommends Word for the web, which allows users to create and edit documents online without a subscription. The discontinuation of WordPad indicates Microsoft’s broader strategy to streamline its software ecosystem while focusing on feature-rich applications to improve overall user experience.
