For over 25 years, WordPad has been the simple word processor included for free with every version of Windows. It offered a basic alternative to Microsoft Word for casual documents. However, Microsoft recently announced WordPad is being discontinued and will be removed from future Windows releases.
Let’s take a look back at the history of WordPad and options for replacing it on Windows.
A Brief History of WordPad
WordPad made its debut in Windows 95 as a lightweight word processor alternative. It was designed by Microsoft engineer Denis Cheng to replace the outdated Write app from earlier Windows versions.
The goal was to provide a faster loading, easier-to-use basic word processor compared to Microsoft Word. Early versions of WordPad had editing capabilities like drag-and-drop text blocks, spellcheck, and ability to open multiple files.
Over its lifecycle, WordPad steadily gained more formatting features on top of the core text editing tools. Capabilities like font selection, paragraph alignment, indents, bullets/numbering, and line spacing made their way into the app.
WordPad became a staple secondary word processor bundled with Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10 over the past two decades. It met the basic needs of many casual PC users who didn’t require the full suite of tools in Microsoft Word.
In 2022, Microsoft announced plans to stop development on WordPad and remove it completely from future Windows versions. For basic text editing, they recommend using Word or the built-in Notepad app instead.
Top Features of WordPad
While a relatively lightweight app, WordPad still provided handy formatting options beyond just text input:
- Text Formatting – Options to change font type, size, color, bold, italics, and underlines made it easy to style text without opening Word.
- Paragraph Formatting – Users could align text left, center, right, or justified. Indents and line spacing further customized paragraph layouts.
- Lists – Numbered and bulleted lists added structure to documents like instruction sets, recipes, and outlines.
- Page Layout – Headers, footers, page margins, and page breaks allowed for multi-page documents.
- Insert Objects – Images, hyperlinks, and symbols could be added to documents to supplement text.
- Spellcheck – Underlined misspellings and auto-correct streamlined editing.
For short school assignments, basic letters, flyers, and other everyday documents, WordPad hit the sweet spot between Notepad and the full functionality of Word.
Top Alternatives to WordPad
With WordPad going away in future Windows versions, what are the best replacement options for simple word processing?
- Microsoft Word – As part of Office suite, Word offers every formatting feature under the sun. It’s overkill for basic documents though.
- Google Docs – A free cloud-based word processor that makes collaborating in real-time easy. More limited than Word but great for everyday use.
- LibreOffice Writer – Fully-featured open source alternative to Word with strong formatting and document compatibility.
- WPS Office – This free lightweight office suite includes a Word-style word processor with a familiar interface and options.
For complex documents, Microsoft Word still rules the roost. But the above alternative options provide a solid combination of features, accessibility, ease of use and simplicity in place of WordPad.
Farewell to a Windows Staple
For 25+ years, WordPad met the basic word processing needs of Windows users across generations. It offered a nice mid-point between a distraction-free Notepad and the full power of Word.
While its retirement makes room for more versatile modern options, WordPad will remain a nostalgic app for many who grew up tinkering with documents on it. It was a staple of early Windows versions and gave countless users a valuable introduction to word processing and computer skills.
So pour one out for WordPad – we’ll miss you! But better alternatives now exist to carry on its legacy.
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